Ironside in San Diego Cultivates an Exclusive Oyster

Michelin-Starred Chef Jason McLeod of Ironside Fish & Oyster (one of the country’s most exciting new oyster bars) in Little Italy is working with Minterbrook Oyster Company out of the Puget Sound in Washington state to cultivate his very own oyster, exclusive to his newly opened restaurant. 

Dubbed the “Ironside Select,” these oysters are created from seed to delicious briny bivalve specifically for Chef McLeod, (industry icon, Chef Paul Kahan is also working on this with Island Creek Oyster Farm in Massachusetts). During their debut weekend, 1,563 Ironside Selects sold within the first six hours of service.

West Coast and East Coast oysters vary drastically in flavor profiles. Chef McLeod’s future plans entail working with an oyster company on the East Coast to create another custom oyster with a different flavor profile from that of the Ironside Select. The production of these custom oysters highlights McLeod’s tight-knit relationship with some of the nation’s leading oyster farmers and, having opened doors just shy of 7 months ago, is a prime example of the quality and innovation the culinary industry can expect from Chef McLeod / Ironside Fish & Oyster.

About the Ironside Select oyster: Ironside Selects are hand-farmed throughout the harvesting process. The oysters are then sorted, graded and placed in special trays. These trays are placed back in the saltwater for a period of time allowing the oysters to regenerate any possible chips in the exterior shell. This reintroduction to natural saltwater after sorting and grading minimizes the time out of the water prior to shipment. This careful hand-farmed process helps to ensure that the oysters will arrive fresh and strong. The flavor profile of the Ironside Select features a mild, sweet flavor with a smooth finish and a touch of brine.

*** Chef McLeod’s new Ironside Selects are available at Ironside Fish & Oyster during all hours of operation and are featured as the $1 Happy Hour oyster Monday through Friday from 3pm to 6pm.***

Have you been to Ironside yet?

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