BajaNomad - SAN QUINTIN OYSTER FARM

SAN QUINTIN OYSTER FARM

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 9-1-2010 at 11:19 AM

Hola, on my way north in october, i would like to stop at the oyster farm in san quintin.

would i have any problems crossing the border with about four dozen or so solidly packed in ice or any other adviseable method ? should i bring them home shucked or unshucked ?

i have stayed at the old mill over the years but have never been to the farm. would someone kindly post the directions for me and what hours and days the farm is open.

i thank you in advance,

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

KASHEYDOG - 9-1-2010 at 11:40 AM

I know they're closed on Sunday and I'm sure Jim at the old mill can give you directions. However the oysters are really expensive out there, like $20 for 6 dozen... :lol:

.. Not sure about crossing the border, but I think it's OK. Get a couple of dozen for me and I'll meet you at San Ysidro with a bottle of tequila... :lol:

[Edited on 9-1-10 by KASHEYDOG]

bent-rim - 9-1-2010 at 12:18 PM

According to the US Customs web site "Fish, if it is for your personal use, is generally admissible." Who knows what that means when you cross the border. My last visit we had some food that we brought down with us and returned with some of it. Customs tossed some the food, let us keep some of the food. They gave us a list of what was permissible and what wasn't allowed, however some of the stuff they let us keep was on the list of excluded items. No big deal, it was only about $5.00 worth of chow.

DanO - 9-1-2010 at 12:24 PM

The road to get out to the oyster farm is the one just to the north of the military base, which is a ways north of the turnoff to the Old Mill. Google maps says it's Lazaro Card##as.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=30.4797...

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It's a longer drive than you would think, with some ugly washboard, but well worth it. Bear right when you get out to Bahia Falsa so that you end up at the northern end of it. Most of the oyster farms are along the north shore before road veers away from the bay and heads northwest towards the coast. Last December there was a shack up to the right with a curtain of shells hung around it and a handful of plastic tables and chairs. They'll shuck the oysters for you to eat there and they may have a hot comal going to roast the oysters as well, if you have the patience. KDog is right, you can't beat the prices. We came back with 8 dozen for a big New Year's party, after eating 3 dozen on the spot.

I don't know about bringing them back NOB, as I've never been able to save any for very long.

[Edited on 9-1-2010 by DanO]

[Edited on 9-1-2010 by BajaNomad]

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 9-1-2010 at 12:40 PM

Hola, i didn't realize there is more than one farm. i'm ready for the rough ride as i heard in the past, it's a dental shaker ! but....well worth it.

unfortunately, i don't have a good detailed map of the area and am not that computer literate but will try and google map it.

KASHEYDOG..,.sounds good to me ! forget the oysters, lets just hoist a few jiggers !

thank you,

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

KASHEYDOG - 9-1-2010 at 12:44 PM

You're on, big guy!!! Call me, numbers in my profile to the left of this post... :spingrin:

DanO - 9-1-2010 at 12:55 PM

The map should come up if you copy and paste this url into your browser. Ignore the blue linky stuff -- that won't work.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=30.4797...

[Edited on 9-1-2010 by DanO]

[Edited on 9-1-2010 by BajaNomad]

What you really need............

mcfez - 9-1-2010 at 02:29 PM

Firewood...preferable dead Ocotillo or Elephant tree.
Rocks and a BBQ grill (rocks are for the fire ring).
Limes
Hot sauce
Oh...and a BIG bucket of oysters.

We lite up the fire, grill about 6-7 inches off the flame, dump the oysters (pile em up) on the grill, move the bottoms to the top while cooking, readied when the shell pops open.

We do this very often at Point Reyes....buying from Drakes Bay Oyster Farm.

We also do this with mussels and claims.......food of the Gods!

Below picture is our grill inside of a old rusty refrigerator, off Black Mountain. The refrigerator was used as a great wind block!

mussel.jpg - 43kB

KASHEYDOG - 9-1-2010 at 03:17 PM

Oooh man. Now why did you have to go and post a picture like that... :?:

That's obscene.

Now you've gone and got me all slobbery and hungry.. :no:

guess I'll head down to Point Loma sea food and get some. Do you have any idea how much you just cost me.. :lol:

Udo - 9-1-2010 at 04:34 PM

When you do go to the farms, you may bring some of your own limes. But beer and freshly caught and shucked oysters...any better than that and one would have to borrow the guy's shack for some sex.

After the oysters, be sure to finish the adventure and take the dirt road that you just came in on, and drive it to the ocean. There is a very small community of Mexicans living in home-made shacks, as well as some American retirees.
This will be an absolutely worthwhile side trip. The outhouse alone is worth the trip.
BTW: The beach area north of the village is the beach that they farm all those smooth black rocks that you see as landscaping in many homes.

I am sure I don't have to tell you to AIR DOWN YOUR TIRES!
12-15PSI will do.

BajaGringo - 9-1-2010 at 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Udo
When you do go to the farms, you may bring some of your own limes. But beer and freshly caught and shucked oysters...any better than that and one would have to borrow the guy's shack for some sex.

After the oysters, be sure to finish the adventure and take the dirt road that you just came in on, and drive it to the ocean. There is a very small community of Mexicans living in home-made shacks, as well as some American retirees.
This will be an absolutely worthwhile side trip. The outhouse alone is worth the trip.
BTW: The beach area north of the village is the beach that they farm all those smooth black rocks that you see as landscaping in many homes.

I am sure I don't have to tell you to AIR DOWN YOUR TIRES!
12-15PSI will do.

That community would be called La Chorera...

Hey - now you're getting into my neck of the woods!!!

Seriously though - if you let me know a few days before you will be arriving I can hook you up on the best source for local oysters over on Bahia Falsa.

We have it all dialed in and it really is who you know these days for the best oysters / clams.

(and abalone in a few more years)

BajaDanD - 9-1-2010 at 05:51 PM

Last time I was there this was gone. it used to be one of the best views from a crapper ever. looked out over the ocean

[Edited on 9-2-2010 by BajaDanD]

san quintin 3.JPG - 42kB

mcfez - 9-1-2010 at 08:02 PM

This should be the "Picture of the Month"!

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 9-1-2010 at 08:25 PM

Hola, wow ! great feedback and i thank you all very much. now, it makes me want to leave earlier and enjoy this gourmet treat !!!! abalone would be great too !

udo, yes, i am carrying an inverter and a compressor, thank you.

bajagringo, i will let you know when i'm on my way and my time of arrival. it's on my yahoo calendar of things i need to do.

DanO, thank you for the map.

kasheydog, i already have the tequila but i don't know much about it, tequila that is. i will however, bring a bottle of scotch, will that be a good match ?

mcfez, won't be carrying cooking devices but if they have one going, yum ! yes, i'll bring the limes too.

i thank you for your responses and will definitely stop this year. hmmmmm....maybe more than four dozen.

thank you,

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

KASHEYDOG - 9-1-2010 at 08:30 PM

Lookin' foward to it, BAJA.DESERT.RAT. See ya soon.. :yes:

Stickers - 9-1-2010 at 08:50 PM

Hey Bajagringo, I motored over to a guys oyster farm (and c-ckfighting yard)

He pulled up a line with the oysters attached and opened the first one. WOW a huge black pearl.
see pictures

He said that he had the "Japanese" seed his oysters to produce the pearls.
Can you guys do this in Baja? Remember all the pearls in La Paz.

This was in French Polynesia

peral sm.jpg - 40kB

Stickers - 9-1-2010 at 08:54 PM

Here is the oyster that he pulled it out of - :wow:

BajaGringo - 9-1-2010 at 10:35 PM

Oysters do need to be seeded for pearl production and most here do not. Not exactly my area of expertise but you gave me something to ask the guys tomorrow...

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 9-2-2010 at 01:40 AM

So, who gets to keep the pearl ?

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

Stickers - 9-2-2010 at 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BAJA.DESERT.RAT
So, who gets to keep the pearl ?

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

cont.

I was stunned seeing him pick that pearl out of the oyster and he was hot to sell it.
In Tahiti they get big bucks for black pearls since they claim it's the only place on earth you can get them.
I only had $50 on me so I offered it to him....he wanted much more and I would have paid more but we were a long canoe ride from civilization and he took my fifty bucks.

So that pearl is mine now!

This all took place about 10 years ago on the island of Tahaa. They spoke some English down there but the natives actually speak French which seemed weird on the remote islands.

BajaRat - 9-2-2010 at 09:54 PM

DanO gave you excellent directions except it's the first road south of the military base that you head west. I think it would be wise to hook up with BajaGringo or make sure you go out at a reasonable hour especially on week days, some times they have to bring them in to order. The sea shell palapa eatery's owners DanO mentioned live in the house directly in front on the bay. They were very kind to us when the BajaFam lived there. The Bahia is were Erin and Mister became addicted to ostiones and choros from Chorera. We love the Bay, it's beaches and especially the people.

Lionel

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 9-4-2010 at 01:51 AM

Hola fellow rat, thank you for following up on the thread. i have a couple of people to advise when i'll be there and they have been kind enough to show me the way, advise me.

thank you,

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

irenemm - 9-4-2010 at 03:42 PM

you will love the oyster they are so gooooooood. it is the road out there. rather have my teeth pulled then drive that . used to go out there in the 80's guess it got to old. hate the road..
love the oysters.
enjoy your adventure and the oysters.

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 9-4-2010 at 05:46 PM

Hola irenemm ,

" rather have my teeth pulled then drive that '....damn, is it really that bad ????? i guess i had better put some extra denture cement on !

ya know, if the oysters are that great as the ones at point reyes station north of san fancisco, i think it'll be more than worth the difficult drive ?

i really do not think it's going to matter as i've been wanting to do this for many years and i think it's time to do it !

i thank everybody for their feedback.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 9-5-2010 at 07:20 AM

Hola DanO,

i just clicked onto the site you provided and it looks like about a ten mile drive once i get off mex 1 onto lazaro Card##as.

is the entire drive over washboard ? i didn't realize the bay ran that far north.

for sure, i'll be giving BajaGringo a heads up for his guidance when i plan on being in the area around mid-october or so. maybe sooner if i see a storm on it's way to los barriles.

by the way, i'm an avid fisherman, does anyone know of an inexpensive panga or would someone like to share a panga for a day, maybe two ? we hire pangas in the east cape directly with the pangeros and go out for the day, usually at muertos bay for $ 100.00 - 140.00 plus bait and tip. sure would like to take some white seabass to l.a. but it would be pretty late in the season but it looks like the season is just getting started for tuna on the pacific side. maybe the whites will bite ? if not, calicos would do just fine too.

thanks for the info.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

durrelllrobert - 9-5-2010 at 08:54 AM

Quote:

abalone would be great too !

there is also an abalone farm on road out to Castro's Camp
(paved road all the way) :coolup:

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 9-5-2010 at 10:43 AM

Hola durrelllrobert, love abalone !!! sounds like i won't have any money to go fishing if i make these delicious side trips !

i need to look at a map to see if i can plot this one in or not.

sounds like i need to slow down and smell the roses....errrrr....seafood !

thank you,

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

irenemm - 9-5-2010 at 10:49 AM

BAJA.DESERT.RAT
the oysters are so worth it. it is about 14 miles on washboard. sometimes the bottom road it better.
after almost 30 years of dirt roads not that much fun.
but do the trip. if you get out there with one of the people from ensenada they will give you the whole history and how the water are very protected. the usda and the mexican govt check the waters every month to make sure it is clean and safe for the seafood.
smoke them and oh so good.
enjoy your adventure.
the road is right next to the base just as the base ends going south. just as it starts going north.
have fun

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 9-5-2010 at 01:06 PM

Hola irenemm, thank you for your input. i didn't realize it was a USDA type of thing. at least that will give me more confidence in their product.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

sanquintinsince73 - 9-5-2010 at 02:55 PM

E-mail me with your number if you want info. on the area and panga fishing.

BajaRat - 9-5-2010 at 03:17 PM

Don't you love the Baja Spirit. Helping others and in return changing your life.
Good food, music, times and life long friends. Salud fishabductor

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 9-5-2010 at 03:44 PM

Hola sanquintinsince73, check your u2u. i have had problems with it before so if you don't receive it, please post again here.

thank you,

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

irenemm - 9-5-2010 at 04:45 PM

BAJA.DESERT.RAT
your welcome. these oysters are for export so anything for export is overseen by the USA. all the berries and all the other farming.
have fun and enjoy