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edible edible AMUSE AMUSE daily zinc requirement. Zinc is essential for the health of hu-man sex organs, and is one of the reasons oysters are often considered an aphrodisiac. Oysters are also extraordinarily high in vitamin D. Sun-shine is typically the most abundant source of vitamin D for humans, because very few natural foods contain significant amounts. Pasteurized and homogenized milk has artificial vitamin D added to help reduce the incidence of vitamin D deficiency and childhood rickets. A significant portion of adults are vitamin D deficient, particularly those who live in or north of San Francisco. Like other seafoods, oysters are also an excellent source of complete protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Two oysters also provide 10% of your recommended daily iron, 25% of your daily selenium and only set you back 19 calories. That’s pretty impressive. HEALTH RISKS Despite their attributes, eating oysters does not come without its risks. Oysters can harbor one of the most deadly bacterial contaminants, known as Vibrio vulnificus, a pathogen considered more deadly than both Salmonella and E. coli. Gulf oysters are particularly vulnerable to contamination during the warmer months of the year, which is why it is commonly said that oysters should only be eaten in months that end in the letter “r.” However, this rule of thumb is not true for all oysters. Only oysters that were shucked or cooked alive are safe for human consumption. Live oysters will rapidly snap closed when tapped. If an oyster remains open then it is already dead and should be thrown out. Dead oysters can sometimes be stuck closed, and these make a distinct noise when tapped on the shell. Ask a pro-fessional if you cannot tell the difference, and never eat any oyster if you are not sure if it is alive. Alive oysters will open when cooked, and those that remain closed were already dead and should be discarded. SOURCING In San Francisco, oysters on the half shell are a city tradition. Hog Island Oyster Company located just north of the city in Tomales Bay provides the majority of the Pacific oysters to local restaurants and is a fabulous resource for local oyster enthusiasts. To branch beyond the Pacific, Swan Oyster Depot on Polk is a mecca for oyster lovers. Swan Oyster Depot offers an extensive array of oysters from around the world as well as other fresh seafood. The lines are long, but the oysters are widely considered the best in the city. —Darya Pino Convention & Visitors Bureau Great Food... with a view visitMarin.org 415.925.2060 EDIBLESANFRANCISCO.COM | 9