Real Oyster Cult Makes Good on Promise to Deliver Delicious Live Oysters to Your Doorstep

Fresh oysters are a delicacy that require one main ingredient, and that’s freshness. So when we heard about seafood company Real Oyster Cult, that says they will deliver fresh oysters across the country to you, and guarantees that they are actually fresh, we had to take a look at it. Fortunately, we found that this promise was in fact delivered upon 100%.

The oysters that we received were all tightly closed within their shells, proof that they were not only alive but also determined to remain that way, with their freshness and sea water inside. Not a single one had even the slightest hint of an open shell. The overall reviewers’ verdict on their taste was an A+.

Real Oyster Cult is one of several national or local firms that have moved into the area of bringing sustainably harvested seafood directly to people’s homes. These oysters arrive live in an insulated cold storage device, which allows them to be stored in a home refrigerator for up to 10 days without a problem.

Of course, who is really going to keep live oysters in the refrigerator for 10 days without eating them? But it’s good to know that you have the option, as long as you keep them on ice.

Real Oyster Cult says that this entire idea came to them because they are already oyster farmers, and they were in the habit of throwing great parties on their floating workspace above the oyster beds, a perfect place to concoct this new business model.

Seems like they did a great job with that idea. Not only do they send the oysters that they cultivate themselves, they also now include the opportunity for seafood lovers to taste oysters from over 70 different farms from across North America. The 20 oysters that we received in the Real Oyster Cult Gift Bundle package were of three different types, and this was from a possible curated selection of over 20 varieties oysters available.  The package can be increased by 20 oysters at a time, and they can send a bundle of 40 or 60 oysters, depending on your needs. The Gift Bundle also includes a free shucking knife and rubberized non-slip gloves, which are not just practical and safe, but also a delight to use. They definitely speed up the process if you don’t have an oyster knife and gloves already available. If you don’t eat oysters on a regular basis, the gloves can alternately be used in the garden.

On top of being a tasty luxury, oysters are known for having multiple health and wellness benefits. Furthermore, apparently being an oyster farmer is more than a delicious occupation, although tiring.  It also helps keep the natural environment clean. Oysters clean the ocean and can filter nitrogen from 25 to 50 gallons of sea water every day. Too much nitrogen is not good for the ecosystem, and oysters contribute to keeping it balanced. Real Oyster Cult says that helping to support this balance is part of their overall mission.

In addition to the several varieties of oysters available, Real Oyster Cult also has seasoning sauces and hot sauces (called Mignon-Nips), wine and whiskey pairing packages, caviar, Maine Lobster, and Jonah Crab Claws. The Gift Bundle starts at around $69.

Find out more at www.realoystercult.com

The Zavor Crunch Air Fryer Oven Gives Twice the Space for Double the Cooking

We have tested several different air fryers, and some are great, and some are not so great. One of the ones that we think is really nice is the Zavor Crunch Air Fryer Oven. It is perfect not just for amateurs who are just getting started with air fryers, before also for experts who use them all the time. One thing in particular that we really love about this item is that it gives you two racks to cook on at the same time, and has a capacity of 12.7 quarts. This doubles the amount of food that you can prepare, as well as doubles the types of food that you can cook simultaneously.

The Zavor Crunch Air Fryer Oven controls are intuitive and easy to use. It’s a very simple 1-2-3 step approach. First step is plugging it in the appliance and turning it on. After that you just set the TEMP and TIME, and you’re pretty much done. Or you can use one of the blue LED display buttons that show different types of foods or food groups such as Fries, Meat, Seafood, Pizza, Vegetables, Bake and Dehydrate, and then automatically set the temperature and cooking time with them. We have found that those buttons are useful, but it is much more useful to have a written guide that will say for a particular type or food or vegetable the specific temperature and length. Fortunately in the instruction booklet that comes with the Zavor there is such a written guide. There are also written Time & Temp guides for air frying that are available online.

Most air fryers require usually a bit of olive oil or another oil on the item to be cooked. This is done simply by putting them in a bowl and a bit of olive oil, then lightly tossing, then adding the food to the rack of the air fryer. The Zavor Crunch Air Fryer Oven has a non-stick drip pan at the bottom to catch drips and for easy cleaning.

We tested different types of recipes in the Zavor Crunch Air Fryer Oven over a period of several weeks. Everyone loves crispy tofu, so of course we tried it with crispy tofu in a sesame sauce. It worked perfectly. Of course french fries are the most popular recipe for air fryers, so we tested the Zavor with different types of potatoes to see what differences there might be in the fries. In addition we tested different sizes and cuts of fries. Regardless of the type or cut, the fries came out very tasty. Our team had a difficult time not eating them all in one go. Yet another addiction.

We also tried air frying Brussel Sprouts to see if they would become crispy. They did, although we still think that roasted in the oven is probably the best place for the tastiest outcome.

In the Zavor Crunch Air Fryer Oven we tried cooking fried chicken, which came out very well, and this was a surprise because one of the biggest fails people have with air frying is when they decide to fry chicken in them. It really takes a very specific combination of ingredients, coating, and temperature to get what most people would want in their fried chicken. This includes having the breading staying on the chicken and not sliding off. The Zavor fortunately came through this ultimate challenge with flying colors.

Cleanup with the Zavor is easy, as most components inside are removable and non-stick, for easy hand washing. Another useful feature that the Zavor Crunch Air Fryer Oven has is the option to create rotisserie chicken. An attractive option without a doubt, no doubt related to its larger capacity as well as ability to hold a custom spit. We hope to test this feature at a future date.

Our biggest success with the Zavor Crunch Air Fryer Oven was actually with carrot fries. This recipe calls for you to take small baby carrots and cut them in half, then coating them with olive oil lightly, as well as spices, and then adding them to the air fryer. They come out just as delicious as potato-based french fries, but of course are less starchy and more healthy.

See more at www.ZavorAmerica.com

Finally, a Bolognese Sauce that is 3 in 1: Delicious, Versatile and Healthy

A thick and rich tomato Bolognese sauce is a gift for the home chef. That is because it is so versatile. A new sauce we have discovered is Otamot, and its versatility is perfect for these challenging times.

This organic sauce is made from vine ripened tomato, carrots, red bell peppers, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, spinach, red beets, sweet onions, garlic, extra-virgin olive oil, and shiitake mushrooms. Otamot is also certified as vegan, gluten-free, and GMO-verified.

We have used this sauce on everything from pastas such as tortellini and ravioli, to the base for deep dish pizza, to meatball sandwiches. It has yet to fail us!

Based in Brooklyn, the brand was founded by a dad Andrew Suzuka, who wanted his daughter to be able to eat healthier while enjoying her meals. As Suzuka says, “Tomato sauce CAN be packed with vegetables, vitamins, antioxidants and have no added sugar or preservatives.”

Find it at https://www.otamotfoods.com



The Seafood Brand you Have to Know includes All of Your Grilling Favorites

Mahi Mahi in a Red Wine Sauce

Fresh seafood is one of life’s pleasures, and flash frozen seafood delivered quickly to your doorstep can often be almost as good. One brand that we love is Vital Choice Wild Seafood.

Their premium sustainably-caught seafood tastes so fresh and delicious that it is hard to believe it wasn’t just caught. Not only does it taste fresh, it also looks and smells fresh. As many seafood lovers know, fish that smells fishy is often not in good condition. As far as looks, Vital Choice’s Mahi Mahi and salmon both look and feel firm — neither soggy and gray nor hard and dry — and have enticing colors that are a bit surreal.

Vital Choice GrillBox

Vital Choice has a combo package called the Limited Edition GrillBox. The GrillBox includes seasonal favorites and grilling planks — everything a seafood grill master would want — including:

  • Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon, boneless, skin-on
  • Sockeye Salmon Burgers, four 5-oz patties, gluten free
  • Wild Mahi Mahi, skinless, boneless
  • Wild Artisan Blue Shrimp from the Gulf of California
  • Alder Grilling planks

Salmon Fillet

The GrillBox portion sizes are perfect for long or short term storage and use. It’s not practical to want to make a serving for 1-2 people and have to thaw out an entire fish and just use half. The Vital Choice GrillBox sizes are therefore a good fit for various meals, plus don’t dominate available freezer shelf space. Fortunately, the GrillBox does come with several pieces from which to choose when it’s time for your next recipe.

Jerk Salmon and corn with cheese

Interestingly, among our reviewers the fan favorite was the Wild Mahi Mahi (dolphinfish), while the ruby red Wild Sockeye Salmon was a very close second. Once you start cooking with the Mahi Mahi, it’s clear that the sweeter but more neutrally flavored fish is much more versatile than the salmon, whose flavor is more robust and recognizable. The Mahi Mahi can be used in pasta, soups, bouillabaisse, or even in fish and chips and grilled or fried fish sandwiches. We tried the fishery raised Wild Sockeye Salmon with various marinades, jerks, and rubs, and were never disappointed.

Mahi Mahi with a batter crust

The one area for improvement with the GrillBox is possibly the addition of a larger package size of shrimp. The single packet included is great for 1-2 diners but not extendable to 3 or 4.

⇒ FIND THE GRILLBOX HERE

About Vital Choice:

Known for high quality, sustainable seafood delivered straight to your door, Vital Choice has thoughtfully curated our version of an ultimate grilling sampler with their launch of the Limited Edition GrillBox.

Vital Choice believes that healthy, delicious food shouldn’t harm the planet. Initially focused on wild Alaskan salmon, they’ve since expanded to provide customers with sustainable seafood from around the world. Today, Vital Choice is the trusted source for fast home delivery of the world’s finest wild Alaskan seafood, whole-food supplements, and organic fare. Vital Choice foods are the purest available, always sustainably harvested from healthy, well-managed wild fisheries and organic farms.

www.vitalchoice.com

Your Next Porsche will be this Awesome Set of Luxury Chefs Knives

A great chef needs great tools, and the same is true for home chefs as well. If you are the kind of person who likes the finer things in life, plus a very sharp edge, then take a look at these Porsche design knives.

Inspired by F.A. Porsche, the genius behind the iconic automobiles as well as the Porsche Design line of products, these Chroma Type 301 knives are fantastic for both professionals and serious home cooks. The razor sharp Japanese Chroma Type 301 comprises the entirety of the blade, while the handles are made of an entirely different material (18/10 stainless steel) to promote durability and ease of use. A pearl button is raised on both sides of the handle to the note the demarcation line between the two area, as well as to give tactile notice for where to hold the knife.

The tactile aspects of the knife rival the visual ones. Holding it in your hand is a very pleasant experience, not just because of its shape, but also because of the various metals used.

The blade requires a special Porsche sharpener so as to not dull or damage the edge. (pictured here is the Type 301 Design by F.A. Porsche 2 Knives Set P2 + P9, 7-inch Santoku + Paring Knife). In our experience, you are going to want to get the extra gear, because this knife is SHARP! Like, don’t run it across your finger, use a piece of paper instead.

On many items in the Porsche Knife product line the handle is created with a unique wedge shape, which promotes firmer grips, greater balance, as well as the ability to display it in a way that generates envy and lust in everyone who sees it.

No, you should not have a knife just because people think it looks good. But if it works incredibly well, is super sharp, AND it looks good, then that’s a win-win-win situation.

Find it here on Amazon

 

Apple releases the greatly anticipated new iPhone SE

After years of rampant rumors and pleas from fans, Apple finally releases the greatly anticipated second generation of the iPhone SE, with a starting price of $399.

In addition to a lower, more affordable price range, the main reason that the original iPhone SE was so popular was that it allowed users to hold and use it in one hand, as well as place it comfortably in a front pants pocket. It also retained the front Home button that many found useful, versus the swipe that many of Apple’s later iPhones require.

After Apple began to empty it’s inventory of the original iPhone SE with sales and sold out promotions, there was general hope that this product would launch in April 2019, then Fall of 2019. This did not happen, and many holders of the original refused to upgrade to the larger, more expensive iPhones in Apples lineup.

There were long-running rumors that the new iPhone SE would sport the name, iPhone 9, or Iphone SE 2, but in the end, Apple stuck with the brand name of this unique mobile.

The iPhone SE now uses the of the general body shape of the iPhone 8, along with a 4.7 inch display. It also has an Apple A13 Bionic chip, similar to the iPhone 11 and Iphone 11 Pro. The camera has also been upgraded to a 12MP sensor with 4K video capability. PLUS, you can finally use an SE for Portrait Mode.

According to Apple, “The first iPhone SE was a hit with many customers who loved its unique combination of small size, high-end performance and affordable price; the new second-generation iPhone SE builds on that great idea and improves on it in every way — including our best-ever single-camera system for great photos and videos — while still being very affordable,” said Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “iPhone SE features the industry-leading performance of A13 Bionic that enables great battery life, takes stunning Portrait mode and Smart HDR photos, shoots amazing videos with stereo audio, is great for games and super fast web surfing, and is built with the same industry-leading security features our customers expect. We can’t wait to get iPhone SE into customers’ hands.”

Other new features:

Augmented reality

Run the latest AR apps that let you measure real‑world objects, map constellations over the stars, and more.

Faster Wi‑Fi and cellular data

Wi‑Fi 6 and Gigabit‑class LTE can deliver much faster download speeds, whether you’re on Wi‑Fi or cellular networks.

Dual SIM, dual numbers

Dual SIM with eSIM lets you have both a business number and a personal number on the same iPhone.7

Water Resistance

iPhone SE is water resistant to 1 meter for 30 minutes.2 It’s not afraid of a little coffee, tea, or soda either.

See more about the iPhone SE 2020 HERE.

Phone SE is available in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB models in black, white and red starting at $399 (US). Customers can also get iPhone SE for $9.54 a month or $229 with trade-in from apple.com, in the Apple Store app and Apple Stores.  iPhone SE is available through Apple Authorized Resellers and select carriers (prices may vary).