Oysters Rockefeller

Discovering Oysters Rockefeller One of the Worlds Most Luxurious and Iconic Seafood Dishes

Oysters Rockefeller is a luxurious appetizer made with fresh oysters, topped with a rich green sauce primarily composed of butter, green herbssuch as parsley, spinach, or other flavorful greensand breadcrumbs. The oysters are then baked and served with a wedge of lemon on the side.

The story of Oysters Rockefeller began in 1889 at Antoines Restaurant, one of the oldest restaurants in the United States, located in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. The restaurant was founded in 1840 by Antoine Alciatore.

Originally, one of the restaurants most popular dishes was Escargot (French snails). However, one day the restaurant faced a shortage of snails. Jules Alciatore, Antoines son, began searching for a local substitute. At the time, oysters from the Gulf of Mexico were abundant and readily available. Jules decided to use oysters in place of snails, and carefully developed a rich green sauce to complement themthus creating the now-legendary Oysters Rockefeller.

The dishs bold, buttery flavor, combined with the herbaceous green sauce and crispy breadcrumbs, was so rich and luxurious that one customer famously exclaimed, Its as rich as Rockefeller!a reference to John D. Rockefeller, the wealthiest and most powerful man in America at the time. In honor of that remark, Jules named the dish Oysters Rockefeller.

It wasnt long before Oysters Rockefeller gained widespread fame and became a signature dish at Antoines. Thanks to its unique flavor profile and elegant presentation, the dish attracted diners from all walks of lifeincluding notable figures like President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

What makes Oysters Rockefeller truly special is the secret sauce recipe, which remains closely guarded by the Alciatore family to this day. Many have speculated about the ingredientssome believe it contains spinach, others suggest parsley, celery, or different herbsbut no one has ever successfully deciphered the original recipe. Even celebrity chef Alton Brown once remarked that Jules Alciatore took the recipe to his grave.

Despite the secrecy of Jules Alciatores original formula, Oysters Rockefeller has inspired countless adaptations across the culinary world. Many restaurants have developed their own interpretationssome adding cheese or ham, others substituting Thai basil or other local herbs in place of spinach. Regardless of the variation, this baked oyster dish remains a hallmark of fine dining and is served at upscale restaurants around the globe.