When that craving for fresh, raw oysters creeps up on you, hotel restaurants are usually the place to go. In a metropolis like Guangzhou, however, options for properly prepared seafood are limited, hence the necessity for a place like Oyster Talks, which serves ocean delicacies raw and at a reasonable cost.
Tucked between residential buildings at the intersection of Machang Lu and Huangpu Dadao, Oyster Talks’ flagship branch is housed in a two-floor establishment that can accommodate 120 people. The installation of five private rooms, the largest of which seats 16 people, makes the restaurant a popular venue for business meetings. A dedicated wine cellar ensures guests have plenty of corks to pop before the conference.
Having spent nearly one year preparing for its grand opening, Oyster Talks – which is partnered with a number of seafood distributers in France – ensures its raw materials are shipped to the restaurant within five days and consumed within their lifespan of 15 days.
Normally, patrons can expect three kinds of oysters in store daily. Crisp and firm, Belon oysters (RMB280/six) are initially bred in deep water before being transferred to the warmer shores of the Belon River in western France. With a strong metallic flavor, this variety stands out for its complex and lingering aftertaste.
Carrying a touch of green in the body, the L’emeraude (RMB150/six) has a briny taste and agreeable hint of seaweed, while the Ostra Regal (RMB150/six) – reared in Ireland in moderate seawater – comes fresh and juicy with a pleasant hazelnut aftertaste.
Of course, pairing oysters with a glass of white wine is the best way to bring out the seafood’s distinctly fresh flavor. Conch Shell Sauvignon Blanc (RMB238) and Bellisca Cava (RMB228) are not to be outdone.
With a broadening menu featuring over 16 varieties of oysters, most of which are grown in France, Oyster Talks strives to promote refined oyster culture embodied by ideal breeding environments, fresh ingredients and sophisticated preparation.
As we savor our meal, we cannot help reflecting on Hemingway’s lines from A Movable Feast: “As I ate the oysters with their strong taste of the sea and their faint metallic taste that the cold white wine washed away, leaving only the sea taste and the succulent texture, and as I drank their cold liquid from each shell and washed it down with the crisp taste of the wine, I lost the empty feeling and began to be happy and to make plans.”
Price: Approx. RMB200
Who’s going: Suited businessmen, classy oyster enthusiasts
Good for: Somber meetings held over gooey bowls of seafood
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