The Oyster Cart has been one of many main purveyors of on-site oyster shucking and supply companies since 2013. The Oyster Cart caters to a variety of occasions — from intimate at-home dinner events to convention occasions with attendees that run into the hundreds. The Oyster Cart goals to ship a novel occasion expertise that company received’t quickly overlook by providing solely the best and freshest oysters for a fuss-free indulgence, paired with a service commonplace that’s inimitable. Founder Adam Bathroom shares the story behind this distinctive idea, the model’s dedication to freshness and sustainability and what lies forward for this beloved purveyor of premium oysters.
As a Singapore-based model, what impressed the creation of The Oyster Cart
The Oyster Cart started with a easy thought: to convey recent oysters and an unforgettable expertise straight to individuals — wherever they had been. Again in 2013, reside oyster shucking at personal occasions was just about extraordinary in Singapore. I began with a small pushcart, retrofitting an IKEA trolley right into a cellular oyster station.
The inspiration got here throughout a backpacking journey via Europe, the place I noticed distributors paddling oysters from carts alongside the streets. That picture caught with me, and after I returned, I made a decision to recreate that magic right here — and title the corporate The Oyster Cart.
Beginning out was a mixture of enjoyable and hustle. I cycled round neighbourhoods, handing out flyers and introducing the idea. What started as a aspect hustle has grown right into a full-time pursuit — bringing oysters to occasions, providing same-day supply, and now internet hosting dine-in experiences.
What are the primary kinds of oysters present in nature?
There are 5 primary oyster species generally consumed worldwide: Crassostrea gigas (Pacific), Crassostrea virginica (Japanese), Ostrea edulis (European Flat), Crassostrea sikamea (Kumamoto), and Ostrea lurida (Olympia). Every species brings distinctive textures and flavours, which range even additional relying on their surroundings — very like wine grapes expressing terroir.
The place do oysters get their flavour or “merroir” from?
Oysters tackle the traits of their rising surroundings — salinity, mineral content material, water temperature, algae, and tidal motion. This distinct flavour profile is known as merroir — the marine equal of terroir. That’s why the identical species can style utterly totally different when grown in France, Japan, or Eire.
What kinds of oysters are mostly utilized by The Oyster Cart?
We predominantly serve Crassostrea gigas (Pacific oysters) from France and Eire, chosen for his or her versatility, clear end, and broad flavour attraction. For discerning purchasers, we sometimes characteristic Ostrea edulis (European Flats), prized for his or her daring brininess and deeper complexity. Seasonal varieties are additionally rotated all year long to spotlight distinctive merroirs and farming practices from all over the world.
Our choice isn’t based mostly solely on origin or species — it’s additionally formed by steady suggestions from our prospects. Lots of them have exceptionally refined palates, and their preferences play a key position in guiding our curation. In that sense, the oysters we serve should not solely a mirrored image of the farms we belief, but in addition of our purchasers’ beautiful style.
Importantly, we by no means use frozen oysters. oyster ought to all the time be served reside. Freshness is non-negotiable — and it’s a regular we uphold in each piece we serve.
How lengthy can oysters stay recent after harvesting?
Stay oysters can keep recent for as much as seven days from harvest when saved correctly in a cool, humid surroundings. As soon as shucked, freshness is dependent upon method. A correctly shucked oyster — with the shell intact, meat unpunctured, and brine retained — is finest consumed inside 3 to 4 hours. That’s why we all the time shuck to order, even for deliveries.
What are the dietary advantages of consuming oysters?
Completely. Oysters are extremely nutrient-dense. They’re low in energy and excessive in protein, zinc, vitamin B12, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids. They’ve earned their fame as a superfood — delivering indulgence and well being advantages in a single shell.
How would you describe the flavour profile of an oyster? What tasting notes ought to one count on?
An incredible oyster begins with a clear burst of ocean brine, adopted by layers of flavour — sweetness, nuttiness, minerality, and even hints of cucumber or melon, relying on its origin. Texture issues too — from plump and creamy to crisp and snappy. Each oyster is just a little snapshot of the ocean it got here from.
How do you preserve constant high quality requirements at The Oyster Cart?
We work completely with farms which have wonderful security information and traceability. We additionally desire partnering with family-owned farms that take pleasure within the oysters they produce. Each batch is inspected upon arrival, and our workforce is rigorously educated in hygiene, cold-chain administration, {and professional} shucking. For shucked oysters, we’re uncompromising — if one thing isn’t good, we discard it. We solely serve oysters we’re proud to place our title on.
Is there a super methodology or etiquette in relation to consuming oysters?
Uncooked, freshly shucked, and ideally unadorned — maybe with a contact of lemon or a splash of mignonette. However we all the time encourage our company to strive the primary oyster plain, to understand its pure flavour. And all the time chew — slurping is barely half the story; chewing unlocks the oyster’s full character.
Which beverage do you consider finest enhances the flavours of oysters — a crisp white, sake, or maybe Champagne?
Champagne is the timeless traditional — its acidity and bubbles fantastically complement an oyster’s richness. That stated, a crisp Muscadet or a dry Junmai Ginjo sake can even pair exquisitely, relying on the oyster and the temper. It’s all about stability and concord.
Provided that your oysters are sourced from Europe, how do you uphold sustainability and biodiversity all through your provide chain?
We work with farms that practise accountable aquaculture — no chemical feeds, minimal ecological disruption, and robust commitments to biodiversity. Oysters themselves are regenerative filter feeders: they clear the water and assist restore marine ecosystems. For us, sustainability isn’t a pattern — it’s the inspiration of what we do.
Trying forward 5 years, the place do you see The Oyster Cart, and what key milestones do you propose to achieve?
We’re aiming to develop past Singapore via strategic regional partnerships. On the similar time, we’re growing extra oyster appreciation experiences — like guided tastings and pairing classes — to assist individuals higher perceive merroir, seasonality, and the craftsmanship of shucking. Our aim is to construct a deeper connection between individuals and the story behind each oyster.
Inform us extra about your on-line oyster ordering service obtainable to prospects in Singapore.
Sure! Our web site makes it simple to pre-order oysters for same-day or next-day supply, or self-collection. Every order is freshly shucked simply earlier than dispatch, rigorously packed, and delivered chilled — able to get pleasure from. Whether or not it’s for a celebration or only a quiet indulgence, we make oyster enjoyment seamless, recent, and fuss-free.
Which oyster selection is your private favorite?
That’s like selecting a favorite little one — but when I needed to title one, it will be Louët-Feisser oysters from Carlingford, Eire. They strike an ideal stability of salt and sweetness, with a nuttiness and that signature adductor crunch I personally love. Elegant, constant, and deeply satisfying.
Should you might title one mentor who has formed your profession, who would it not be?
Mr. Robin Pho — a mentor whose coronary heart is really larger than the ocean. His generosity, environmental management, and dedication to uplifting the group have left a long-lasting impression on me. He’s provided invaluable recommendation and opened many doorways through the years. I deeply respect his values, each in enterprise and in life.
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