New York’s Oyster Obsession
Episode 7 of the What the Food? podcast, hosted by Miles, Andy and Dom, titled "New York’s Oyster Obsession" was published on April 29, 2025 and runs 72 minutes.
April 29, 2025 ·72m · What the Food?
Summary
Once upon a time, New York was built on oysters, literally. From the Lenape shell heaps to 19th-century oyster saloons (and the dodgy brothels hiding behind them), oysters were everywhere. They fed the rich, the poor, and even fuelled a secret stop on the Underground Railroad.In this episode, we dive into the briny, bizarre history of New York’s oyster craze. How the city went mad for molluscs, ate its way through entire reefs, and is now trying to bring them back to clean its filthy harbour.With massive oyster-eating contests, mollusc mafias, and an oyster so big it was compared to "swallowing a baby", this is a story you don’t want to miss.Come for the seafood. Stay for the scandal.This is our 50th episode! Thank you for being here! Next stop 100. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe in your favourite app, leave us a rating, and share it with your mates.Follow our socials at: https://linktr.ee/WhatTheFoodPodcast or if you fancy treating us to a one-off cuppa: www.buymeacoffee.com/whatthefoodTheme music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada. Available for use under the CC BY 4.0 license (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Episode Description
Once upon a time, New York was built on oysters, literally. From the Lenape shell heaps to 19th-century oyster saloons (and the dodgy brothels hiding behind them), oysters were everywhere. They fed the rich, the poor, and even fuelled a secret stop on the Underground Railroad.
In this episode, we dive into the briny, bizarre history of New York’s oyster craze. How the city went mad for molluscs, ate its way through entire reefs, and is now trying to bring them back to clean its filthy harbour.
With massive oyster-eating contests, mollusc mafias, and an oyster so big it was compared to "swallowing a baby", this is a story you don’t want to miss.
Come for the seafood. Stay for the scandal.
This is our 50th episode! Thank you for being here! Next stop 100.
If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe in your favourite app, leave us a rating, and share it with your mates.
Follow our socials at: https://linktr.ee/WhatTheFoodPodcast or if you fancy treating us to a one-off cuppa: www.buymeacoffee.com/whatthefood
Theme music: “Celebration” by Alexander Nakarada. Available for use under the CC BY 4.0 license (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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