Naked Cowboy
Crassostrea virginica
Wild-harvested from Long Island Sound, the Naked Cowboy is an iconic oyster with massive, plump meats and a ruggedly bold personality. Intensely briny with strong mineral and metallic notes, this is a big, strong, savory oyster for experienced lovers—not for sissies.
Flavor Profile
Finish
Ruggedly savory with a steely, clean aftertaste
Expert Notes
Naked Cowboy oysters are wild-harvested from Long Island Sound, giving them a complex, robust character that reflects their untamed origins. These diver-harvested beauties grow slowly over 3 years, developing full, plump meats with a firm yet smooth texture. They deliver an intensely briny, mineral-forward experience with strong metallic notes and hints of seaweed, finishing with a refreshingly savory punch. Big, strong, wild, and a bit uncouth—definitely not for sissies. Origin & Characteristics
- Species
- Crassostrea virginica
- Native to
- USA
- Grown in
- Long Island Sound, New York, North Shore of Long Island
- Size
- Medium to Large (1.5-4 inches)
- Shell Color
- Dark with varying shades of green, rugged and gnarly
- Meat Color
- Cream to light gray
What Experts Say
Across 8 sources, tasters describe this oyster as:
Unique notes: iodine, metallic, gnarly, playful salinity, rugged
"Naked Cowboy oysters like their namesake, the Naked Cowboy that hails from New York are lively and refreshingly salty. Divers harvest them from Long Island Sound after 3 years of growth. These slow-grown oysters are plump and meaty with a rich, salty, and savory finish."
livelysaltyplumpmeatysavory
"Like its namesake, the Naked Cowboy is lively and refreshingly salty, pun intended! This plump and meaty oyster's smooth texture is a perfect compliment to its playful salinity and rugged savory finish."
livelysaltyplumpmeatysmooth
"Naked Cowboys are wild oysters from the sound, and they have the wild variability you might expect. They tend to be strongly mineral, a touch iodine, and beautifully briny. As wild-grown oysters, they mature slowly, taking three years to reach market size (three inches). Slow-grown oysters have richer, firmer meats."
mineraliodinebrinyrichfirm
"Heavy, gnarly shells and a briny, metallic flavor. The most famous of all oysters, harvested around Long Island for centuries. Always big, strong."
brinymetallicbigstrong
"Lively and refreshingly salty. Plump and meaty, robust salty and savory finish."
livelysaltyplumpmeatyrobust
About the Farm
Blue Island Oyster Company / Blue Island Shellfish Farms
Founded by Chris Quartuccio, who has been harvesting oysters from Long Island Sound for over 15 years. Divers harvest wild Naked Cowboy oysters from a secret location in Long Island Sound five days a week, delivering to NYC restaurants the following day for maximum freshness.
- Cultivation Method
- wild harvest
History & Background
Named after the iconic Naked Cowboy street performer in Times Square, New York City. The trademark name was created by Chris Quartuccio in the mid-2000s to market wild oysters from Long Island Sound. The branding significantly boosted sales and made these oysters famous nationwide.
The Naked Cowboy oyster name is a registered trademark and reflects the jaunty, bold personality of both the Times Square performer and the oyster itself. These oysters have been harvested from Long Island Sound for centuries and are now served at top establishments including Grand Central Oyster Bar, Hog Island Oyster Bar, Philly's Oyster House, and Hank's Oyster Bar in DC.
Did You Know?
- Named after the famous Naked Cowboy street performer in Times Square
- Takes 3 years to reach market size (3 inches), much slower than farmed oysters
- Harvested by divers from a secret location in Long Island Sound
- Delivered to NYC restaurants within 24 hours of harvest
- The branding strategy took oyster marketing to a new level according to the producer
Sources & References
This information was compiled from 8 sources.
- Naked Cowboys — Oyster Guide
- Naked Cowboy - Fortune Fish & Gourmet — Fortune Fish & Gourmet
- East Coast Oysters - Naked Cowboy Oysters — Naked Cowboy Oysters
- Naked Cowboy Oysters — Michael's Restaurant Blog
- The Story of Blue Island Oyster Co.: A Legacy of Sea to Table — Blue Island Oyster Bar
- Fighting to Keep an Oyster Ghost Town Alive — Pacific Standard Magazine
- Oysters & Chablis: A Pairing Guide — Oyster Guide
- Cup size matters, but for oysters, branding matters more — Global Seafood Alliance
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Learn More
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