WHAT: Chefs from Portland’s premier seafood restaurants and city firefighters will race to see who can shuck and swallow the most oysters in 10 minutes.

During the contest, a representative from each restaurant will pair up with a firefighter from Portland Fire & Rescue to create a “shuck and swallow” team. Chefs will display their shucking expertise to see who can open the most oysters in 10 minutes. As the chefs shuck each oyster, their firefighter partners will eat as many as possible. The team to shuck and consume the most oysters in 10 minutes will be named the Portland Shuck & Swallow Oyster Champions.

The public is invited to watch the competition and support their favorite chef or firefighter.

WHO: SHUCKERS representing Portland’s premier seafood restaurants, including: Chart House; Dan & Louis Oyster Bar; Jake’s Famous Crawfish; The Original McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant; McCormick & Schmick's Harborside at the Marina and South Park Seafood Grill.

SWALLOWERS representing firehouses from Portland Fire & Rescue

CHARITY BENEFIT: The contest will serve as a fundraiser for the Jeff Morris Fire and Life Safety Foundation, which works cooperatively with Portland Fire & Rescue to develop and deliver fire and life safety education for local citizens.

The public will be invited to make pledges to support their favorite firefighter/chef team.

In addition to the Shuck & Swallow Challenge, Portland firefighters will be on hand as “celebrity servers” throughout dinner at The Original McCormick & Schmick's that night. A portion of the proceeds from all dinner sales on October 9th will be donated to the Jeff Morris Fire & Life Safety Foundation.

Reservations recommended: 503-224-7522

WHEN: Thursday, October 9th 2008

Shuck & Swallow Challenge: 3:30 p.m.

Dinner with firefighter servers: 4:00pm – 11:00pm

WHERE: The Original McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant

235 SW First Avenue (at Oak Street) – Downtown Portland