Get your taste buds ready for the upcoming Virginia Half-Shell Oyster Tasting to be held Saturday, Nov. 12, from 1 to 4 p. m. at Kelsick Specialty Market on Main Street, Gloucester.

Sponsored by the Tidewater Oyster Gardeners Association (TOGA) , this event will feature oysters from waters surrounding the Middle Peninsula. Ticket holders (tickets are limited to 200 and will not be sold at the door) will have the opportunity to taste four oysters from each of six vendors and then award points.

Perhaps if you attended last year’s event you learned all about how to taste an oyster. For those who have never had the experience of tasting and grading them, this group has made it easy for you. On the front of your score card are the directions, which read in part: "To really savor the flavor of the oyster you should eat it ‘naked’… Oyster tasting is a lot like wine tasting. Begin by experiencing the aroma before you put it in your mouth. It is recommended t...