Oyster season 🤝 local chefs’ picks

The best oysters to eat in Raleigh

St. Roch’s daily oyster happy hour is from 4-6 p.m. (and all day Tuesday). | Photo courtesy of St. Roch Fine Oysters + Bar

Shell yeah — wild oysters are harvested along coastal NC from mid-October to the end of March, so that means it’s almost prime oyster season in Raleigh. We’re here to share pearls of wisdom from local chefs Ashley Christensen (AC Restaurants), Coleen Speaks (Hummingbird), Joe Rohrer (42nd St. Oyster Bar) + Sunny Gerhart (St. Roch Fine Oysters + Bar) about what oysters to look out for around the City of Oaks.

“I think all NC oysters have unique qualities and really different, wonderful flavors, each truly telling of the specific waters and coastal environments from which they are harvested or cultivated,” Chef Ashley told RALtoday. “As long as they are fresh and skillfully shucked, you can’t go wrong.”

DYK that there is just one type of oyster found in NC? However, Crassostrea Viginica, AKA Eastern oysters, come in hundreds of varieties. Here are some of our local chefs’ favorites.

Chef recommendations

Core Sounder, Locals Seafood | A deep-cupped oyster of medium salinity with a sweet, slightly creamy finish. These highly recommended, cultivated oysters are available year-round.

Dukes of Topsail Sound, N. Sea. Oyster Co. | “They are briny, plump, perfectly manicured oysters that remind me of swimming in the salty ocean,” Chef Sunny said. “They have an incredibly sweet, almost scallop-like flavor.”

Green Gill, Locals Seafood | Core Sounders sometimes get a specific microalgae bloom that gives them a blue-green tint. “It adds depth to their already great flavor,” Chef Joe said. Look for them in January and February.

Masonboro Wilds, Shell’em Seafood Co. | “These oysters are hand harvested and selected in the wild, and they are deliciously briny due to their proximity to the jetty,” Chef Ashley said. “They have a nice deep cup and a silky firm texture.”

Tarheel Tiderunners, Locals Seafood | These briny, buttery, and meaty oysters are grown in the Stump Sound and are available year-round.

Now that you know what oysters to look for, click on the link below to see where to find them.

6 LOCAL OYSTER HOT SPOTS

Click here to have your event featured.

Today

Fall Cocktail Menu Release Party | Thu., Oct. 6 | 3 p.m.-2 a.m. | Dram & Draught, 1 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh | Free | Cheers to a cool new season with an innovative fall-themed cocktail.
Jazz in the Square | Thu., Oct. 6 | 6 p.m. | Moore Square, 201 S. Blount St., Raleigh | Free | Dupresha Townsend will perform smooth jazz sounds.

Friday, October 7

12th Annual Korktoberfest Sale & Celebration | Fri., Oct. 7-Sun., Oct. 9 | 12-9 p.m. | The Raleigh Wine Shop, 317 S. Bloodworth St., Raleigh | Free | Enjoy up to 25% off wines plus free tastings, food, and fun events — Locals Seafood will pop-up from 5-8 p.m.
First Friday Market & Movie Night | Fri., Oct. 7 | 5-9 p.m. | Moore Square, 200 S. Blount St., Raleigh | Free | Shop from 35+ local makers + watch a free screening of “Jurassic Park.”

Saturday, October 8

Triangle Walk to End Alzheimer’s | Sat., Oct. 8 | 7 a.m.-1 p.m. | Moore Square, 200 S. Blount St., Raleigh | Fundraising | Held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide, this event is the world’s largest fundraiser for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research

Sunday, October 9

Haunting at Pour House Circus Show | Sun., Oct. 9 | 8 p.m. | The Pour House Music Hall & Record Shop, 224 S. Blount St., Raleigh | $18.00+ | Be dazzled by circus and sideshow acts from around The Triangle.

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather

78º | Mostly sunny | 7% chance of rain ☀️

Development

The Wake County Board of Commissioners awarded a $20 million contract to build Wake County’s first new park in 12 years. Construction of the 300-acre Beech Bluff County Park located near Garner and Fuquay-Varina will begin next month.

Coming Soon

La Terrazza, a new concept by Raleigh restaurateur Samad Hachby, is opening on The Dillion’s rooftop this spring. The restaurant will have an interior dining room with floor-to-ceiling glass walls, two bars, and an outdoor patio. The menu will feature Mediterranean + Italian dishes. 🌆

Community

Head downtown this Fri., Oct. 7 for October First Friday events. Don’t miss the NC MetalWorks Art Gallery popping up at 206 Fayetteville St. or The Burrow’s grand opening market. Plus, Curate will be open late + serving complimentary drinks.

Eat

This is a rare treat. Crook’s Corner (610 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill) is selling Persimmon Pudding on Sat., Oct. 8 from 12-5 p.m. Each container ($15) is enough for two servings. Arrive early — the Honeysuckle Sorbet sold out in 37 minutes. 🥄

Drink

Cause for Paws of NC is hosting a Howl-O-Ween Pup Crawl on Sat., Oct. 15. Dress up your dogs in spooky costumes and bring them to Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Zenith, Crank Arm Brewing, and Ruby Deluxe for food, drinks, raffles, and more. Register ($20+). 🐾

Cause

The Diaper Train — a local nonprofit providing diapers to low-income families across Wake County — is looking for weekly volunteers to pack and distribute diapers. Learn more + sign up.

Sports

The ACC Baseball Championship will return to Durham Bulls Athletic Park in 2023. The twelve-team tournament will be held from Tues., May 23-Sun., May 28. ⚾
We want to make sure that you’re catching all the sports coverage you need to join the conversation. As the fall season gets going, tell us what kind of sports content you want to see in RALtoday. The ball is in your court.

Edu

The WCPSS secured a $13.5 million federal grant to start magnet programs at Wildwood Forest and Wake Forest elementary schools. Funds will also be used to improve the magnet programs at Centennial Campus and East Millbrook middle schools. 📚

Announced

By becoming a RALtoday member, you’ll directly support our mission of offering our newsletter, social content, and website access for free to all Raleighites (read: no pesky paywalls). Learn more + sign up.

Real Estate

The Gaines Farmhouse in Flowers Plantation’s Bedford neighborhood will be featured in the 2022 Parade of Homes. Built by Mattamy Homes, 305 Mallard Loop Dr. in Clayton is a 5 BD, 3 BA stunner. See the home for yourself during the open house from Fri.-Sun., Oct. 7-9 + 14-16.*

Home

There’s more to life than constant home upkeep. Skip the repairs + request a free offer. 🏡*

Shop

Synergy Face + Body is celebrating FAB Week now through Sat., Oct. 15 with special pricing on a selection of treatments like facials and massages, retail savings + more. See the specials.*

Outdoors

Notice an uptick in any of these feathered friends in your backyard lately? Keep them safe from colliding with your windows — a cause of death for millions of birds each year — by throwing up some decals like these. We love these leaf designs too to keep things festive for fall.*

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

Smoky Hollow gains momentum 🔨

Smoky Hollow announces 3 new tenants and next restaurant opening

Construction within Smoky Hollow is ramping up. | Photo courtesy of Kane Realty Corporation

Things are ramping up in Smoky Hollow. Three NC-owned businesses have been added to Smoky Hollow’s tenant lineup + another eatery could open this month. First, here’s what’s new:

New Anthem Beer Project — a craft beer brewery and taproom — will open its first location outside of Wilmington.
Heat Studios — a group fitness and personal training gym with a focus on strength training — will be Smoky Hollow’s second fitness-focused tenant. Raleighites Jake Giamoni and Megan Hanna first opened Heat in 2016.
Two Raleigh locals will open HUSH Hair Lash Brow — an open-concept salon specializing in luxury hair, brow, and lash services — in early 2023.

So, when will the previously announced spots open? Here are some updates from Kane Realty Corporation:

J. Lights will be the next Smoky Hollow spot to open — as early as this month.
Milklab is under construction + opening by the end of 2022.
Madre is under construction + opening in early 2023.
Midwood Smokehouse is under construction + opening in early 2023.
The Crunkleton is waiting for permits; there’s no expected opening date yet.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Anne.

Editor’s pick: Oysters will always have a special place in my heart. I fell in love with my fiancé during a Charleston oyster roast when he taught me how to shuck. Also, oysters are delicious (especially Green Gills from Mandolin). 🤍

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? We’re here to help you choose the best patch for pumpkin pickin’.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Cat George, Anne Tate, Sarah Leonhardt, Erin McPherson, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Charis Painter | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

ADVERTISE | SHOP | CAREERS | ETHICS

Did a friend forward this free newsletter to you?