XIX: Oysters at my ultimate lunch spot.
XIX (nineteen) is probably my favorite lunch spot in the city. I had long been aware that they have a daily $19 three course prix fixe lunch. The first time I had lunch there, though, they were setting something up in the cafe, so lunch was being held in the main dining room. I walked in, and the raw bar had a spectacular array of desserts laid out across it. Only when I sat down and looked at the menu did I realize that array was my soon-to-be third course!
Last week, my father invited me to join him for lunch, though, and for him, lunch at XIX equals oysters. So, why let him have all the fun? I joined him in splitting 18 oysters. They had 12 options available that day, so we skipped a couple of local ones that either he didn’t care for, or are easy to get all the time around here, and ordered two each of all the rest.
If ever you are asked to select oysters, here’s the only two things you really need to know. East coast oysters tend to be larger and meatier, and taste salty/briny. People describe them as “like eating the sea.” West coast oysters are smaller, and have a sweet and creamy taste. (In my opinion, Australian oysters more closely resemble west coast oysters.)
That day, the oysterman of XIX delivered the oysters to us instead of the waitress. We asked, which are which? And he gave us the most detailed, spot-on description of each of them. (One of them he described as crisp and almost vegetable-y, and by golly, wasn’t he right!) It was one of those moments where I wanted to say, “hang on, would you mind if I recorded this? Or at least took notes?” It’s delightful to meet people who have a passion for their product.
After gobbling down our oysters (with a squeeze from the roasted sugared lemon provided, rather than mignonette, per the oysterman’s instructions), I also had an amazing English pea soup, with pork belly (need I say any more?), tiny onion rings and pea shoots. A light and lovely lunch in one of my favorite places… whether you get the prix fixe or you order a la carte, XIX is a wonderful special occasion lunch, whether the occasion is real or one you just made up.
