| 32 | | Oysters; shucked (reserve half of the shells) |
| 1 | c | Milk |
| 2 | c | Cornmeal |
| 1 | ts | Salt |
| 1/4 | ts | Cayenne |
| 3 | tb | Unsalted butter |
| 2/3 | c | Onion; julienned |
| 2/3 | c | Celery; julienned |
| 2/3 | c | Carrot; julienned |
| | Salt and pepper |
| 14 | c | Vegetable oil for deepfrying |
| | Tartar sauce |
| 3 | | Sweet gherkins; finely chopped |
| 2 | | Shallots; finely chopped |
| | Yolk of 1 hardboiled egg; sieved or finely chopped |
| 1 | tb | Capers; finely chopped |
| 2 | tb | Fresh parsley leaves; finely chopped |
| 2 | tb | Grated onion |
| 1 | tb | Fresh tarragon; finely chopped -or- |
| 1 | ts | Dried; crumbled |
| 1 | tb | Fresh chervil; finely chopped -or- |
| 1 | ts | Dried; crumbled |
| 1 1/2 | ts | Dijon mustard |
| 1/2 | ts | Grated lemon peel |
| | Salt and pepper |
| 1 1/2 | c | Homemade or prepared mayonnaise |
