There are many food items in the world that evoke the question, “How hungry did the first person to eat that have to be?” But few such dishes can rival the raw oyster for unpalatable appearance and general “ick” factor.
If undaunted by the oyster’s rough, rock-hard, nearly-impossible-to-open shell, the undoubtedly famished first taster would then have confronted the gray, slimy, almost phlegmatic appearance of its plump body. Once beyond any primal gag reflex though, this seminal slurper would have been surprisingly rewarded with the oyster’s delicate, toothy texture, rich flavor, and salty liquor. Oysters are also high in calcium, iron, and protein. Admittedly, they’re not for everyone, but adventurous humans the world over have enjoyed oysters, raw and cooked, for
