Shuck Portland Celebrates the Briniest Treat of the Pacific Northwest | Eater Portland

"A weeklong festival running from February 2 to 9, Shuck Portland celebrates Northwestern oysters while raising funds for restoration, education, and conservation; it offers a variety of events—including dinners, classes, parties and nine main events such as mezcal classes, a dinner by Vitaly Paley, and a conservation panel—and features contributing restaurants offering oyster specials whose proceeds also go to charity. The festival was founded by Maylin Chavez of Olympia Oyster Bar and Lyf Gildersleeve of Flying Fish Co., who enlisted friends including Tournant’s Jaret Foster and event producer Natalia Toral to raise awareness of the region’s oyster bounty. Proceeds benefit The Wetlands Conservancy and WEBS, and the event emphasizes oysters’ ecological role (Chavez notes oysters can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day). Shuck also gives guests a chance to meet the people who harvest oysters by hand, and the team plans to make it an annual event with possible smaller events throughout the year." - Alex Frane