Around Charleston, South Carolina, Dave Belanger is rarely called by his given name. He’s known as Clammer Dave or simply Clammer, thanks to the Caper’s Clams he’s been raising for a decade. But in recent years, the farmer turned businessman turned bivalve aficionado has amassed a huge and hungry following for his Caper’s Blades oysters. Described as cleaner, saltier, and more flavorful than other Southern oysters, Belanger’s Blades are broken from clusters into single selects using a two-hundred-year-old rock-and-chisel technique. Oysters that are sufficiently mature are then placed in special racks in the waters around the Capers Island Wildlife Refuge where, Belanger says, the highly oxygenated water and the algae diet produce a perfectly briny taste. Though Belanger will ship directly to customers, demand means you’ll most likely be put on a waiting list. Luckily, restaurants from Nashville to New York City also stock the Blades (check clammerdave.com for a list). “I just try to respect the oyster,” he says, “and hope people like them.”
What's in Season
What’s in Season: Southern Oysters
For a clean taste of the ocean, look for these Southern selects

illustration: John Burgoyne
Related Stories:

Books
The Simple Art of Rice
A new must-have for your cookbook collection

Food & Drink
Out of the Box: How Chef Troy Guard Got Hooked on a Jarred Texas Delicacy
The Hawaiian-born restaurateur discovered Talk O’ Texas hot okra pickles as an adult, and it was love at first bite

Food & Drink
The Strange, Salty Joy of Pickles at the Movies
In the South—especially in Texas—the briny snacks steal the spotlight
Trending Stories:

Books
The Lasting Power of Larry McMurtry’s Not-So-Secret Texas Truths
In a new book, writers pay homage to his words. Read an exclusive excerpt here

Food & Drink
Six Grilling Tips from Rodney Scott and Bryan Furman
The Southern pitmasters share a few rules of thumb

Arts & Culture
Meet Blackmon Huckabee Jr., Clemson’s Viral TikTok Crooner
A Tiger wide receiver scores big on SportsCenter—with his singing voice