For the Holidays, a Seafood Feast from the Pacific Northwest
Seafood is becoming more popular for holidays as a lighter, more elegant, and sustainable alternative to heavy, traditional holiday meats. And we’ve found a quality purveyor who makes tide-to-table dining possible this Thanksgiving and beyond.
The Pacific Northwest is famed for seafood due to its abundant and diverse marine ecosystems, long history of fishing, and well-managed fisheries. The region’s coastline, rivers, and bays are home to a wide variety of species like salmon, halibut, Dungeness crab, and oysters. Both Indigenous peoples and commercial operations have relied on these waters for sustenance and economic activity for centuries, and the area continues to be a major hub for both fresh catches and seafood-focused cuisine.
It’s particularly the high-quality shellfish, flavorful and grown in a healthy ecosystem under strict regulations, that are the focus of Taylor Shellfish Farms. The company has been farming high-quality, sustainable shellfish in Washington state since the 1890s in various locations throughout Puget Sound, Hood Canal, Samish Bay, Oakland Bay, Totten Inlet, Port Angeles, and Willapa Bay.
They offer a variety of fresh shellfish, including oysters, clams, mussels, and geoduck, available for local pickup or nationwide shipping. There are meal kits to choose from and even a line of tinned seafood. They also offer an oyster bar experience with locations in Seattle, WA.
Totten Inlet is where the company started farming native oysters in the late 1800s, and recently, we were lucky enough to taste some exquisitely creamy and briny small oysters from this location.
But it was Oakland Bay, near the city of Shelton, that delivered our favorite gem of the sea: tiny, sweet, deep-cupped Kumamoto oysters. These treasures are the product of a vital tidal estuary connected to Puget Sound via Hammersley Inlet and fed by Goldsborough Creek. It is one of the more undeveloped inlets and is a significant shellfish habitat within the Puget Sound region.
Oyster season is now—September through April, which makes fall and winter the perfect time to splurge on seafood for entertaining. We are partial, because shellfish pairs well with sparkling wine, which we tend to consume more of during this season. If you’re thinking about having a unique holiday gathering or dinner party, you could go the same route we did: Order from Taylor Shellfish Farms. Here’s what we got:
The Taylor Raw Bar Experience – An Ultimate Oyster Box (45 pcs)
Enjoy a premium raw bar experience in the comfort of your own home with 45 of Taylor’s premium, seasonally selected fresh oysters—plus all the classic fixings for the ultimate raw bar. This box is perfect for parties, special occasions, or just pure oyster lovers. Since the oysters require shucking, this is a fun idea for a gourmet gathering where friends can pitch in to help or shuck their own.
This curated assortment includes: 15 Kumamoto Oysters (prized for their bright, sweet flavor with a refreshing cucumber finish); 15 Shigoku Oysters (strong brininess with a sweet finish and firm, plump texture); 15 Pacific Petite Oysters (briny with delicate vegetal notes imparted by algae and a smooth, sweet finish).
Included with the oysters are a Taylor shucking knife, shucking Gloves, Taylor Shellfish Mignonette Sauce (4oz), mini Tabasco sauce (3.7ml), and a fresh whole lemon. We’re pleased to announce that our delivery arrived fresh, properly refrigerated, and stayed that way for at least a couple of days. The shellfish is harvested at peak freshness and shipped as soon as possible.
(*The oyster selection is subject to change based on availability; product cannot be shipped to TX)
Now, to move on to your big dinner party event: Paella! Arguably one of the Mediterranean’s favorite one-pot meals, paella is a dish that is meant to be shared with others. Cooking paella is a social activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is relatively easy to prepare, making it a good option for people who are new to cooking or who don’t have a lot of time to cook. It’s also great for sipping wine while cooking, as the aromas encourage an aperitif.
Taylor Ultimate Paella Kit
To make the most of their shellfish offerings, Taylor Shellfish Farms teamed up with Matiz Spanish foods to bring you the Ultimate Paella Kit, making it easier than ever to create this traditional Valencian dish at home.
Taylor’s Paella Kit is designed to help you recreate this flavorful, timeless dish with ease, bringing a taste of Spain to your kitchen—and showcasing the mussels and clams they grow sustainably on rafts in the Pacific Northwest. They’ve included the basic essential ingredients to help you get started, while leaving room for you to add your own personal touch and perfect the dish to your liking! The only thing we added was some rings of red pepper and parsley for garnish.
Here’s what comes in the kit: 1LB Totten Inlet Mussels; 1LB Manila Clams; 16-oz Wild Caught Blue Gulf Shrimp; 2.2LB bag Matiz Paella Rice; jar Matiz Saffron; jar Matiz Sofrito; and best of all, a Matiz Paella Pan! This is a meal kit like few others and is sure to make your season’s special occasion memorable, flavorful, and fun.
Pop a bottle of bubbly, get family and friends involved, and celebrate the fact that companies like Taylor Shellfish Farms support sustainable fishing, allowing us to enjoy such occasions for many years to come.
