I had a prompt 'Foes' to find and read about … there was a poem by William Blake 'A Poison Tree' – but I came across the Oyster guzzler – which amused me … Dando punished and savag'd the oysters ... as a foe might do ...
 |
| Dando as perceived by Thackeray in his short story 'The Professor' ... here is Dando declaring his name and quality ... |
… especially as I'd never heard of Dando (1802 - 1832), nor the publisher and printer James Catnach (1792 - 1841), who had published this ballad …
… live and learn I say – and if there's a chance in this day and age – enjoy a few oysters, so be it … also I had found a fun poem for you and the blog.
.png) |
| Speciality Oyster Bar for the rich |
The Ballad:
"The Life and Death of Dando, the Celebrated Oyster Glutton”
One day he walk'd up to an oyster stall.
To punish the natives, large and small;
Just thirty dozen he managed to bite,
With ten penny loaves—what an appetite!
But when he had done, without saying good day,
He bolted off, scot free, away;
He savag'd the oysters, and left the shell—
Dando, the bouncing, seedy swell.
.png) |
| Street food for the poor man |
The prompt Write Edit Publish 'Chocolat' is coming up on the 17th – so in the run up … I thought I'd write about recipes I'd made back in the day – 50+ years ago … but we start with this ballad – which amused me …
.png) |
| Dishes with Oysters, Fruit and Wine - 1620s painting by Osias Beert (1580 - 1623) |
... my father used to love oysters when six were exorbitant – I tried one in the early 1960s … the next time I had them was years later in South Africa – when I had many.
 |
| Foods from plant sources |
… the next posts during August were dishes I served, after my parents separated, at a party my father put on to celebrate his new home. I was in my very early twenties … as I need some easy posts: August is food month …
My post from 2013 on Oysters:
Edward Dando – c/o Wikipedia ...
James Catnach – also from Wiki …
There are other links in the James Catnach entry – which might be of interest …
William Blake – A Poison Tree ...
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
32 comments:
I love most sea-food but I only had oysters once - that was enough for me thanks. And they are rather expensive to buy! Apparently the best oysters in the UK are from Maldon, in Essex (and in Cornwall) but being fairly local still doesn't entice me.
CLICK HERE for Bazza’s colourfully crapulous Blog ‘To Discover Ice’
Raw oysters is just something I've never wanted to try.
Hari OM
What a character you have introduced us to today! I enjoyed reading his story and fear his comment about the toffs getting away with owning much debt, yet the poor suffer for it could apply as much today... YAM xx
The first person who ate raw oysters had to have been starving! :-)
https://rolandyeomans.blogspot.com/2023/08/why-writing-in-crosshairs-iwsg-post.html
If oysters were extremely expensive, it made sense for Dutch stll life artists to include a plate of them in a classy painting. The 1620s Beert painting is lush.
If Edward Dando and I were at an oyster bar together, I could give him a run for his money--maybe not thirty dozen, but a lot. I absolutely love oysters. Quite an interesting little bit of oyster lore, Hilary.
I'm looking forward to more about food in August!
Great poem, Hilary. I don't like oysters, so am not tempted to challenge Dando.
Not a big oyster fan. Interesting the things that get immortalized in poetry that we then have no idea about later.
Very catchy little ditty. Not a fan or oysters though I like most seafood.
@ Bazza - I love all seafood ... but I loved oysters out in South Africa - we didn't have them often, but when we did we thoroughly enjoyed them. I gather they're still expensive here - ours off Eastbourne were over-fished in the 1800s - so the beds aren't here anymore ... Whitstable is the place to go, this side of the Thames ... but I know about your Maldon, Essex ones - lots of middens from the Roman times too.
@ Alex - oh you're missing out ... especially from your Japanese days - I can't believe you didn't eat sushi out there?!
@ Yam - yes ... I was delighted to find Dando ... and you're right about the debt back then, and the debt today - the toffs still get away with it ...
@ Roland - I know ... that's been mentioned about many foods - the Romans ate a lot of oysters ... who ate one first? - well we shall never know. Actually the strandlopers in Southern Africa 'back in the very early days' had to eat and lived off the coast and its food sources ...
@ Hels - well actually back in the 1600s - oysters would be very cheap, as we know from the UK, New York in the late 1800s ... and the Romans lived off them ... as their middens show ... so the painting is indicative of the time - oysters easily available ...
but yes Beert's painting is a delight ...
@ Lee - you and I would have a wonderful evening sharing a lot of oysters, while we nattered about life ... I just was bemused to see the article about Dando as the guzzler of oysters ...
Good to know you're looking forward to the August foodie month ...
@ Janice - that's ok ... the more oysters for Lee and I and all oyster lovers! I understand people's dislike of them ... just happy it doesn't happen to me!!
@ Liz - Another non-oyster lover ... but also poetry, the painting, people all immortalised in our history and its future ...
@ Susan - yes I was very happy with the ditty ... but another non oyster lover ... such is life!!
Cheers - thanks for visiting ... it's interesting to remember that just over 100 years ago oysters were very cheap, also 2,000 years ago in Roman days oysters were a-plenty - thanks for visiting - lovely to see you all - Hilary
Re the Swell - the more things change...
Loved that poem. Who knew that you could find oysters down rabbit holes?
LOL - such a silly poem.
He can eat all of my oysters!
They say oysters are an aphrodisiac but I don't get it! They seem pretty awful and slimy, to me. Pass the shrimp. ☺
@ EC - yes ... so much change. I'm delighted everyone is enjoying the poem and my finding out about Edward Dando ... well one does wonder what else might be found down rabbit holes - why not an oyster party?!
@ Diane - yes ... perhaps a doggerel poem ... but amusingly fun ...
@ Jacqui - that's fine but don't give them to him ... I'll have a share!!
@ Debbie - you too ... I'll have your share too. But I'll also join you in a shrimp meal ...
Thanks - I'm happy you all enjoyed the post - cheers Hilary
Never taken to the idea of the slimy little critters, but my husband loves them. More than makes up for me!
Can't wait to see what you come up with for Chocolat!
I had not known of Edward Dando or James Catnach, Hilary, but now I do! I will almost certainly promptly forget them, but that doesn’t detract from the experience of having known them. I must confess, that having tried oysters a couple of times, I was not attracted to them. I know they are considered a connoisseur’s delight but my pretensions to become a gourmand obviously didn’t rise to the occasion. But today we will be having salmon with grilled asparagus, and it seems to me that’s not a bad substitute. If ever you and I meet face to face as they say, and we sup together at an oyster bar (or raw bar as they often called here) I will slide my plate over to you. Down the hatch! Gros bisous de ton ami canadien, David.
Late to reading this but oysters and the concept just don't intrigue me. They look rather gross and it's all about texture for me. They just don't appear appetizing. But your post is amusing and I'm glad your dad enjoyed them. He could certainly have had my share at any time. Cheers.
@ Denise - oysters are a little like marmite ... love or hate them - I'm glad your hubby is on my side! Chocolat - not long now before WEP comes around ...
@ David - both those men beguiled me ... and I thought a post would bring them a little nearer to life for many of us ... thief and glutton Dando no doubt was ... but he inspired many creative stories and tales ...
Salmon with asparagus - sounds delicious ... our asparagus season is over until next year - I'll only use local veggies (if I remember to look at the label!). I'd enjoy a seafood meal with you and Miriam, not necessarily oysters ... though I might have had some in Victoria, when I was on VI. But if you get a few - I'll happily eat them for you!
@ Joanne - another unhappy oyster purveyor - but so many fall your on your side of unappetising ... I just crave them (occasionally - realising I won't have them often!). Yes they were one of my father's treats ... my mother not so much ... and opened my eyes to their delights ...
Thanks to the three of you - the post is bringing back other memories - cheers to one and all - Hilary
Interesting and fun post. I love oysters, we often buy them at out Saturday market, but as with everything nowadays, they have doubled in price since we first moved to France. Hope all is well. Cheers Diane
Thanks Diane - reading about Dando, the thief and guzzler!, and Catnach, the publisher ... who kept folk lore and myth going through various publications ... enticed me to post.
I can believe oysters would be available in French markets ... but again the cost will have increased ... as things have everywhere. I had some on Vancouver Island ... but not here: way too expensive.
Thanks for commenting - I know your garden keeps you well occupied at this time of year ... cheers Hilary
I don’t know how you come up with such fascinating stories and images!
I love reading the interesting facts you weave together for us, even if I don’t like oysters =D
and as always, thank you for keeping in touch on my blog
Tara Tyler Talks
Hi Hilary!
It's a fun little poem. I do enjoy oysters when given a chance. The first time I ate them was at the Oyster bar at the Plaza Hotel (when it was a Hotel), in NYC. I was invited. Such a sumptuous setting for such delectable morsels. Perhaps that is why I enjoyed them so much. I did have them on a few other occasions, which I did enjoy, but not like the first time.
Writing about food is always fun. I look forward to your posts. I don't blog as nearly as often as I should. But, I will try...
I hope to read the WEP entries this time. Not sure if I can write something now for it. Have fun!
Ha! Interesting ballad.
@ Tara - something twigs in and then I look and then I post ... having thought yes it will appeal to readers! So delighted you agree with me. I know many don't like oysters, but many do ... anyway I'm happy to support bloggers ...
@ Michael - good to see you ... yes there's always the odd meal setting which tingles the memory with sensory delights ... one of mine was caviar in London - but oysters in South Africa, also on Vancouver Island ... total indulgence and deliciousness. Your NYC obviously rings those bells ...
No worries - I enjoy WEP and thought I'd write these posts up of times past ... hope you can join us ...
@ Sandra - it's fascinating how many interesting ways of life are written up about in folk stories, ballads etc ... I'm always glad I find out about them ...
Cheers and thanks for visiting and leaving interesting comments - Hilary
Recipes are always a good choice. Hope your day is wondrous. Cheers,
I never acquired a taste for oysters. Which is just as well since I went vegetarian;)
I don't enjoy oysters, but I thoroughly enjoyed the poem -- I had a good laugh over it!
@ Sandra - thanks for the check-ins ... appreciate the comments ...
@ Damyanti - oysters divide don't they ... but poems/ballads are mostly fun and informative ... glad you had a laugh ...
Cheers to you both - Hilary
The only thing I don't like about oysters is getting the blessed shell open! Once achieved, I like to add a drop of Tabasco and enjoy! As for the poem, love it!
Hi Keith - yes that I can believe ... in South Africa we used to get them opened when we picked them up ... so we didn't struggle. Yes tabasco is on my list too - with some lemon and a slice or two of bread and butter ... cheers Hilary
I thought I was the only person in the world who doesn't like oysters until I read the comments here, ha! There's something about the texture that doesn't appeal. Interesting post here, though!
Post a Comment