At Costas Inn, we pride ourselves on offering top-quality seafood that’s always fresh and delicious. While you may know us for our Baltimore crabs, we take just as much pride in our oyster selection. One of our most popular preparations is our Oysters Rockefeller. Read on to learn more fun facts about this delicious dish!
3 Facts About Oysters Rockefeller
Invented in New Orleans
Oysters Rockefeller was invented in New Orleans, at a restaurant called Antoine’s, in 1889. The chef who came up with this iconic dish was named Jules Alciatore, the son of the founder of Antoine’s. He created the dish when he faced a shortage of snails so he sought to use the more widely available local oysters.
Named After John D. Rockefeller
At the time, John D. Rockefeller was America’s richest man. Legend has it that Alciatore named the dish after the famed billionaire in homage to the incredibly rich sauce. While Rockefeller himself never indulged in his namesake, President Franklin D. Roosevelt dined at Antoine’s in 1937 and feasted on their signature dish.
No One Knows the Original Recipe
There are competing legends about the fate of the original recipe. Some say that Jules took it to his grave when he died, while Antoine’s claims they have been serving the dish, true to its roots, since 1889. Regardless, it is certainly true that no one outside of Antoine’s knows exactly how to make the recipe authentically. While most modern recipes use spinach, it is thought that the original achieved its signature green color by using parsley.
Enjoy Oysters Rockefeller at your next visit to Costas Inn. Our Baltimore seafood is always fresh, delicious, and prepared with care.
Costas Inn has been a family owned and operated restaurant for over 40 years. We were voted #1 Crab Restaurant 2014 in the Baltimore Business Journal! You can enjoy our famous crab cakes in-house or order them online for anytime eating. We also provide some of the best seafood catering in the Baltimore area! You can also get your fill from Costas even when you’re not in our dining room: follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and YouTube!