Roast Chicken.. mmm delicious, mouth watering.. we all have our favourite parts... white meat, dark meat.. drumsticks.. wings.... but the one part.. the most tender part.. the secret part are the 'oysters'.... they are hiding underneath the roast a pair of them.. one on each side.
I was made aware as a child of this secret meat.... this mysterious treat.. Now of course I was immediately turned off by this idea... as I thought it was a crazy seafood thing that manifested on the innocent roast chicken... but as years went by I grew to understand the 'oyster' came to the name simply from the shape.. and I think perhaps because it is hidden and very sought after by those in the know, of where to look.
So this treat became a sneaky after dinner event, a contest if you will between my brother and I... who would retrieve the oysters (while no one was watching).
Stealth innocent movements to the kitchen area, well after the meal had been served, enjoyed and cleared away.... quietly opening the fridge, and flipping the bird... literally to an upside down position... scooping out the coveted oyster or both of them..... and on uber stealth nights... flipping the bird YET AGAIN... so no one was the wiser... Until another unit playing the game, would try sneaking hours later to check the status of said bird and the horrible discovery that the treats were already gone.. only a vacant boney cave staring back from the quiet hum of the fridge on the platter that holds the carcass of the roasty beasty.
Upon returning to the common area of friends and family, immediately continuing the non-chalont conversation, smiles and jokes.... and a quick scan to the select family members who know of the coveted treat... and a very slight smug greasy grin shows itself from the guilty party... and now that particular game of 'chicken' is now done for the evening.
My mother still has a fantasy of having a meal consisting on nothing but chicken oysters. As a child, she had two brothers to contend with for the treasure hunt in secret. Very, very seldom did she manage to come away with the prize.
This link shows how to cut up a raw chicken and still save the precious oysters, for the pre - roasting decisions.
Apparently, it is the chef's prerogative to sample... or indulge in the Chicken Oyster at his or her discretion, while still in the kitchen prep area. That is, unless the rest of the family don't already know the virtues and value of the prize at hand.
Here is a wonderful example of how to carve a roasted chicken... including the Oyster.
There are of course many ways to alternatively cook the Chicken Oyster on it's own.... here for instance.
Keep in mind, those little suckers get all the best, moisty flavour and consitancey from being cooked on the bottom of the chicken where all the natural oils and flavours dribble down through cooking the beast all together.
So when I do win the lottery, or my ship comes in... or that fantastical sugar daddy comes along... I will be purchasing many of the whole chickens... roasting them up for a large feast... and serving all the 'oysters' to me mum.... on a most special occasion ;)
Until next time my lovelies... 
Peace, Love & Positive Energy to you all...
Michelle, aka 'the Gypsy Mermaid'
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