It's summer and time for grilled oysters on the BBQ

We were in Whole Foods the other day, passing through the fish market and I saw some of my fav Tomales Bay whole oysters for barbequing! They’re a buck apiece, but for an amazing appetizer they’re so worth it.

Even better, they’re so simple!

Preheat barbecue grill. Scrub the oyster shells under cold running water with a brush. Discard any open shells, as the oyster is dead and not edible

Place oysters (cup side on bottom) on hot grill about 4 inches from hot coals. Cover barbecue with lid, open any vents, and cook 8 to 10 minutes (depending on size) or until shells begin to open to indicate doneness. I like to add some smoking pellets to my BBQ - perhaps a mesquite flavor.

Remove all oysters when the first one opens. Some shells will not be opened, so some prying will be necessary. Using a BBQ mitt or kitchen towel to protect your hand, remove the oysters from the grill, taking care not to spill those delicious juices.

Pry the oysters the rest of the way open with an oyster knife, paring knife, or screwdriver. Sever the muscle that connect the shells, leaving the oyster on the half shell. Transfer onto a serving platter. Serve with melted butter, your favorite hot sauce, and lemon wedges.

Choose a light, crisp white wine to drink with the oysters.

Cooking oysters this way can be a fun thing to do during a warm weather cocktail and appetizer party. Let your guests put their oyster on the grill and watch it cook.