The Oyster Cart has been one of many main purveyors of on-site oyster shucking and supply providers since 2013. The Oyster Cart caters to a variety of occasions — from intimate at-home dinner events to convention occasions with attendees that run into the hundreds. The Oyster Cart goals to ship a singular occasion expertise that company received’t quickly overlook by providing solely the best and freshest oysters for a fuss-free indulgence, paired with a service customary that’s inimitable. Founder Adam Bathroom shares the story behind this distinctive idea, the model’s dedication to freshness and sustainability and what lies forward for this beloved purveyor of premium oysters.
As a Singapore-based model, what impressed the creation of The Oyster Cart
The Oyster Cart started with a easy concept: to carry recent oysters and an unforgettable expertise straight to individuals — wherever they had been. Again in 2013, dwell oyster shucking at non-public occasions was just about unprecedented in Singapore. I began with a small pushcart, retrofitting an IKEA trolley right into a cellular oyster station.
The inspiration got here throughout a backpacking journey by way of Europe, the place I noticed distributors paddling oysters from carts alongside the streets. That picture caught with me, and after I returned, I made a decision to recreate that magic right here — and identify the corporate The Oyster Cart.
Beginning out was a mixture of enjoyable and hustle. I cycled round neighbourhoods, handing out flyers and introducing the idea. What started as a facet hustle has grown right into a full-time pursuit — bringing oysters to occasions, providing same-day supply, and now internet hosting dine-in experiences.
What are the primary varieties of oysters present in nature?
There are 5 major oyster species generally consumed worldwide: Crassostrea gigas (Pacific), Crassostrea Virginica (Jap), Oyster edible (European Flat), Crasostrea roof (Kumamoto), and Oyster Lurida (Olympia). Every species brings distinctive textures and flavours, which fluctuate even additional relying on their surroundings — very like wine grapes expressing terroir.
The place do oysters get their flavour or “merroir” from?
Oysters tackle the traits of their rising surroundings — salinity, mineral content material, water temperature, algae, and tidal motion. This distinct flavour profile known as merry — the marine equal of terroir. That’s why the identical species can style utterly completely different when grown in France, Japan, or Eire.
What varieties of oysters are mostly utilized by The Oyster Cart?
We predominantly serve Crassostrea gigas (Pacific oysters) from France and Eire, chosen for his or her versatility, clear end, and broad flavour attraction. For discerning purchasers, we often function Oyster edible (European Flats), prized for his or her daring brininess and deeper complexity. Seasonal varieties are additionally rotated all year long to spotlight distinctive merroirs and farming practices from all over the world.
Our choice isn’t based mostly solely on origin or species — it’s additionally formed by steady suggestions from our prospects. A lot of them have exceptionally refined palates, and their preferences play a key function in guiding our curation. In that sense, the oysters we serve usually are not solely a mirrored image of the farms we belief, but additionally of our purchasers’ beautiful style.
Importantly, we by no means use frozen oysters. An excellent oyster ought to at all times be served dwell. Freshness is non-negotiable — and it’s a regular we uphold in every bit we serve.
How lengthy can oysters stay recent after harvesting?
Stay oysters can keep recent for as much as seven days from harvest when saved correctly in a cool, humid surroundings. As soon as shucked, freshness depends upon method. A correctly shucked oyster — with the shell intact, meat unpunctured, and brine retained — is finest consumed inside 3 to 4 hours. That’s why we at all times shuck to order, even for deliveries.
What are the dietary advantages of consuming oysters?
Completely. Oysters are extremely nutrient-dense. They’re low in energy and excessive in protein, zinc, vitamin B12, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids. They’ve earned their repute as a superfood — delivering indulgence and well being advantages in a single shell.
How would you describe the flavour profile of an oyster? What tasting notes ought to one anticipate?
An awesome oyster begins with a clear burst of ocean brine, adopted by layers of flavour — sweetness, nuttiness, minerality, and even hints of cucumber or melon, relying on its origin. Texture issues too — from plump and creamy to crisp and snappy. Each oyster is somewhat snapshot of the ocean it got here from.
How do you preserve constant high quality requirements at The Oyster Cart?
We work completely with farms which have glorious security data and traceability. We additionally choose partnering with family-owned farms that take delight within the oysters they produce. Each batch is inspected upon arrival, and our staff is rigorously skilled in hygiene, cold-chain administration, {and professional} shucking. For shucked oysters, we’re uncompromising — if one thing isn’t excellent, we discard it. We solely serve oysters we’re proud to place our identify on.
Is there a super methodology or etiquette in relation to consuming oysters?
Uncooked, freshly shucked, and ideally unadorned — maybe with a contact of lemon or a splash of mignonette. However we at all times encourage our company to strive the primary oyster plain, to understand its pure flavour. And at all times chew — slurping is simply half the story; chewing unlocks the oyster’s full character.
Which beverage do you consider finest enhances the flavours of oysters — a crisp white, sake, or maybe Champagne?
Champagne is the timeless traditional — its acidity and bubbles fantastically complement an oyster’s richness. That mentioned, a crisp Muscadet or a dry Junmai Ginjo sake can even pair exquisitely, relying on the oyster and the temper. It’s all about stability and concord.
Provided that your oysters are sourced from Europe, how do you uphold sustainability and biodiversity all through your provide chain?
We work with farms that practise accountable aquaculture — no chemical feeds, minimal ecological disruption, and powerful commitments to biodiversity. Oysters themselves are regenerative filter feeders: they clear the water and assist restore marine ecosystems. For us, sustainability isn’t a development — it’s the muse of what we do.
Wanting forward 5 years, the place do you see The Oyster Cart, and what key milestones do you propose to succeed in?
We’re aiming to develop past Singapore by way of strategic regional partnerships. On the similar time, we’re creating extra oyster appreciation experiences — like guided tastings and pairing classes — to assist individuals higher perceive merroir, seasonality, and the craftsmanship of shucking. Our aim is to construct a deeper connection between individuals and the story behind each oyster.
Inform us extra about your on-line oyster ordering service obtainable to prospects in Singapore.
Sure! Our web site makes it straightforward to pre-order oysters for same-day or next-day supply, or self-collection. Every order is freshly shucked simply earlier than dispatch, rigorously packed, and delivered chilled — able to take pleasure in. Whether or not it’s for a celebration or only a quiet indulgence, we make oyster enjoyment seamless, recent, and fuss-free.
Which oyster selection is your private favorite?
That’s like selecting a favorite little one — but when I needed to identify one, it will be Louët-Feisser oysters from Carlingford, Eire. They strike an ideal stability of salt and sweetness, with a nuttiness and that signature adductor crunch I personally love. Elegant, constant, and deeply satisfying.
When you may identify one mentor who has formed your profession, who wouldn’t it be?
Mr. Robin Pho — a mentor whose coronary heart is actually larger than the ocean. His generosity, environmental management, and dedication to uplifting the group have left an enduring impression on me. He’s provided invaluable recommendation and opened many doorways over time. I deeply respect his values, each in enterprise and in life.
For extra on the most recent in chief interviews and reads, click on right here.
