Shucking Oysters By The Thousands, With A Steady Smile : Source: npr.org – Tuesday, December 02, 2014Shucking Oysters By The Thousands, With A Steady Smile December 02, 2014 4:59 PM ET April Fulton George Hastings shucks oysters at the Oyster Riot 2014 in Washington, D.C. Hes been traveling the country on the shucking circuit for four decades. Meredith Rizzo/NPR When it needs to serve 75,000 raw oysters to 3,000 people in one weekend, Washington D.C.s landmark Old Ebbitt Grill calls in reinforcements. It hires expert oyster shuckers to help out with its Oyster Riot event each year. And for most of the last 20 years, those experts have included 59-year-old George Hastings. Hastings, white-bearded and sturdy, with an easy, Santa Claus-style belly laugh, has been shucking for about 40 years. Hes a two-time national champion (yes, there is such an event) and has competed internationally in whats billed as the Olympics of the shucking world , in Ireland. In 50 years of that competition in Galway, Ireland, theres only been two Americans thats ever won. And then theres yours truly, Hastings says with a smile and a wink. George Hastings points out specks of grit on a newly opened oyster. Meredith Rizzo/NPR Alas, he came in second in Ireland a few years ago — but that hasnt damped his enthusiasm. At least a dozen times a year, Hastings travels the country to ply his craft at oyster festivals and competitions. Often, he sees the same faces at these events — other itinerant shuckers on the oyster circuit and those that run the All Related Read More…… ift.tt/1AiZC0i For more visit the site: GLOBAL-NEWS-----Click Here...
Posted on: Thu, 04 Dec 2014 07:50:39 +0000
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