The Oyster Master Guild (OMG) is a global community of oyster professionals, growers, and enthusiasts who give a shuck about advancing the art of oyster service.
We believe in creating exceptional oyster experiences through education, training, and building a passionate community.
Our mission is to revolutionize the oyster bar experience by addressing industry gaps, enhancing customer experiences, and recognizing excellence in the food and hospitality sector.
Our three core focuses:
Unite, Inspire, and Enable the Proliferation of Oyster Ambassadors and Educators
We believe in the power of education and community. By bringing together a diverse group of oyster enthusiasts and professionals, OMG fosters a culture of learning and mentorship. Our goal is to inspire a new generation of oyster ambassadors who are passionate about sharing their knowledge and love for oysters with the world. Through our certification programs, courses, workshops, and events, we provide the tools and support needed to become confident oyster educators and advocates.Establish, Promote, and Uphold Standards for Exceptional Oyster Service
Excellence in oyster service begins with setting high standards. OMG is committed to defining what great oyster service looks like and ensuring these standards are consistently met across the industry. Our comprehensive certification programs are designed to equip professionals with the skills and knowledge required to deliver outstanding oyster experiences. We promote these standards through our training materials, courses, and by recognizing establishments that embody the spirit of exceptional service.Recognize Leaders of Oyster Excellence within the Food and Hospitality Industry
Excellence deserves recognition. OMG celebrates the individuals and businesses that excel in oyster service and contribute significantly to the oyster community. Through awards, certifications, and special acknowledgments, we highlight those who go above and beyond in promoting oyster appreciation and sustainability. These leaders serve as role models, inspiring others to strive for excellence and innovation in their oyster offerings.
Programs
Oyster Classes & Training
Classes and workshops to build up oyster confidence, level up shucking skills, and grow your oyster service business.
Oyster Product & Service Standards
Guides on oyster varieties and quality grades, product and packaging quality standards, and presentation standards.
Oyster Master Certification
The Oyster Master Certification accredits oyster professionals in order to elevate the oyster experience for consumers.
Community & Professional Networking
Engage with like-minded oyster enthusiasts; advance your career and business through the job board.
Oyster Educators Summit
Bringing the oyster community together to share ideas, best practices, and skills around oyster education and ambassadorship.
Oyster Excellence Awards
Recognizing individuals for outstanding leadership, vision, innovation, and advocacy within the oyster service community.
Membership Statistics
Over 180 individuals from 16 countries are members of the Oyster Master Guild.
More than half of the members work in the food & restaurant industry. Many have their own oyster catering businesses or oyster farms.
A diverse range of professionals, ranging from academia to non-profit, are also part of the Guild. Finally, a highly engaged group of creators, social media influencers, and consumers make up a quarter of the membership.
Data as of: September 2024
Meet the Founders
Julie Qiu
Julie Qiu is an internationally recognized Oyster Sommelier and educator. She is the creator of In A Half Shell, the website and Instagram dedicated to showcasing the world’s most exceptional oysters, producers, and destinations.
Julie leads oyster masterclasses and pairing workshops across the U.S. and internationally. She is the co-author of the 33 Oysters on the Half Shell tasting journal, Oyster Species of North America poster, and hosts the Around the World in 80 Oysters webcast.
With over 17 years of branding and marketing experience, Julie has worked with some of the world’s most iconic brands in food & beverage, hospitality, and luxury. She’s spent the past eight years in the sustainable seafood space as the Marketing Director for Australis Aquaculture, building The Better Fish® brand.
Julie’s work has been featured by Vogue, The Chicago Tribune, Food & Wine, USA Today, NPR, Saveur, The Oyster Farmer on SommTV, and Somebody Feed Phil Season 2 on Netflix.
Patrick McMurray
Patrick McMurray has been shuckin’ around the oyster world since 1992 as a restaurateur, author, educator, competitive shucking world champion, and a Guinness Book record holder for the most oysters opened in one minute (33!)—of which he bested his record to 39 on the Gordon Ramsay FWord Live show in 2017.
Patrick designed and built two restaurants in Toronto from scratch: Starfish Oyster Bed & Grill and The Ceili Cottage, and wrote The Oyster Companion - a Field Guide of Oysters. Patrick conducts Oyster 101 lessons for chefs, schools, festivals, and oyster lovers around the globe. Presently, he teaches culinary & hospitality (with an oyster & shellfish specialty) at Centennial College in Toronto.
Patrick attributes his shucking success to his technique and the pistol grip Shuckerpaddy Oyster Knife he designed, which is now manufactured and distributed globally by Swissmar.