Maine's first oyster culinary tour operator — Virginia Shaffer's oyster sommelier-led tastings, farm tours, retreats, and a new Bath oyster bar (The Parlor) opening May 2026.
Lady Oyster is Maine's first oyster culinary tour operator, founded in 2024 by Virginia Shaffer — Maine's first certified oyster sommelier (Oyster Master Guild) and a Le Cordon Bleu Paris-certified gastronomic tourism specialist who has written about oyster farmers for eight years. The Phippsburg flagship at 47 Wallace Circle sits on a working waterfront and runs sensory dining experiences, oyster and wine tastings, half-day seafood adventures, Neighborhood Bakes, and private oyster farm boat tours with Captain Joe of North East Salt Water. The World Food Travel Association named Lady Oyster its 2025 Best Rural Culinary Heritage Experience, and Maine Center for Entrepreneurs selected the company for its 2025 Top Gun cohort. A second location — The Parlor, a four-seat oyster tasting room and retail market — opens May 2026 at 1 Shaw Street in Bath, with retail oyster sales from local farms between Portland and Damariscotta.
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