1.   Another platter held half lobster tails, prawns, oysters on the half shell, smoked salmon.

2.   At Balthazar, the giant seafood platters placed on table stands include ceviche in addition to shrimp, mussels, lobster and clams and oysters on the half shell.

3.   But if you try both a Muscadet and an expensive California chardonnay with a dozen on the half shell, the wisdom in saving a few bucks becomes clear.

4.   Clams on the half shell drizzled with olive oil and garlic.

5.   It has to have oysters, on the half shell or lightly baked.

6.   It was enough to make a guy fumble a Malpeque oyster right out of the half shell.

7.   Oysters on the half shell.

8.   Pull off a half shell from each mussel and use it to scrape the mussel from the other shell.

9.   Pull one shell off each mussel and discard it, leaving the mussel in the other shell.

10.   Serve a small dab over each individual oyster on the half shell.