Photographer Julie Bidwell spent a cold winter day harvesting oysters with Perry Raso of Matunuck Oysters in Rhode Island for the 2012 Yankee Magazine feature, Homegrown | Matunuck Oysters (including a recipe for Oysters Rockefeller). Perry practices and promotes sustainable aquaculture and brings the freshest shellfish to his thriving restaurant in East Matunuck including his signature Matunuck Oysters harvested right off the restaurant’s waterfront patio in Potter Pond.
Here’s a look at Julie’s day harvesting oysters – in photographs, of course.
Perry Raso pulling an oyster bag from a cultivated bed. Photo Credit : Bidwell, JuliePerry Raso heading out to the oyster beds. Photo Credit : Bidwell, JulieBoat returning To the Matunuck Oysters dock. Photo Credit : Bidwell, JulieOn the way out to the oyster beds, the frozen shoreline is shrouded in fog. Photo Credit : Bidwell, JulieInlet to Potter Pond and the cultivated oysters beds. Photo Credit : Bidwell, JuliePerry Raso holding oyster bag with mature oysters. Photo Credit : Bidwell, JulieHolding freshly farmed oysters. Photo Credit : Bidwell, JulieAn abundant harvest of fresh oysters. Photo Credit : Bidwell, JuliePerry Raso, seen here in the midst of an oyster harvest, supports the practice of sustainable aquaculture. Photo Credit : Bidwell, JulieThe crew takes a short break on the dock of Matunuck Oysters. Photo Credit : Bidwell, JulieFreshly harvested oysters just off the boat on the way to the kitchen of Matunuck Oyster Bar. Photo Credit : Bidwell, JulieStraight from the farm to the plate. Matunuck Oyster Bar overlooks the dock where the fresh harvest is unloaded. Photo Credit : Bidwell, JulieMatunuck’s signature oysters. Photo Credit : Bidwell, JulieFreshly shucked oysters ready for eating from the raw bar at Matunuck Oyster Bar. Photo Credit : Bidwell, Julie
See more of Julie’s work juliebidwell.com
Learn more about Perry and his restaurant: rhodyoysters.comThis post was first published in 2011 and has been updated.
