And so it proved last night as Ian Manson licked his lips over the first serving of oysters in Dunedin - just 20 minutes after they arrived at Dunedin's Best Cafe.
Mr Manson was the first customer to order the slippery delicacy, and said he was continuing a family tradition.
He began "tagging along'' with his father to sample some oysters at the cafe when he was still a young child, about 40 years ago.
And despite recently moving to Eketahuna with his family, Mr Manson happened to be back in Dunedin yesterday and jumped at the chance to try some more - cooked, not raw.
"I was hoping they would have some but not too sure if they were here or not.
"They are still the best oysters I have had.''
Best Cafe owner Jess Marks said the season had started a few days late, after bad weather intervened, but she expected to sell more than 100 dozen oysters a week until the season concluded in August.
The oysters cost $25 for a half dozen, or $48 per dozen, cooked or raw.
