Pan-Roasted Oyster's Creamy Delight

Oyster bar pan roasts are a popular dish, with people queuing for hours to get a taste. The dish is a combination of seafood, roasted tomatoes, clam juice, and a kick of spice, all bubbled in cream. The recipe varies depending on the chef and the restaurant, but it typically includes ingredients such as butter, seafood, brandy, and cream. Some recipes call for half-and-half or heavy cream, while others suggest using whipping cream for a richer dish. The pan roast is cooked in a steam-powered, steel-jacketed kettle rather than in a sauté pan, and it's served with a scoop of rice on the side.

The Oyster Bar at Palace Station in Las Vegas

The Oyster Bar's bestselling item isn't oysters, although the restaurant sells more than 300,000 bivalves each year. The pan roasts are so popular that they outsell everything else on the menu three-to-one. People wait in line for hours just to get a taste.

The Oyster Bar's pan roasts are cooked in steel-jacketed kettles. You can choose a pan roast loaded with shrimp, crab, lobster, or a combo of all three. However, insiders know that the "bouill-roast," which marries a saffron-enriched bouillabaisse broth with a combo pan roast, is the way to go.

If you want to recreate the Oyster Bar's pan roasts at home, there are several copycat recipes online. These recipes include a range of ingredients such as seafood, roasted tomatoes, clam juice, spices, and cream. While the recipes may not be exactly the same as the Oyster Bar's, they are still delicious and worth trying.

The Oyster Bar at Harrah's Las Vegas

The Oyster Bar's pan roast is cooked in a steam-powered, steel-jacketed kettle and includes a combination of shrimp, clams, mussels, crab claws, sweet bay oysters, and half a Maine lobster. Roasted tomatoes, bell peppers, a ladle of chicken stock, and a big glug of cream are added to the kettle, resulting in a delicious and hearty meal. The Oyster Bar's pan roast is a must-try when visiting Las Vegas, and at $18, it's a bargain.

In addition to their pan roasts, the Oyster Bar also offers a variety of other seafood dishes, including grilled oysters, shellfish boils, and cioppino. The restaurant has received mixed reviews, with some praising the food and service while others have complained about long wait times and mediocre food quality. It's important to note that as of 2022, the Oyster Bar at Harrah's Las Vegas has closed and has been replaced by a Gordon Ramsay restaurant.

The Oyster Bar at Hard Rock Hotel, Las Vegas

The Oyster Bar at Hard Rock Hotel offers a range of classic pan roasts, including shrimp, crab, and lobster options, as well as an "all-in" combo pan roast. The pan roasts are prepared in steel-jacketed kettles, giving them a unique flavour and cooking method compared to traditional sauté pans. The portions are generous, and the dishes are customisable in terms of spice level, ensuring a personalised dining experience.

In addition to its signature pan roasts, the Oyster Bar also offers a variety of other seafood dishes, such as gumbo, shrimp and grits, and a Maine lobster roll. The raw bar features a selection of East and West Coast oysters, as well as shrimp cocktail, stone crab, and seafood on ice. For those seeking a heartier meal, the Oyster Bar also offers dishes like fried oyster po' boy, curried coconut seafood stew, and fish and chips.

The Oyster Bar at Hard Rock Hotel has a vibrant and lively atmosphere, often with lines of eager diners waiting to indulge in the famous pan roasts. The restaurant's design is bright and open, with a seating capacity of 16. The Oyster Bar is committed to fresh and quality ingredients, ensuring that every bite transports you to the ocean.

Whether you're a seafood enthusiast or simply looking for a memorable dining experience in Las Vegas, a visit to the Oyster Bar at Hard Rock Hotel is a must. With its unique pan roasts, fresh seafood offerings, and lively ambiance, it's no wonder that this restaurant has become a go-to destination for both locals and tourists seeking a taste of Las Vegas beyond the Strip.

Oyster Bar Pan Roast Recipe

Oyster bar pan roasts are a type of creamy stew or soup that can be made with a variety of seafood, including oysters, shrimp, crab, lobster, clams, and mussels. The dish is cooked in a steam-powered, steel-jacketed kettle rather than in a sauté pan, and it typically includes a combination of seafood, roasted tomatoes, clam juice, and spices, all bubbled in cream. Here is a recipe for an oyster bar pan roast that serves 4-6 people:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup green bell pepper, diced
• 1 ½ cup shallot, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, pressed
• 1 chicken breast, diced
• 2 pre-cooked andouille sausage links, diced
• 6.5 oz canned crab claw meat
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter
• 3 tsp creole seasoning
• ½ tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 20 oz San Marzano peeled tomatoes
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 4 tbsp Louisiana hot sauce
• 2 cups dry jasmine rice
• ½ cup clam juice
• ¼ cup dry vermouth
• ¼ cup cognac
• 3 bay leaves

Instructions:

• In a 3-quart saucier pan or similar, heat up 1 tsp of vegetable oil and add the bell pepper, celery, shallot, and garlic.
• Add the butter and stir until melted.
• Stir in the diced chicken until it is no longer pink.
• Stir in raw shrimp until they become opaque.
• Stir in the pre-cooked andouille sausage.
• Add the Hot Old Bay, creole seasoning, black pepper, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper, and stir until evenly distributed.
• Add the clam juice, dry vermouth, cognac, and bay leaves. Stir until evenly distributed and let simmer until the alcohol smell is no longer potent.
• Begin cooking the jasmine rice in a rice cooker.
• In a blender, combine the San Marzano peeled tomatoes, heavy whipping cream, Louisiana hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, honey, and flour. Blend until smooth.
• Stir the blended mixture into the saucier pan until evenly distributed.
• Continue stirring until the flour begins to thicken the stew.
• Stir in the canned crab and gently distribute.
• Serve with balls of rice on top.

Tips:

• For a spicier dish, use hot versions of Old Bay seasoning and creole seasoning.
• For a less spicy dish, omit the cayenne pepper.
• Use high-quality liquor, such as Courvoisier or Hennessy, for a better flavor.
• San Marzano peeled tomatoes from Italy are recommended for the best flavor.
• If you want to avoid using alcohol, you can replace the cognac with additional clam juice.

Pan roasts vs. oysters

Pan roasts and oysters are both seafood dishes, but they differ in several ways. Pan roasts are made by cooking a combination of seafood, such as shrimp, clams, mussels, crab, and lobster, in a steam-powered, steel-jacketed kettle rather than in a sauté pan. The seafood is cooked with roasted tomatoes, clam juice, spices, and cream, resulting in a dish that is both simple and complex in taste. On the other hand, oysters are typically served raw or grilled and can be eaten on their own or used as an ingredient in other dishes.

The pan roast is a popular dish at oyster bars in Las Vegas, with people often waiting in line for hours to get a taste. The Oyster Bar at Palace Station Resort and Casino sells more than 300,000 oysters annually, but their pan roasts are the real crowd-pleaser. Similarly, at the Oyster Bar at Harrah's Las Vegas, the pan roast is the bestseller, even though they offer a variety of fresh oysters. The same is true at the Oyster Bar at the Hard Rock Hotel, where their selection of oysters is one of the best in town, yet the pan roast remains the most sought-after item.

The pan roast's popularity can be attributed to its unique preparation and flavour. It is cooked in a steam kettle, which is a traditional method that gives the dish a distinct taste. The combination of seafood, spices, and cream creates a rich and indulgent experience. The dish is often served with a side of rice or garlic bread to soak up the extra sauce.

While oysters are a beloved delicacy, the pan roast has become the unexpected star of oyster bars, especially in Las Vegas. Its combination of fresh seafood, creamy sauce, and spicy kick has won over the hearts of many, even those who initially came for the oysters.

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