A01=Andreas Ammer
A12=Falk Nordmann
art
Author_Andreas Ammer
Author_Falk Nordmann
Category=DNL
Category=NHB
Category=WB
Category=WBTF
chef
cooking
culture
eq_bestseller
eq_biography-true-stories
eq_food-drink
eq_history
eq_isMigrated=1
eq_isMigrated=2
eq_nobargain
eq_non-fiction
food writing
foodie
gift
gourmet
history
home cook
marine biology
mollusk
painting
seafood
Product details
- ISBN 9781778401275
- Dimensions: 133 x 190mm
- Publication Date: 10 Apr 2025
- Publisher: Greystone Books,Canada
- Publication City/Country: CA
- Product Form: Hardback
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'Narrated with awe and gusto, Andreas Ammer’s Portrait of an Oyster is a must for all who find their joy on the half shell … Funny, thoughtful, and tastebud-piquing'—Foreword Reviews
A gorgeously crafted exploration of the oyster’s role in art, culture, cuisine, science, and history—featuring stunning full-colour illustrations.
Everyone recalls eating their first oyster, just like they remember their first kiss …
Portrait of an Oyster delves beyond the shucked shell to reveal the rich and surprising world of the oyster and the artists, philosophers, explorers, and chefs the mollusc has inspired across the centuries. Illustrated with full-colour paintings, vintage advertisements, line drawings, and archival photographs, Portrait of an Oyster shares intriguing insights into the biology and cultivation of oysters as the author embarks on an expedition across Europe and North America to taste some of the world’s best.
Did you know that oysters shift their gender several times over the course of their lifetimes? They have one muscle that keeps their two shells clamped firmly shut, and a heart and basic circulatory system largely dependent on seawater—although they have no brain or known nervous system.
In the French region of Marennes-Oléron—where much of the technology of modern oysters farming was pioneered—oysters are still considered among the finest in the world. Like champagne, oysters from this region are protected by geographic distinction laws, with some even getting initials lasered into their shells, to preserve their prestige. Portrait of an Oyster travels across France, Europe, and North America, sampling some of the best oysters and restaurants in the world, including in the UK and Copenhagen, and then Boston, New York, New Orleans, and San Francisco.
This book’s stunning features include:
- Full-colour paintings, vintage advertisements, and archival photographs.
- Intriguing insights into the biology, reproduction, and cultivation of oysters.
- Sumptuous travelogs to renowned oyster restaurants and oyster farms.
- Unique backmatter: A glorious guide to global oyster varieties, with drawings and descriptions of each specimen.
Andreas Ammer is a television producer, university lecturer, opera director, and the author of numerous award-winning radio plays in collaboration with different musicians. He lives in Munich.
Renée von Paschen, born in Canada, is a literary translator, conference interpreter, and bilingual poet. She has taught literary translation, as well as theater, film, and media, at several universities. She won a Cine Golden Eagle for best history documentary in 2008.
