ABOUT US

In 2016, Virginia Shaffer pursued an innocent curiosity to learn more about oysters. It snowballed into an 8-year personal study and blog featuring over 100 stories about shellfish farmers, chefs, artists, and restorers who were changing the way we perceived and valued the oyster.

Through their inspiration and a passion for storytelling, Lady Oyster was founded in 2024 to humanize and enrich the ways in which people connected with oysters.

Today, we're Maine's first "oyster-centric" food tour company, offering both sensory and tactile oyster experiences, including sommelier-guided oyster tastings and hands-on oyster farm tours. 

Our hope is to establish a needed role in food appreciation as ambassadors for Maine’s most sustainable aquaculture industry, imparting Maine’s ecological value through unforgettable gastronomic experiences.

Virginia Shaffer, Founder

is a Maryland Eastern Shore native who grew up with a deep appreciation for life along the water. After a successful decade as a top saleswoman at Flight Centre Travel Group, a $20 billion dollar corporation, she launched Lady Oyster, Maine's first oyster-centric food tour business.

Virginia has written about shellfish for over eight years and has been featured in publications and media including Edible, Good Grit, Post and Courier magazine, Portland Press Herald, and WCVB Boston Chronicle. She judged the Damariscotta Oyster Celebration’s chef competition alongside Maine’s Governor Janet Mills in 2019, and has volunteered on the program advisory committee for the Northeast Maritime Institute’s Restorative Aquaculture Program. Virginia is a proud member of the Seafood and Gender Equality’s Bloom network, and serves as a Friend of the Shellfish Growers Climate Coalition, a division of The Nature Conservancy.

Virginia is an Oyster Master Guild Certified Oyster Specialist. She has a B.A. in International Studies from American University in Washington, D.C., and holds a certificate in Gastronomic Tourism from Le Cordon Bleu.

Joe Jerome, Boat Tour Captain

Joe is a Registered Maine Guide and holds a Master Captain's License, two credentials that demonstrate his deep passion and knowledge of Maine, the aquaculture industry, and boat safety. He partners with Virginia to deliver our unique, oyster farm cruises.

Joe is the founder and operator of North East Salt Water, a private fishing and farm tour charter business in Maine. He also works for the Basin Oyster Project teaching K-12 groups about shellfish reef regeneration.

Joe has a lifelong passion for chasing stripers and crabs along the East Coast and knows his way around the rugged islands and shorelines of Maine!

Warwick Ombler, Luxury Tourism Advisor & Culinary Operations

Warwick is a 25+ year luxury travel agent by trade. Warwick advises Lady Oyster on what it takes to meet and exceed expectations in Maine's competitive tourism market. He consults on our partnerships with Destination Management Companies, Travel Agencies, and other tourism partners.

Warwick is also the best seafood home cook in Bath! He serves as a second set of hands for master shucking, bread making, menu preparing, and cooking for our retreat experiences.

Warwick and I are proud to take part in the Maine oyster community, which is a pioneering place for shellsifh aquaculture and eco-tourism in the United States. Alongside our friends in aquaculture and culinary spheres, we're building experiences that introduce everyday people to the power of sea farming.