Hoopers Island Oyster Co. hosted nearly 150 members of the Dorchester Chamber of Commerce and other friends for a March 23 “Business After Hours” event and ribbon cutting at its new seafood market in Cambridge.
Located just off Route 16 at 837 Chesapeake Dr. across from the VA Outpatient Clinic, the retail store offers a wide selection of fresh seafood with all the accessories needed for cooks to make their favorite dishes. Hours are Monday – Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
In the store’s refrigerated and frozen cases, customers can choose from a variety of shellfish, including oysters, mussels, littleneck clams, snow crab legs, crabmeat, wild-caught shrimp, lobster tails and crawfish meat (in season). Hooper’s oyster menu includes Chesapeake Golds and Smokes (smoked sea salt-infused) from its farm available in 25, 50 and 100-count bags (order in advance for the larger quantities). Whitewood Cove wild oysters can also be purchased along with fresh-shucked pints of Chesapeake Golds. Steamed crabs will be added in late spring.
As the weather warms, a selection of fresh fish from the Atlantic and local waters will be featured. Smoked salmon is sold year-round.
Lining the store’s walls are favorite sauces and seasonings including Dorchester’s own Skeeter Beater hot sauce and Black Pearl oyster salsa, Kelchners cocktail sauce and horseradish, Old Bay, House Autry fish fry and hush puppy mix, and Zatarain’s blackened seasoning and rice for making Cajun specialties. Chowder lovers can pick up cans of Chincoteague brand clam chowder and top it with Olde Cape Cod oyster crackers.
Dessert lovers are not forgotten. Muffins and individual cupcakes from Cambridge’s T’s Divine Sweets are available for easy pick-up to top off any seafood dinner.
To help cooks prepare their seafood, Hoopers retail store sells Toadfish Outfitters kitchen tools, including oyster clothes and shucking knives and the popular Frogmore shrimp cleaner. The Lodge at Black Pearl cookbook provides numerous recipes for delectable dishes.
In addition to food items, the seafood market sells a variety of Hoopers Island Oyster Co. merchandise, gifts and collectibles. All five years of the company’s holiday artist series oyster tins are available along with long and short-sleeved shirts, coffee tumblers and floating mesh bags for oyster gardeners. Jay Fleming’s stunning “Working the Water” and “Island Life” photo books depicting Eastern Shore scenes are popular gift items and house-warming gifts.
The Hoopers Island Oyster Co. Seafood Market is managed by Allison Fitzhugh. For more information, visit www.hoopersisland.com
