Shucking Brilliant: Record-Breaking Oyster Man Patrick McMurray

Some people are good at eating pizza. Some people are good at running. And, well, some people are really good at shucking. Enter one Patrick McMurray, who currently holds the Guinness World Record for Most Oysters Shucked In One Minute: 38. He's visiting our fair city in a couple of weeks, and was kind enough to have a chat with us ...

If you weren't a shucker, what would you do?
I would want to be a lumberjack! Or a teacher … or maybe a baker, artist, or brewmaster.

Yeah, some people consider you a huge shucker. Do you like that title? What would you rather be thought of as?
Yes, it is kind of funny that some folks know of me before I meet them. Any title is great. Being a world champion or Guinness Record Holder is very fun and a great honor. It seems to be a good thing to be known for, as it gets you in the door! I would not want to change it at all.

November is our Guinness World Records issue. What other records would your skills predispose you for?
Scraping gum off tables, lock picking, beer bottle opening ...

Is there a world record you've ever attempted besides this one?
I tried holding my breath, but I passed out.

How many pearls do you own?
I used to have a little jar of pearls that I found. Had about 400 in it, but someone took it from the restaurant - they weren’t even pretty or valuable. Cold water oysters taste great, but do not make great pearls.

How many of those pearls did you find?
I think about 700-800 over my shucking career of 2.2 million oysters, so the odds are still not that great.

Is there anything you can't shuck?
Rocks. Sometimes there are rocks in the oyster box, and they look like oysters. I can't shuck them – too hard!

Have you tried shucking other mollusks?
On the bar at Starfish (McMurray's Toronto restaurant - not to be confused with the Beijing restaurant recently opened on Dongzhimenwai Dajie), I shuck clams, scallops, and sea urchin. Not in a competitive nature, though I am always open to suggestions.

How often do you say "Oh shucks!”?
I leave that one to the customers, I just roll my eyes and ask, "Ooh, that's new, can I use that one?"

If you ever became vegan, what would you shuck?
Vegans can eat oysters – or so says one of their advocates – but I would shuck corn, or oyster mushrooms.

Patrick McMurray is bringing his de-oystering talents to the Westin Financial Street and Hatsune this November. Check him out at Westin Financial Street's Bubbly Sunday brunch on Nov 20, with an oyster-shucking clinic and free-flow bubbly for RMB 328+15% (kids RMB 168+15%). Or, watch him shuck off with Alan Wong at Hatsune's Guanghua Lu branch on Nov 23, which costs RMB 300. There's also the Westin's six-course Hats Off! Canadian goumet dinner on Nov 25, for RMB 800. Reservations are highly recommended for all three events, so contact the venues now to avoid disappointment.

Photo: Courtesy of the Westin Financial Street & thisislondon.co.uk