NEW ORLEANS – The eighth annual New Orleans Oyster Festival celebrated the oyster this past weekend at Woldenberg Riverfront Park at the Mississippi River. More than 20 restaurants showed off their versatility preparing the region’s favorite bivalve at the Festival.
The festival featured oyster competitions including the Acme Oyster House® World Oyster Eating Championship, the P&J Oyster Shucking Competition and The New Orleans Fish House Largest Oyster Contest.
Acme Oyster House® World Oyster Eating Championship winners included:
1st Place
Michelle Lesco from Tucson, Arizona
33 dozen Louisiana oysters
NOTE: Michelle came in third in last year’s competition and tied for second in 2015.
2nd Place
Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas from Alexandria, Virginia
31 dozen Louisiana oysters
NOTE: Sonya held the title for eight years before coming in second last year, too. She holds the competition record of 47 dozen oysters in eight minutes.
3rd Place
Adrian “The Rabbit” Morgan from New Orleans
27 dozen Louisiana oysters
NOTE: Adrian competed to defend his title as winner in 2016.
The competition was decided by the number of dozen oysters consumed in eight minutes.
P&J Oyster Shucking Competition winners included:
1st Place
Brian Clark
The Oyster Troff in Eustis, Florida
20 Louisiana oysters shucked
NOTE: Brian tied the competition record of 20 Louisiana oysters shucked in two minutes
2nd Place
Jay Galette
Superior Seafood & Oyster Bar in New Orleans
18 Louisiana oysters shucked
NOTE: Jay was last year’s P&J Oyster Shucking Competition winner
3rd Place
Isabella Gator Macbeth
Rappahannock Oyster Bar in Charleston, South Carolina
17 Louisiana oysters shucked
NOTE: The competition was decided by the number of Louisiana oysters shucked in two minutes. The six finalists for the competition were decided after a preliminary shucking competition on Thursday, June 1, at Desire Oyster Bar/Royal Sonesta New Orleans on 300 Bourbon St. Only one two-minute heat was held at the New Orleans Oyster Festival on Saturday.
The largest oyster this year for The New Orleans Fish House Largest Oyster Contest was submitted by Captain Pete’s Oysters of Port Sulphur, Louisiana. The largest oyster measured 7 1/2 inches length by 4 3/8 inches width and 3 inches high. The oyster weighed in at 3 lbs. – the largest weighing oyster in New Orleans Oyster Festival history.
Winner of the Acme Oyster House® World Oyster Eating Championship at the New Orleans Oyster Festival, Michelle Lesco from Tucson, Arizona flanked by representative from Acme Oyster House.
Winners of the P&J Oyster Shucking Competition at the New Orleans Oyster Festival – L to R: New Orleans Pelican cheerleader; Sal Sunseri (P&J Oyster Company); Isabella Gator Macbeth (3rd place winner from Rappahannock Oyster Bar in Charleston, South Carolina); Brian Clark (1st place winner from The Oyster Troff in Eustis, Florida); Jay Galette (2nd place winner from Superior Seafood & Oyster Bar in New Orleans); Al Groos (General Manager of the Royal Sonesta New Orleans); New Orleans Pelican cheerleader
Winner of the P&J Oyster Shucking Competition Brian Clark from The Oyster Troff in Eustis, Florida.
