Dibba Bay Oyster Shuck Off

The annual Dibba Bay Oyster Shuck Off is back—this time at Taste of Dubai!

It will be the culmination of the Dibba Bay Oyster Festival which is an annual festival bringing the UAE community together to celebrate the local oyster through education and entertainment.

Here’s what to expect:

Oyster Shucking Competitions

On Saturday February 24th, you can watch chefs battle it out for the title of UAE’s Shucking Champion. With Swiss watchmaker Breitling as the Official Timekeeper every second will count as chefs from across the country compete for the title. This year, Patrick McMurray—who is a World Shucking Champion and Guinness world record holder for opening 39 oysters in one minute—will be hosting the competitions and be part of the judging panel. The show is sure to be a crowd pleaser as shucked oysters from each heat will be passed around to audience members after judging.

Think you’ve got what it takes to compete? Sign yourself up for the amateur shucking competition on Sunday 25th February, but first ask yourself how many oysters you can open in one minute! Register on their website and join the fun with some great prizes to be won. Check out the following rules and regulations:

Each contestant receives a shucking kit and oysters. Contestants must bring their own protective gear.

1. At the signal of the MC, the timekeeper will start the stopwatch.
2. Contestants must aim to open a maximum number of oysters in one minute.
3. Timekeeper will stop the time once a minute is complete. All contestants must put down their knives and step away from the table immediately.
4. Top and bottom shells must be fully separated
5. Oysters must be placed on the table, if dropped on floor they are not counted.
6. Judges will inspect the oysters before confirming the winner.
7. Contestant who opens the maximum oysters in a minute, wins the competition.

Register now at: https://store.dibbabay.com/products/amateur-shucking-competition

Chef Demonstrations

Other than watching the thrilling competitions, you can also catch chefs Jenny Morris and Hattem Mattar as they demonstrate their take on the UAE’s home-grown oyster on the main stage throughout the 3 days.

Exclusive Oyster Menu

Dibba Bay is also running a restaurant pop-up with exclusive dishes at Taste of Dubai where you’ll get to enjoy oysters like you’ve never had them before. Think fried oyster rolls and specially curated toppings that pair perfectly with these local shucks. Don’t miss the beverage stands on offer highlighting the best oyster pairings.

Masterclasses

There will be a range of masterclasses you can sign up for, such as:

How to shuck 101: Learn how to open your own oysters by a World Oyster Shucking Champion, Patrick McMurray. Patrick also holds three Guinness Book Records for shucking oysters. He will be hosting the event all 3 days—don’t miss this guy in action!

Oyster Pairing Masterclasses: Join the experts from The Tasting Class for daily masterclasses where they will teach you the ins and outs of pairing oysters with beverages. You will get to explore the key tasting notes of oysters that should be considered when creating a winning pairing and how different toppings and cooking methods interact with a range of drinks.

Register for oyster pairing workshops at this link.

Oyster Shucking Competition Efficiencies – Workshop: If you are competing in any of the oyster shucking competitions, this one is for you! Join World Oyster Shucking Champion, Patrick McMurray, for all the insights on how to compete to get the best time and presentation points.

Check out Dibba Bay’s website for all the festival details, including how you can visit the farm on their open farm weekend on February 17th and 18th. They have also listed several participating venues around the UAE where you can get exclusive oyster menus and offers, including their AED 8 a shuck deal at the Dibba Bay locations in the Sheraton JBR, Fishing Harbour 2, and the farm shop in Dibba.

To know more about the Dibba Bay Oyster Festival, visit their website.