The Jolly Oyster

If slurping oysters in the sand is your idea of an adventurous weekend, look for the Jolly Oyster Shuck Shack trucks that park at San Buenaventura State Beach Park in Ventura on Saturdays and Sundays. The locally-owned oyster farm raises its own Kumamotos in Baja California and hauls them north, selling them to daytrippers who set up BYOB picnics on the beach. Grab an oyster knife (they sell them on the truck) if you want to shuck them yourself, or just order some oysters on the half shell with cucumber mignonette from the truck, which also serves prepared dishes like fried oysters tacos, steamed clams, bay scallop ceviche, and sea urchin tostadas.

photo credit: The Jolly Oyster