Local fish houses fete friendly mollusks on National Oyster Day

Put on your pearls and celebrate National Oyster Day on Tuesday by slurping down some sumptuous bivalves featured at local fish houses.

In preparation for the molluscan merrymaking, here are a few local fish houses celebrating all things oyster in honor of the national celebration.

* Jax (539 17th Street - www.jaxfishhouse.com). To honor the beloved bivalve, Jax Fish House is celebrating the day at all four Jax locations.  At the LoDo location, Gov. John Hickenlooper will serve as the “Head Shucker” behind the raw bar alongside owner Dave Query from 5:30 to 6:30 pm.  Diners will find guest shuckers behind the bars at the Glendale and Fort Collins spots as well.  During that hour, at all locations free oysters will be served, and ongoing deals for the evening include $1.25 oysters, three-dollar Dixie Lagers, $5 wine, $1 off all brews from The Post Brewing Company and $2 oyster shooters.

* At Humboldt (1700 Humboldt Street – www.humboldtrestaurant.com), oyster lovers in the know order the pairing concept known as Oysterology, launched this summer.  Diners can enjoy a flight of oysters, served by variety, and paired with a matched set of white wines specifically selected to complement and heighten the flavors of each mollusk.  Humboldt’s printed card accompanies the flight and educates diners about the oysters, the wines and the flavor profiles that make them a match.  Not in the mood for wine?  Order an oyster-worthy cocktail (suggestion: Humboldt’s version of the classic Blood & Sand) and slurp down Humboldt’s signature Washburn oysters for $1 all day.

* Lola Mexican Fish House (1575 Boulder Street – www.loladenver.com) will be playing the East Coast vs. West Coast by offering $2 East Coast oysters and $3 West Coast oysters all day. Don’t ask them to play favorites – Lola’s server staff is well-trained on oyster knowledge and can recommend either coast depending on your mood. Or belly up to Lola’s Cold Bar and check out the large selection of oysters and watch chefs shuck fresh ones – try Lola’s Oysters on the Half Shell, served with a spicy habanero cocktail sauce, lime and onion blossom and de arbor vinegar (Lola’s take on a traditional mignonette).