Virginia Shaffer, owner of Lady Oyster, said she was surprised to win the award, considering her business has only been open for about a year.
Shaffer is Maine’s first “oyster sommelier,” or certified oyster expert under the Oyster Master Guild. At Lady Oyster, she offers year-round “sensory dining experiences,” guided tastings and oyster farm tours intended to cater to the growing interest in gastronomic tourism. The idea is to educate tourists on the oyster industry from aquaculture and ecological impacts to indigenous practices.
Shaffer said she hopes the award attracts more global attention, not only to her own oyster expertise, but to the entire oyster industry and Maine’s “special” culinary community.
Link to Article on the Portland Press Herald
