Foodie Friday: 4 Oysters Facts To Impress Your Friends

Do you love oysters? Do you love random trivia? Then today’s post is for you!

At Tricky Fish, we absolutely love oysters. We love them on the half shell, fried, grilled… you name it! So for a little Foodie Friday trivia, we thought it would be fun to share a few oyster facts you may not know about. Enjoy!

Oysters Can Filter Up to 50 Gallons of Water A Day!

Naturally, oysters get their nutrients from the water. Each oyster has gills that filter the water in, pull necessary nutrients from the water, then pass it back out. Research shows that one oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water in a single day! In fact, some bodies of water rely on oysters, clams, and other shellfish to maintain the delicate ecosystem in the water, establishing steady nitrogen and oxygen levels. It is said that oysters in the Chesapeake Bay once were so plentiful that they would filter the entire body of water in 3 days! 

American Oysters are All the Same Species

Whether your oysters at local restaurants and bars near me are sourced from the Gulf Coast, East Coast, or somewhere else in the US, chances are they are all the same species of oyster: Crassostrea virginica. It is also referred to as the American oyster, Eastern oyster, Atlantic oyster, or East Coast Oyster. You may have also heard some other names over time (like the Blue Point oyster) because oysters were once categorized with regional names as well, but most suppliers have moved away from this. 

Then why do different oysters taste differently? As you can imagine, the water the oyster lives in affects the final flavor. You may notice some water makes the oyster saltier – while some make it taste more metallic. We love the various flavor profiles in each batch of oysters! 

Oysters are Nutrient Rich

Worried oysters are unhealthy? Think again! Oysters served at restaurants and bars near me actually supply a decent amount of healthy fats, vitamin B12, and iron. They are also rich in zinc, Vitamin A, magnesium, and calcium – just to name a few. So eat your next batch of oysters on the half shell guilt-free!

American Oysters Don’t Make Pearls

Well – they can make pearls, but not the beautiful ones of value. Pearls are harvested from an entirely different species of oyster – the pearl oyster. The ones we eat don’t produce any sizeable pearls. 

So there you have it! Few facts to impress your friends over your next order of oysters at Tricky Fish, one of the best restaurants and bars near me. Take time to savor each bite (or slurp!) and see if you can identify different flavors in the oyster.

See you this week at Tricky Fish! 

What are the Lowest Calorie Spirits?

Ahh – a new year, a new set of new years resolutions. Chances are, at least one of those resolutions involves health and wellness.

Maybe you want to lose weight.

Maybe you want to workout more.

Maybe you just want to drink more water.

And what about alcohol intake? When trying to stay on track to accomplish your new years resolutions, how about opting for lower calorie spirits? Tricky Fish – one of the best bars near me in Richardson – recommends the following drinks that are big on flavor, but lighter on calories:

Look for Clear Spirits

In general, clear spirits are going to be lighter in calories. So instead of the heavier bourbon, a vodka and soda is a great choice. When you aren’t sure, the lighter options will generally be better. Here are a few options that are lower on calories, but still have tons of flavor: gin, white wine, vodka, and prosecco is surprisingly about half the calories as regular white wine! 

Beware of Mixers

While that fruity drink on the menu sounds great, save it for a celebration. When trying to cut calories, the simpler the better. Fruit juices and simple sugar pack on calories without you even realizing it! Gin and tonic, vodka and lime, or a standard glass of wine – these are options that limit the extra calories you can find in cocktail mixers. 

Avoid What’s On Tap

Beers, lagers, and ciders normally have more calories than their clear counterparts, so avoid the tap where those ice cold draft beers can get you in trouble on the calorie front! A few drinks go down easy, but can easily add up to 1,000 extra calories a day! “Bars near me” – like Tricky Fish – have tons of craft beers available, so again, limit your intake to special occasions when trying to reach new health goals. If you’re really in the mood for a beer, opt for a lighter beer like a wheat beer or pilsner. 

Lower Alcohol Content = Lower Calories

When you aren’t sure what to order, the ABV – or alcohol by volume – in a spirit or wine is a good indicator of the overall calorie content. This is because alcohol has approx.. 7 calories per gram vs. sugar with just 4 calories per gram. While the ABV doesn’t tell the whole story, this can help inform your decision when trying to cut calories while drinking.

Tricky Fish in Richardson, Texas is here to help you start your new year off right! Instead of searching for “bars near me,” simply come see us for brunch, lunch, dinner, or happy hour, conveniently located in CityLine in Richardson and in Waterside in Fort Worth. We pride ourselves on simple, scratch cooking that’s big on flavor and fresh ingredients.