Oysters Bienville

Ingredients

• Rock salt, for baking
• 2 strips bacon, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped yellow onions
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne
• 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 1/4 cup dry white wine
• 1/4 cup finely chopped white button mushrooms
• 1/4 pound medium-size shrimp, peeled, deveined and chopped
• 2 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons chopped green onions (green parts only)
• 2 teaspoons finely chopped parsley leaves
• 1 large egg yolk, lightly beaten
• 1 dozen freshly shucked oysters, drained and deeper bottom shell rinsed and reserved for baking

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Spread a 1/2-inch thick layer of rock salt on a large baking sheet and across the bottoms of 2 large plates. Set aside.

Fry the bacon until just crisp in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions, salt, and cayenne and cook, stirring for 2 minutes. Add the garlic and butter, and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or until the butter melts. Add the flour, and stirring slowly and constantly, cook for 2 minutes. Add the milk and wine and stir to blend.

Reduce the heat to medium, then add the mushrooms and shrimp. Stir and fold to mix and cook until the mixture is thick, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the Parmesan, lemon juice, green onions and parsley and stir to blend.

Remove from the heat, add the egg yolk, and blend well. Let cool to room temperature.

Arrange the reserved oyster shells on the prepared baking sheet. Put 1 oyster in each shell and top with about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the sauce, spreading the sauce evenly out to the edges of the shell to completely cover the oyster. (Alternatively, pipe the sauce over

the oysters.) Bake until the sauce is lightly browned and the oysters begin to curl around the edges, about 20 minutes.

Using tongs or a spatula, carefully transfer the hot shells to the salt-covered plates and serve immediately.