Oyster Foch Recipes

Steps:

• Put the pancetta in a cast-iron skillet and cook over medium-high heat until crisp and the fat is rendered. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate.
• While the pancetta cooks, combine the vinegar, shallots, peppercorns, basil, tomatoes and season with salt.
• Prepare the charcoal grill using a chimney starter filled with charcoal briquettes. When the coals are red hot and begin to turn grey, add the soaked wood chips evenly over the top of the coals.
• Grip each oyster, flat-side up, in a folded kitchen towel. Find the small opening between the shells near the hinge and pry it open with an oyster knife. Try not to spill the delicious juices, known as the oyster liqueur, in the bottom shell. Cut the oyster meat loose from the top shell, and then loosen the oyster from the bottom shell by running the oyster knife carefully underneath the body. Discard the top, flatter shell, keeping the oyster and juices in the bottom, deeper shell.
• Brush the cooking grates clean. Grill the oysters over direct high heat until the juices start to bubble and the edges of the oyster curl, 2 to 4 minutes.
• Spread 1 1/2 cups kosher salt evenly over the bottom of a large platter. Carefully nestle the cooked oysters in the salt and top each oyster with some of the mignonette, a few cubes of pancetta and some parsley leaves. Drizzle with a little extra-virgin olive oil.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Fill a large bowl with ice water and set aside
• Bring a medium pot of water to boil and submerge the collard greens until they wilt slightly and brighten in color, about 1 minute. Quickly drain in a colander, or remove with tongs, and place directly in the ice bath for a few moments, then remove and strain again. Chop any remaining large pieces a bit more and place in a medium mixing bowl. Add the breadcrumbs, Parmesan, butter, garlic, lemon juice and some salt and pepper and fold together. Spoon the mixture evenly over the 6 oysters and place on a baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove and top with the crumbled bacon.

Steps:

• In a medium saute pan with deep sides begin heating oil. Season cornmeal with Creole spice. Dredge oysters in cornmeal mixture and add to hot oil, without crowding. Cook about 1 1/2 minutes, turning once. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain excess grease on paper towels. Slice bread in half horizontally across the middle. Open up loaf and spread a generous layer of tartar sauce on bottom half. Spread lettuce over and top with perfectly-cooked oysters. Replace bread top and eat immediately.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.