13th World Oyster Festival: Would I shell out the money? Absolutely, and here's why.

Grace
Jul 2
4 min read

I’m an oyster lover. But an oyster connoisseur? Far from it! Still, I know what I like: small-bodied oysters with that clean briny punch. Whoop, I even flew to Sydney so I could binge on Sydney Rock Oysters (amongst other things). A dozen a day for three days straight... which, to be fair, might be amateur compared to some oyster-terminators I’ve seen online.

My oyster obsession had been pretty one dimensional, sticking to the same familiar type, until curiosity peeked its head out and asked: what else is out there?

So together with my colleague, Jia Le, we headed to Greenwood Fish Market’s 13th annual World Oyster Festival for their pre-tasting media session. At first, I wasn’t sure how much of it would "land" with me... but turns out, I knew far less about oysters than I thought; and what a blessing to discover how much more there is to taste.

Greenwood Fish Market sits right by the quayside, with a gorgeous view of yachts and calm waters :')

Could I tell a French oyster from an American one? Irish versus Canadian? Probably not in a blind test. But who says you need to be an expert to enjoy them? Jia Le and I happily slurped our way through, no credentials required!

We were warmly welcomed by Li Qing and Maverlyn from the Greenwood Fish Market team: shoutout to the top-notch service <3, who seated us at the Captain’s Table. There, we met the treasures of the sea: the Chef’s Choice Oyster Platter ($119.95 for 16 pieces), featuring 8 different varietals handpicked from around the globe.

The stunning Chef's Platter of 8 different varieties x 2 each (16 for $119.95)

But honestly, I came in skeptical. Could an oyster really be worth up to $12.95 (looking at you, Belon and Krystale)? Would I even notice the difference?

Turns out... yes. I was humbled and lowkey thrilled to be proven wrong.

Armed with a Greenwood Fish Market tasting notebook, I got to work, jotting down notes that would eventually shape this article.

First up, the French oysters. I’d assumed they’d be delicate and light, but these shook me out of my ignorance. The Belon “OOO” ($12.95) was curiously round, with a orangey saturated inner shell. It had a hazelnut-like finish layered over the classic brininess. At $12.95 a piece, it's definitely a splurge for most. But honestly... once a year? Worth it. Even if it’s just to say you’ve had a proper Belon (an oyster-world celebrity, apparently). The ladies at our table had tried it last year (and were raving about it), so I was extra excited to finally get a taste of this one!

Belon OOO's the one in the middle! (Slightly orangey shell)

The other French oysters: Apero N.4 ($5.95), Krystale Special N.1 ($12.95), Cancale ($5.95), and Merveilles De La Manche N.2 ($7.95) were all excellent.

And I’ll be real: I couldn’t tell them all apart. But the Krystale, despite its plump size (usually a turn-off for me), was such a clean, satisfying bite.

Then I leaned into the plump stuff, just to see. Enter: Mary Point from Canada ($4.95), the biggest oyster I had that day… and a total game-changer. I’m officially a big-oyster convert now (with one caveat: they must be briny).

From the U.S., I had the famed Kumamotos ($7.95). Tiny but mighty. They pack a savoury, almost melon-like flavour that weirdly reminded me of soup. (Yes, soup. But in a nice, unique way.) They were also very adorable. Amongst the gigantic ones, they held their own!

So... here's the most important question: would I shell out the cash for these oysters?

YES. I’m already planning a return visit... as a paying customer this time. I mean, where else can you sample oysters from around the world without hopping on a plane? (Let’s not forget I once flew to Sydney just for oysters... gulp.) Honestly, this feels like a steal. I can’t wait to dive into another round of the Chef’s Platter.

From 1st to 31 July, do go grab your platter. Seriously, seafood lovers! Just once a year to sample worldwide oysters? I'd say go for it.

Bonus (part two):

I can’t in good conscience write about the Oyster Festival without mentioning Greenwood Fish Market’s in-house specials. These are the warm, comforting plates that round out your oyster-laden experience... and trust me, they’re not "an afterthought" or the "side characters" to the oysters.

The Seafood Risotto is luxuriously creamy, with a deep, briny flavour that comes from simmering a medley of seafood over low heat. Did I taste lobster in the broth? Prawn? Fish? Probably a good 'ol mix of 'em all.

Then there are the Fried Calamari Rings, which I now understand are a staff favourite… and officially mine too. Lightly battered in their secret biscuit batter (yes, biscuit batter!), these rings deliver a crisp exterior with a uniquely satisfying chew; not your usual rubbery texture. This chew is on another level. No sogginess, no greasiness, just clean, addictive bites. Dip them in their homemade tartar sauce and Thai chili sauce… WHAM! Good luck not ordering another round. I shamelessly finished every last crumb in the basket... no paiseh piece reluctance from me at all.

The hummus with lightly fried chick peas was a super winner too, salty, crunchy, earthy. So good!

And the Fish and Chips? Also fried in that secret biscuit batter recipe, these come chopped into finger-sized pieces for easy bites, with a perfectly balanced texture and flavour that rounds out the experience beautifully. Love!!