One of my favorite places for seafood is Poor Phil’s Bar & Grill in Oak Park. I’ve been going to Poor Phil’s for more than 15 years now, and never get tired of their menu. In fact, the first time I ever tried oysters was at this restaurant, way back when I was still in high school. I remember that I went on a double-date with my best friend and two guys who were our lab partners in chem class. I wanted to appear more “worldly” than I really was, so I ordered oysters as an appetizer, while everyone else ordered the usual fries and onion rings.
I actually didn’t like oysters that first time, but have acquired a taste for them over the years. Now, my husband and I make it a point to go all the way out to Poor Phil’s at least once every couple months or so in order to enjoy a plate of chilled oysters together. I find that I crave oysters as much for the ambiance at Poor Phil’s and for a great day with Jerry as for the eating experience itself.
And yes, we eat our Gulf oysters raw, which I know is a concern to some people who fear they might get sick from doing so. But that rarely happens to healthy individuals these days — especially since modern post-harvest processes (such as freezing, heat-cool pasteurization, and high-hydrostatic pressure) significantly reduce the chance of Vibrio vulnificus infection.
At any rate, I’ve been enjoying oysters for a long time now, and have never suffered any ill-effects thus far, so I’m not planning on changing my habits anytime soon!