SHUCKER FROM ORIGINAL VINCENT’S RESTAURANT WINS BOLLA WINES
LITTLE ITALY OYSTER SHUCKING COMPETITION FOR 2ND CONSECUTIVE YEAR TO KICK OFF 2006 SORRENTO CHEESE SUMMER IN LITTLE ITALY

Juan Vargas, who works in the kitchen at Original Vincent’s, the 102-year-old restaurant in New York City’s historic Little Italy community, won the 3rd Annual Bolla Wines Oyster Shucking Competition on Saturday, May 27, 2006, when he shucked 99 oysters during an eight-minute time period to defeat shuckers from four other local restaurants. It was a repeat victory for Vargas who won last year’s competition by shucking 85 oysters in eight minutes.

Samuel Rivera, a kitchen employee at Umberto’s Clam House finished in second place by shucking 89 oysters and Jose Quinde of Il Cortile shucked 77 oysters to finish in third place. Other competitors represented Sal Anthony’s SPQR and Caffe Napoli.

The Oyster Shucking Competition officially started the 5th Annual Sorrento Cheese Summer in Little Italy festival which annually begins on Memorial Day Weekend and continues through Columbus Day.

The Oyster Shucking Competition was sponsored by Bolla Wines.