From The Twelve Apostles Hotel, it’s a mere 15 km hop over the peninsula to Groot Constantia. One moment you’re gazing at the sparkling Atlantic and the next, it’s the Indian Ocean you’re viewing from the rising vineyards of this historic estate.

Groot Constantia is the birthplace of South Africa’s wine industry. From its founding, Constantia wines made gifts for the Kings and Queens of Europe, as well as historical giants such as Sir Walter Scott and Napoleon Bonaparte. Indeed, Napoleon was supplied with Constantia wines throughout his exile on St Helena. As he lay on his deathbed, so the story goes, his final request was to be served a glass of the ‘liquid gold’ of the Cape.

Today the estate retains the elegance of its heyday. Approaching the original manor house through a valley of antique cultivars, it’s easy to tumble through history, and see the vineyards as they were seen by the estate’s founder, Governor Simon van der Stel.

Van der Stel was born at sea, and his innate sense of adventure led him to a job with the Dutch East India Company, running the Cape settlement as a refreshment station for ships en route to the Spice Islands. Van der Stel saw more in the station than just a ‘tavern of the seas’, and chose the Constantia Valley for his farm in 1663. As an experienced vintner, and stickler for quality, van der Stel’s wines quickly rose to prominence, a position retained to this day.

Groot Constantia offer tours of their vineyard as well as cellar (above)

Groot Constantia now offers wine tastings, and cellar and vineyard tours. The estate has three museums. The Manor House is a 300 year-old Dutch-Renaissance beauty, replete with gables and 18thC furnishings. The Orientation Centre houses artefacts, photographs and paintings depicting the history of the estate and slavery. Lastly, The Cloete Cellar showcases antiquarian drinking vessels and winemaking equipment. Best of all, you know that a chilled Sauvignon Blanc awaits at one of the restaurants.

Groot Constantia has two restaurants with panoramic views of the vineyards and False Bay. Try Jonkershuis for more traditional Cape fare (or a picnic basket to be enjoyed on the lawns), or Simons Restaurant for more avant-garde, fusion cuisine.

For more info about opening times and tours, go to www.grootconstantia.co.za

We’re very excited about some new developments at Red Carnation. You’d think we would stop at the epic scenery, opulent suites and sumptuous dining, but we thought we’d give you even more to look forward to! September 2011 sees the grand re-opening of the famed spa at Cape Town’s glorious Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa, and the unveiling of our long-awaited range of deluxe body products and spa treatments, B|Africa.

The Spa  has been touched by the brilliant hand of designer, Toni Tollman, of Red Carnation’s Tollman family-owned business.

The Spa Lounge at The Twelve Apostles

An unearthly, all-white crystal grotto is just the beginning of the sensual journey you’ll undertake at this magical spa. Stone, marble, granite and glass are used to create a natural temple for body and soul. No detail is left to chance, as walls and ceilings are patterned with ornamental cornices and motifs.

The Rasul Chamber

The treatment rooms are state-of-the-art, and include hydrotherapy baths and rain showers, as well as a Rasul Chamber for traditional steam and mud cleansing rituals; a very special experience. You’ll also find a superbly-equipped salon, Tranquility Lounge, Vichy Shower and Wild Lanyana Arometherm Room.

Are you pining yet? We know we are. “We have no doubt that our guests are going to love it as much as we do,” says Toni Tollman. “While the interior of The Spa is exceptional, The Twelve Apostles’ unique position on the mountains overlooking the Atlantic Ocean means that a sunset treatment or romantic couples picnic in our newly-renovated outdoor gazebos is an absolutely unforgettable experience.”

B|Africa

But there is more good news. Our award-winning South African spas at the ultraluxurious Twelve Apostles, The Oyster Box and Bushmans Kloof will now be stocked with B|Africa, our exclusive new product range.

We turned to the ancient African landscape for inspiration and ingredients of potent restorative power. Bea Tollman, founder and president of the Red Carnation Hotel Collection says, “The unique natural habitats of each of the Red Carnation properties are encapsulated in our sensational B|Africa products and treatments, which harness the essential, life-giving properties of Mother Nature’s rich bounty to calm, detoxify, nourish and energise body, mind and spirit.”

Extravagant ingredients include Baobab oil, avocado butter, indigenous honey, rooibos, Mongongo nut, Ximenia and Marula oils, and west coast sea salt high in mineral value. These natural wonders are used to create such products as Fynbos Sugar Scrub, Ceremony Bath Milk, body balms and crystal-infused body oils.

We have developed a body range that is luxuriant and decadent, but with a deep sense of responsibility for the beloved land from which we obtain the vital elements to make it so. We are passionate about Fair Trade, sustainable harvesting practices and organic ingredients.

Wayne Coetzer

1. Sardine Run — Protea Banks, KwaZulu Natal

If you’ve not heard of the Sardine Run, check out our earlier post. It’s an awesome event that occurs in June and July as massive schools of sardines start their migration from the colder depths of the Cape and move to the warmer waters of KwaZulu Natal near the Oyster Box

As you’ll see from this video you dive to depths of about 5–7 meters and watch as dolphins, whales, sharks and even the Cape Gannet (dive bombing from above) tuck in to sardine supper.

2. Hotspot — Sodwana Bay, KwaZulu Natal

Sodwana Bay offers a host of great dives but this one is all about Zambezi and Tiger sharks, spectacular whipcorals, game fishing, and blue and gold Fusiliers. You start from a 100 meter long ledge and reach depths of 27–30 meters. Two longnose Hawkfish hide under the overhang of black coral. There are caves, pinnacles and lots of sharks for the adrenalin junkies.

3. Clifton Rock — Cape Town

Clifton Rock sits in the Atlantic Ocean about 100 meters off the shore south-west of Cape Town. It encompasses an area with a large number of boulders, creating wonderful swim-throughs and secret spots for marine life including nudibranches, starfish, soft sponges and crayfish.

This is a great intro for new divers still getting into their swing and a great activity to enhance your long summer days with some sunbathing on the beach and a new experience that is both fun and definitely refreshing!

4. Uniforms — Sodwana Bay, KwaZulu Natal

This Sodwana Bay dive site is situated in iSimangaliso Wetland Park north of Durban. Known for its coral diversity, the best time for diving here is said to be between April and September even though that is when the water is at its coldest. If you prefer the summer water temperatures of about 25 degrees during the months of December and January you are set for a treat as this is the time the turtles lay their eggs.

This dive spoils you with its layered contoured coral and ocean beauties such as the Tiger Angelfish, purple butterfly fish, yellow tail goldie and much more….

Tiger Shark

5. Raggie Cave / Shark Alley — Aliwal Shoal, KwaZulu Natal

Two names for the same dive site situated off the coast of KwaZulu Natal at Aliwal Shoal. It is made up of an 80,000 year old sandstone reef and has been selected as one of the top ten dives sites of the world promising almost anything a diver can wish for. From June through November you are sure to see Ragged Tooth Sharks and in summer you are most likely to see Tiger sharks and Hammerheads!

6. Avalanche Reef — Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape

Known for its beautiful coastal scenery, Port Elizabeth is a hub of outdoor water activities and offers some great dive sites. The water temperatures are definitely some of the coldest so if you own a dry suit it is advisable to use it.

This dive takes you to a gorgeous, densely populated coral reef – it’s an amazing experience that’s well worth braving those cold waters!

7. Haerlem Wreck — Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape

This dive takes you to depths of about 18–21 meters. Haerlem Wreck is all that’s left of a navy frigate that, scuttled in 1987, has become an artificial reef perfect for divers. She has settled 21 meters below the surface, with her bow to the south and has created holes, nooks and crannies for the curious diver keen to encounter some shy sharks, a variety of fish and soft coral.

Scuba-diving

8. A Frame — Simonstown, Cape Town

Located 5km south of Simons Town, the A Frame area consists of 3 shore dives — one of which is also called the A Frame, said to be named after the small cave entrance shaped in an A. As you make your way from the white beach sand into the water it’s a perfect spot for a night dive. You can expect to see pipefish, lobsters, seals, several types of rays and some harmless sharks such as pyjama sharks and dogfish.

9. Storms River Mouth — Mossel Bay, Garden Route

Mossel Bay is well sheltered and offers one of the “mildest climates of the world”. This dive location is perfect for adrenaline junkies as it is well known for its shark cage diving where you will see Great Whites feeding. For those on the other end of the adrenalin-spectrum, Storms River Mouth is the location for you, as it is all about gorgeous reefs and big fish! With the drop off being quite tame it is also possible to do some night diving which is a whole new experience and very exciting.

10. Paquita Wreck — Knysna Heads, Garden Route

Situated in the small touristy town of Knysna, found on the Garden Route, this dive (to depths of up to 20 meters) promises to be one of the best wreck dives you will see around these parts. The Paquita, a 460 ton German vessel, ran ashore in 1903 when she struck the Knysna Heads en-route to Barbados. This dive is all about timing as it is located on the mouth of a large lagoon where tides get pretty rough.

Seahorses, Steenbras and gorgeous corals are just some of the marine life you will see.

Horst Frehse

The Garden Route is a stunning 200km stretch of coastline about half a day’s drive east from Cape Town. The climate is the second mildest in the world (after that of Hawaii), so the landscape is magnificently verdant and ecologically diverse, with a wealth of wildlife, forests and Fynbos. Many describe the area as “South Africa’s Garden of Eden”.

The attractions are too numerous to list here but here are my top tips.

The Tsitsikamma National Park is one of South Africa’s most dramatic protected areas with massive breakers crashing into towering cliffs, deep gorges covered in thick forest and towering mountains rising steeply inland. Adrenalin junkies can jump off the Bloukrans Bridge, the world’s highest commercially operated bungee jump (216 metres!). The park also boasts one of South Africa’s best long-distance hikes, the 42km Otter Trail, offering five days of superb coastal walking with rivers to ford and plenty of time to swim, snorkel or just relax.

The jewel of the Garden Route is Plettenberg Bay. Originally christened the “beautiful bay” by early Portuguese explorers, it offers miles of unspoilt coastline and beautiful, uncrowded beaches. It is also known as the whale watching capital of the world. Southern Right Whales come within metres of the shore, along with Bottlenose Dolphins, Fur Seals, Humpbacks and Killer Whales.

The Cango Caves, in the Klein Karoo mountains, are near the top of the list of South Africa’s most popular attractions. A series of dripstone caverns, stretching for 4kms, open into vast halls of towering stalagmite boasting formations with names like ‘the bridal couple’, ‘glass flower fantasy’, ‘weird cango candle’ and ‘the hanging shawl’. ‘Cleopatra’s Needle’, which stands 9 metres high and is at least 150,000 years old, is one of the main attractions, but the beautiful dark grey roof, with its smoothly sculptured hollows and pendants, comes a close second.

Oudtshoorn, at the heart of the Klein Karoo, is a remarkable town – in the late Victorian and the Edwardian period it became incredibly wealthy from the production of Ostrich feathers, much in demand with the fashion industry. Demand is not the same these days but the area still boasts a number of ostrich ranches producing meat, leather, eggs and feathers – you can even go for a ride on the world’s biggest bird!

The Garden Route is also a magnet for surfers with Victoria Bay, Buffalo Bay (last wild buffalo to roam the beach was in fact killed here in 1883!) and Plettenberg Beach all being very popular. The really serious guys carry on east to Jeffrey’s Bay to tackle the legendary “supertubes“.

The Garden Route offers a wide range of spectacular scuba diving opportunities. In Plettenberg Bay there’s Groot Bank, Redbait Reef, Deep Blinders, Shallow Blinders, Dolphin Column, Jacob’s Poort and Whale Rock, as well as the MFV Athina wreck (1967). At the Tsitsikamma Marine Park there are trails for scuba-diving and snorkelling. In Knysna there’s the Dagleish Bank, East Cape Reef, Bruce’s Bank and the Pinnacle, with the wrecks The Fairholme (1888), The Paquita (1903), and the Phantom wreck. And in Mossel Bay there is the reef at Klein Brak River Mouth, Stingray Reef, Mitch’s Reef, the Santos Reef, Dolosse and the shallow and deep blinders of Windvogel Reef. You really are spoilt for choice!

The town of Knysna is in an absolutely gorgeous spot and was named one of the Top 100 Destinations in the World in the TripAdvisor 2008 Travellers’ Choice Destinations Awards. Apart from the splendours of the surroundings the unassuming little angling museum (entry by donation) is home to an unusual biological curiosity, a preserved Coelacanth. This is a “missing link” fish, with fins resembling primitive arms and legs. It was thought to be extinct until a specimen was caught in a deep-sea fishing net off the South African coast in 1939. Since then divers have discovered several colonies in the depths of the Indian Ocean.

Wayne Coetzer

South Africa’s Sardine Run occurs between May and July when billions of sardines – or more specifically the Southern African pilchard Sardinops sagax – spawn in the cool waters of the Agulhas Bank and move northward along the east coast of South Africa past the beaches of KwaZulu-Natal. The run, containing millions of individual sardines, occurs when a current of cold water heads north from the Agulhas Bank up to Mozambique where it then leaves the coastline and goes further east into the Indian Ocean.

In terms of biomass, researchers estimate the sardine run could rival East Africa’s great wildebeest migration, and as a spectacle it is equally amazing. Little, however, is known of the phenomenon. It is believed that the water temperature has to drop below 21°C in order for the migration to take place.

Sardines group together when they are threatened. This instinctual behaviour is a defense mechanism, as lone individuals are more likely to be eaten than large groups. This creates huge shoals which are often more than 7 km long, 1.5 km wide and 30 meters deep!

These shoals are clearly visible from spotter planes or from the surface – but they also attract huge numbers of predators who close in on the swirling silvery masses of tightly packed fish.

The Cape Fur Seal follows the shoals up the Eastern Cape coastline as far as Port St Johns, but they are just one of the marine creatures who turn up for the feast. About 18,000 Dolphins (mostly the common dolphin but also the bottlenose dolphin) divide the shoals into smaller bait balls. These, as the name suggests, are masses of fish swimming in a spherical formation about a common centre. It is a last ditch defensive measure adopted by schooling fish when they are threatened by predators. These balls can be 10–20 metres in diameter and extend to a depth of 10 metres.

Once the bait ball has been formed the dolphins rush in and gorge themselves, scattering the sardines in all directions before the ball swiftly re-forms itself. The bait balls are short lived, seldom lasting longer than 10 minutes. That’s because all this activity attracts a wide range of other predators.

Sharks arrive in huge numbers – primarily the Bronze Whaler, but also Dusky Shark, Grey Nurse Shark, Blacktip Shark, Spinner Shark, Hammerheads, Great Whites and Zambezi Shark. They are joined by game fish such as shad/elf a.k.a. Bluefish, King Mackerel, various Kingfish species, Garrick, Geelbek and Eastern Little Tuna. Cape Gannets dive from the sky like black and white arrows, scything into the balls from above. Cormorants, Terns and Gulls all get in on the action too. Even Whales cruise through the clouds of fish gulping down huge numbers. The term “feeding frenzy” hardly does the spectacle justice!

Not surprisingly this breath taking phenomenon, one of the world’s greatest natural wonders, attracts spectators from all over the world. Even from a boat it is a magnificent sight, but many venture into the blue seas to snorkel or dive in the boiling waters.

Words alone cannot do the occasion justice – but have a look at these video clips and you’ll see why so many people find the experience totally unforgettable.

If you’d like to experience the drama and excitement of the Sardine Run yourself then the Oyster Box makes the perfect base. Contact us now for further details.

Brett Davidge

Cape Town is often cited as the world’s most popular destination – and for good reason. Even in the cooler winter months, when the northern hemisphere is basking in the sunshine, there are loads of brilliant things to see and do down at the tip of Africa.

1. A trip to Seal Island is especially spectacular in our winter. That’s when the Great White Sharks are at their most active and it’s easy to see why the waters here, with their huge numbers of seals, have been described as a “McDonalds for sharks”! For adrenalin junkies, go Shark Cage Diving in Gansbaai or Mossel Bay.

2. White water rafting is more enjoyable during the cooler winter months because the rivers in the Cape are in flood – and there’s loads of raging torrents, with turbulent rapids, to keep you absolutely drenched!

Water Rafting

3. Namaqualand Flower Route is a must-see, with spring wild flowers starting to bloom from July to October. This brilliant spectacle can be enjoyed along the west coast of the Northern Cape and just north of Cape Town.

4. The Protea Garden at Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden is most magnificent in Winter when the proteas, conebushes and serrurias are in flower. These gardens are world renowned for the beauty and diversity of the Cape flora they display and for the magnificence of its setting against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain.

Whale Watching

5. The Whale Watching Season, mid-June to November. Southern right whales leave their Antarctic feeding ground to frolic in the warmer waters of the Western Cape coast, providing spectacular opportunities for observing these gentle giants.

6. Hiking on a sunny winter’s day is much more comfortable than in the hot summer months – you don’t have to be up at the crack of dawn to avoid the fierce mid-day sun. There’s no shortage of spectacular Hiking Trails with the Western Cape offering the most varied and interesting concentration of hiking trails in the world.

7. Cape Town beaches are less crowded in the winter, and no less spectacular, with a choice of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans on the doorstep.

8. There are some great festivals and events around Cape Town in the winter months – everything from sport to music, food to crafts, and art to dance.

9. Visit one of the many game reserves in the Western Cape region – they’re still teeming with wildlife in the winter.

10. Spend a day indoors at the Twelve Apostles, unwinding in the spa, then relaxing by a warm fire with a glass or two of local wine from the excellent cellar, followed by dinner in our newly refurbished Azure restaurant.

Horst W Freshe

Cape Minstrel’s Carnival. An incredibly colourful spectacle, the annual Kaapse Klopse is a traditional New Year’s celebration. A flamboyant affair involving up to 13,000 costumed dancers, a colourful parade, live music, entertainment, cultural shows and row upon row of food and drinks stalls.

The Cape Argus Cycle Tour. First took place on 28 October 1978 and attracted 525 entrants. Since then it has grown to be the biggest single-day cycle race in the world and attracts around 35,000 entrants. Contestants cover 109 kilometres in some of the most scenic landscapes on the planet. This year it takes place on Sunday 13th March and is preceded by Lifecycle Week, a whole series of events and expos for the whole family.

The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa offers the best vantage point to watch the cyclists on their way to the finish. We have created a unique package for participants and spectators.

Horse Racing

J&B Met. Arguably South Africa’s most glamorous horse racing event, held annually at Kenilworth near Cape Town, the oldest course in the country. The event draws 50,000 brightly bedecked spectators and is a social event that one cannot afford to miss – clear your diary for the 29th of January 2011!

The Splashy Fen Music Festival in Underberg is one of South Africa’s longest-running music events. Concerts and outdoor activities take place every Easter (this year 21st-25th April) on a farm beside the Umzimkulu river in the shadow of the Drakensberg mountains. The festival offers 10,000 music lovers a four-day line-up of some of the country’s hottest acts, top-class sound and lighting, plus a wide choice of outdoor leisure activities for the whole family.

The Comrades Marathon, 29th May 2011. Regarded as the world’s greatest ultra-marathon, it’s run in KwaZulu-Natal between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, a distance of 90 kilometres.

The South African soldiers who gave their lives in World War I gave veteran Vic Clapham the idea to stage a running race in their honour. The first Comrades Marathon was run in 1921 and, except for 5 years during World War II, has been an annual event ever since.

One of the quirkiest fireside tales about the Comrades Marathon involves a Springbok rugby player called Bill Payne, who arrived at the start wearing his rugby boots. En route, he ate a full English breakfast, followed by a hearty chicken curry, a couple of beers at a country hotel and a lot of peach brandy before finishing an incredible 8th. He then played a game of club rugby the next day!

Canoeing

The Unlimited Dusi Canoe Marathon. 17-19 February 2011. An annual event that has as much spectator appeal as competitive spirit and camaraderie. Traversing the Umsundusi River through the Valley of a Thousand Hills in KwaZulu Natal . When the Dusi started in 1951 there were only 8 competitors, but now around 2,000 competitors take part with countless spectators waiting along the rivers edge to cheer intrepid adventurers along.

Cape Outback Mountain Bike Expedition. 18- 21 March 2011, Gouritz, in Western Cape. The route takes participants through the rugged, but incredibly beautiful, Hessequa, Cape-Agulhas and Overberg regions of the Western Cape.

Jazz Festival

Cape Town Jazz Festival. 25-26 March 2011. Now in its twelfth year – this proudly South African event will be hosted at the Cape Town International Convention Centre and promises a star studded line-up.

Time of the Writer. International Writers Festival 14-19 March 2011. The written word will envelop Durban as writers from around South Africa and Africa arrive in for a stimulating week of books, ideas and talk. The festival will feature a diverse gathering of literary luminaries that will include representatives from the many branches of the art such as novelists, short story writers, humour writers, political commentators and more.

Ladysmith Swartkop Challenge. Saturday, 09 April 2011. This is an extreme sport event for teams of 20 + 2 leaders to draw a gun weighing some 1300kg up a hill of up to 1:1 over a course of some 130m. It was inspired by feats of arms in the South African War of 1899-1902 when heavy guns were repeatedly mounted on the top of kopjes and manpower was the only resource once the incline became too steep for draught animals.

Whichever of these events grabs your fancy Red Carnation Hotels will be delighted to welcome you to our award winning family run properties in Cape Town, Durban and the Cederberg Mountains.

Thato Goimane, Sommelier at the Oyster Box Hotel in Durban, takes CNN through his personal favourite South African wines.

Luvo Ntezo

You’ll see the names on the wine lists at the Twelve Apostles, The Oyster Box and Bushmans Kloof, but when you can visit the estates in person it’s too good an opportunity to miss – we have some of the most beautiful vineyards in the world and they produce some outstanding vintages. 

Picking just ten wineries is almost impossible, but here goes.

Bouchard Finlayson.  I love Pinot Noir, so this is my all time favourite.  It’s in the Hemel-en-Aarde valley, which translates as Heaven and Earth, so you get an idea of how breathtaking it is!   Framed by mountains and within sight of the ocean it enjoys a perfect microclimate – the surrounding peaks trap the clouds and moisture from the sea.  Summers are warm rather than hot, winters are mild and frost-free. The sea breezes keep vines cool and encourage slow ripening of flavour-rich grapes.  The most perfect clay shale vineyard soils complete the picture and their Galpin Peak Pinot Noir is legendary.

Wine Cellar

Steenberg Wine Estate.  My initial interest in wines was nurtured by Johan Lopshur of Steenberg.  The estate, only 20 minutes from the centre of Cape Town, hold the distinction of being the oldest farm (1682) in the picturesque Constantia Valley, which is generally considered to be South Africa’s premier wine growing region. With its cool, sea-facing slopes and majestic granite ridges, this vineyard has developed a worldwide reputation for producing excellent Cape wines.

Ken Forrester.  Situated on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountain, in the heart of South Africa’s most famous wine region Stellenbosch, this winery produces iconic chenins.    The farm was established 1689 and is blessed with duplex soils, mountainous terrain and a Mediterranean climate. The picture-perfect trellised vineyards have created many fabulous vintages, one of which was served at the 85th birthday of President Nelson Mandela.

Shiraz Grapes

Anura.  At the foothills on the Simonsberg Mountains in the Stellenbosch region.  Their passion is red wine, specifically Shiraz, but plantings of Mourvedré, Petit Verdot, Sangiovese and Malbec cater for a wide variety of tastes.

Veenwouden.  A small boutique winery, belonging to international opera singer, Deon van der Walt.  Situated in the Paarl region with spectacular views over the Klein-Drakenstein Mountains. 

Elgin Vintners.   A partnership of 6 dedicated grape growers in the cool climate area of the Elgin valley, to the east of the Stellenbosch region and 70km from Cape Town. 

Hamilton Russell Vineyards.  Another producer in the Hemel-en-Aarde valley in the Walker Bay region. 

Dieu Donné.  Situated high on the steep south facing slopes of the Franschhoek Mountains, the winery benefits from the cool climate and rocky soils of weathered granite. 

Du Toitskloof.   Located in a beautiful area near the town of Rawsonville in the Breede River Valley, at the entrance to the spectacular Du Toitskloof Mountain Pass.

Klein Constantia Estate.  In the verdant Constantia valley and part of the original vineyard that became famous for producing “Constantia”, prized throughout Europe in the 18th century by the aristocracy.   Klein Constantia has revived this world class sweet wine.

I’d love to discuss South African wines with you in person, but in the meantime you’ll find more information on my podcast.

Kevin Joseph

Fresh oysters must be alive just before consumption.   To test, tap any open oyster on the shell – if it closes up it’s safe to eat. Oysters which are open and unresponsive are dead, and must be discarded. Some dead oysters, or oyster shells which are full of sand, may also be closed, but they will make a distinctive noise when tapped: they are known as clackers for this reason.

Opening (or “shucking”) oysters requires skill, for live oysters, outside of the water, tend to shut themselves tightly. The most common method for opening oysters is to use a special knife (called an oyster knife, a variant of a shucking knife), with a short and thick blade about 2 inches long.  The blade needs to be inserted at the hinge in the rear of the shell, then twisted. 

Oysters are protandric; during their first year they spawn as males by releasing sperm into the water. As they grow over the next two or three years and develop greater energy reserves, they spawn as females by releasing eggs.  

"Shucking" Oysters

Jonathan Swift famously remarked “He was a bold man that first ate an oyster”but evidence of oyster consumption goes back into prehistory.  Oyster middens, which are piles of discarded shells, are found worldwide.  The midden in Namu, British Columbia, is over 9 meters deep and testifies to over 10,000 years of continuous human oyster consumption.

If you see “Prairie Oysters” on the menu, be warned – these are a North American culinary name for buffalo or bull testicles. They are usually peeled, coated in flour, pepper and salt, sometimes pounded flat, then deep-fried. This delicacy is most often served as an appetizer. A few other descriptive terms, such as “cowboy caviar,” “Montana tendergroins,” or “swinging beef,” may be used.

Oysters are sometimes cited as an aphrodisiac, but this is debatable.  A team of American and Italian researchers who analyzed bivalves did find they were rich in rare amino acids that trigger increased levels of sex hormones.  Also oysters have a high zinc content, a mineral that aids in the production of testosterone.  Alternatively, the oyster’s erotic reputation may only be due to its soft, moist texture and appearance.  It is said Casanova liked start a meal with a dozen oysters.

An oyster produces a pearl when foreign material becomes trapped inside the shell. The oyster responds to the irritation by producing nacre, a combination of calcium and protein. The nacre coats the foreign material and over time produces a pearl.

Folklore says that oysters should be eaten only in months with “r’s” in them—September, October, etc. The notion that oysters should not be eaten in “r”-less months—that is, months that occur during warm weather—may have started in the days when oysters where shipped without adequate refrigeration and could spoil. But today all that has changed and we can enjoy oysters twelve months a year – especially at the Oyster Box, because the hotel has its own beds, so you can be totally sure they’ll be absolutely fresh.