It’s been said Gulf Coast oysters have the cleanest taste of any oyster: “…it tastes of the sea and not much else, and for that reason they should be the oysters against which all others should be measured.”
Gulf Coast Oysters: Classic & Modern Recipes for a Southern Renaissance is the latest cookbook from acclaimed and award-winning chef, Irv Miller. Beautifully photographed and replete with mouth-watering recipes, Gulf Coast Oysters is a joyful and thorough exploration of Gulf oyster culture that honors the many oyster classics of the Gulf foodways while also putting a fresh, modern spin on preparing “panhandle pearls.”
Going beyond its delicious recipes and stunning photos, Gulf Coast Oysters also focuses on preserving the Gulf’s cross-cultural, Southern traditions and a goal of creating new interest in seafood-sustainable products. Miller’s years of hands-on experience of modernizing the way the Florida Panhandle thinks about food, as well as his support of sustainable food-producing practices, has provided him the unique and credentialed perspective for telling the story of the ever-changing food scene along the Gulf Coast.
Whether you’re a native of the Gulf Coast, a passionate epicurean, or simply part of the growing population of oyster fans that’s booming from coast-to-coast, Gulf Coast Oysters: Classic & Modern Recipes for a Southern Renaissance is an bountiful book of diverse Gulf oyster recipes, striking photography, and an engaging look at the culture surrounding the ancient mollusk’s place on Gulf coast.
About the Author
Irv Miller, founding executive chef at Jackson's Steakhouse in Pensacola, Florida, has prepared dinner at the James Beard house for five one-of-a-kind events.
Industry Reviews
"His exploration of Gulf Coast oysters should prove to be both mouthwatering and enlightening to oyster lovers everywhere." * Jason Burnett, Oyster-Obsession.com *
"If it was a brave person that first ate an oyster surely they were without the friendly and passionately well-informed company Irv Miller provides in his newest book! His devotion for the waters and oysters of the American Gulf Coast make this a fitting companion on anyone's bookshelf to Rowan Jacobsen's fine works on these complexly flavored, nearly infinitely varying and beautiful mollusks." * Norman Van Aken, award-winning Chef and Author *
"Chef Irv Miller brings passion to the oyster renaissance in the Gulf of Mexico. This is a labor of love..." * Bill Walton, a.k.a "Dr. Oyster," Auburn University Shellfish Lab *
"As a die-hard oyster lover and new convert to Gulf-coast seafood, I devoured Irv Miller's smart, engaging look at oysters." * Erin Byers Murray, author of Shucked: Life on a New England Oyster Farm *
"The southern oyster renaissance is real, and you kind of have to see it-and taste it-to believe it. As a New Yorker, I didn't know what I was missing out on until I went down to Alabama, Louisiana, and Georgia for myself. This book successfully captures that personal feeling of discovering, or rediscovering Gulf oysters for the first time. Miller's approach to oyster appreciation is thoughtful and imaginative. Although the culinary spotlight is squarely on Gulf oysters, his recipes are applicable to any oyster region. It's a labor of love that I'm pleased to have on my oyster bookshelf." * Julie Qiu, renowned Oyster enthusiast and creator of In a Half Shell.com *
"...beautiful and very well done." * Jeremiah Tower *
"The Gulf oyster's revival is one of the great culinary stories of our time, and there's no one better to tell it than Irv Miller, who has been on the front lines all along. Gulf Coast Oysters will dazzle you, enlighten you, and inspire you. And it will make you very, very hungry." * Rowan Jacobsen, author of The Essential Oyster *
"For the past several decades, Irv Miller has championed local, Gulf of Mexico seafood, particularly oysters from the Gulf Coast. In Gulf Coast Oysters Irv continues in this role. He has masterfully highlighted the heretofore underappreciated diversity among our coastal varieties of wild and, now, farmed oysters. This important work could be lauded for this alone, however woven within the stories of our local oysters and the people who produce them is a delightful and creative collection of oyster recipes. Some of these have Irv's twist on a traditional dish, others are completely new creations. All is beautifully photographed and a testament not only to Irv's culinary genius but also to his deep love for the Northern Gulf Coast." * Chris Nelson, Bon Secour Fisheries, Inc *
