It's Saturday night, 1980- maybe '81. My dad and I are on the way to the Astrodome for the always fun destruction derby. I was so looking forward to the evening. Part of the excitement was the derby. Part was the anticipation of seeing stunt legend Spanky Spangler crash some cars or buses in some death defying stunt(look him up if you don't know who he is). But most of all, the anticipation was for the pre-derby meal at the original Captain Benny's off of Main by the Dome. Going there with my dad, starting off with oysters on the half-shell, then a cup of gumbo, splitting some fried shrimp and then some good old fried catfish. That meal made the entire night. I have always been a huge fan of oysters and Captain Benny's was the perfect place to satisfy that craving.
Fast forward 30 or so years and we are one day removed from our annual crawfish boil fundraiser. For the past two years we have had a raw oyster bar that has been a huge hit. The problem is what to do with the few dozen freshly shucked oysters that are left over.
Once again, my oyster craving needed to be satisfied.
Tonight I had an epiphany. Think oysters meet buffalo wings. Fresh oysters dusted with flour and fried. Toss with Louisiana Hot Sauce. Damn they were good. So good that Leslie even sucked down a 1/2 dozen of them.
These just may go on the menu for the gumbo cookoff in the Fall- right next to the Oysters Frankefeller.
Mangia!
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