Hangtown Fry
Hangtown fry could possibly be the first California cuisine.
It consists of fried breaded oysters, eggs, and fried bacon, cooked together like an omelet.
In the gold-mining camps of the late 1800s, Hangtown Fry was a one-skillet meal for hungry miners who struck it rich and had plenty of gold to spend.
Live oysters would be brought to the gold fields in barrels of sea water after being gathered in and around San Francisco Bay. Such a meal cost
approximately $6.00, a fortune in those days. However it came to be,
ordering a Hangtown Fry became a mark of prosperity for gold-rich miners, a status symbol of the day.
Hangtown Fry
1 egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon milk
Breading mixture of cracker crumbs and/or bread crumbs
Oil for frying
3 oysters (shucked)
2 slices of bacon
2 eggs
Dip the oysters in egg-wash and then breading. Pan-fry until three-fourths
cooked.
While doing this, fry the bacon in another skillet until crisp.
Beat the eggs lightly.
Place the bacon like railroad tracks off-center in a
seasoned teflon frying pan, and pour a bit of the egg over the bacon.
Place the oysters on bacon and pour the remaining eggs over.
Cook over low heat and then fold the omelet over.
Makes 1 serving.
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