Oyster Shot

New Orleans shares a few traits with San Francisco. You can find excellent food and lots of people who think debauchery is a sign of sophistication. Both cities have lost some of their historical distinctiveness to economic and social fads. Politicians from either place are likely to be crazy and should not be given leadership posts in Congress.

That said, San Francisco is a place where you can actually do business. New Orleans is a place where you could actually live, as I did for quite a few years. Under no circumstances should you attempt to do business in New Orleans or live in San Francisco.

In New Orleans, oysters are plentiful and very much the food of ordinary folk. But the oyster shot, which has a Louisiana flavor to it, was purportedly concocted by gold miners in San Francisco who thought oysters were the food of the rich.

1 small freshly shucked raw oyster with its juice or liquor
1 ounce ice cold high-quality Vodka
Dash of Tabasco sauce or your favorite hot sauce
Squeeze of fresh-squeezed lemon juice

Place oyster and its liquor (juice) in bottom of a chilled martini or shot glass (any small glass may be used). Pour in Vodka; add Tabasco Sauce and lemon juice. Drink as a shot, allowing oyster to slide down your throat, try not to chew. Enjoy!

In New Orleans, raw oysters are eaten in large quantities, not with a dash of Tabasco but with copious amounts of Tabasco, horseradish, Worcestershire, and whatever else is handy. They should be accompanied by Dixie Beer, maybe with a dash of vodka.