You did it, Baldwin County — you got me to eat and enjoy oysters.

While on two different assignments last week, I got the chance to sample two kinds of baked oysters from two restaurants down in Gulf Shores and, despite my hesitations, I really liked them both.

I know that people down here are raised on oysters, but this is a big deal for me.

A few months back I ate another baked oyster at a restaurant on the Eastern Shore, but before that it had been at least a decade since I last tried to eat one.

In that previous endeavor, it was a raw oyster, so I hope don’t aren’t upset I stepped away oyster bar for so long.

In general, I have always enjoyed seafood — mainly fish — as long as I can remember.

Catfish, halibut, salmon and tuna have long been among my favorite meals to cook at home or order when dining out.

Heck, I even enjoy a good shrimp when out on the town.

I should have figured that oysters would slide their way onto that list when I moved to Baldwin County.

Maybe I’ll draw the line at raw oysters, but Oysters Rockfeller and other baked variations are back on the menu.

Along getting to meet and work with different people, my favorite thing about moving from place to place in this career has been getting to sample the local fare.

In Mississippi, it was gumbo and jambalaya.

In Selma, it was barbeque and catfish.

Here in Lower Alabama, the list is too long to include in this column.

I can honestly say that in my first year here, I have had some of the best meals of my life.

From seafood cheesecakes to authentic gumbos to, yes, oysters — it’s hard to think of anyone eating better than us.

One of the first columns I wrote after starting here was a call for people to send me recommendations on where I needed to eat here in Baldwin County.

Twelve months later, I am still getting emails from readers asking me if I have tried this burger or that seafood.

I know there are plenty of places I have yet to try down here, so keep sending those recommendations.

I’ll be sure to add them to my list after I finish this plate of oysters.

Jay Sowers is the photo editor for Gulf Coast Media. To reach him, please email jay@gulfcoastmedia.com