Robb Walsh in the Oyster Bar with a Book

Valentine's Day is rife with cheesy, expensive events, but here's one that's different--both worthwhile and free--so put it on your calenders tout suite. On Thursday, February 12th, Robb Walsh, the superlative food writer on staff at our sister publication, the Houston Press, will be at the Grand Central Oyster Bar, chatting about oysters and signing his new book, Sex, Death and Oysters: A Half-Shell Lover's World Tour, which was just released two days ago.

The event is free and open to the public from 12-2:30 in the cocktail lounge, and 5-6:30 in the dining room. Order some oysters, slurp them down in the company of fellow oyster lovers, and go home with a good read. The book follows oyster history, lore throughout the world, and includes writings on New York/Connecticut oysters and on the Grand Central Oyster Bar itself.

You can see some of Robb's photography for the book here.

If this makes you want to eat oysters right now, here's a link to my oyster-shucking tutorial.