Oysters Kilpatrick

1. If the oysters are not already shucked, open them up and discard the top of the shell. Sit the oyster in the bottom cup-like part of the shell and loosen the oyster if it is attached. Drain off excess liquid and remove any pieces of shell/grit that may have fallen in during opening.
2. Mix together the tomato ketchup, Worcestershire sauce and tabasco, if using (see notes re quantities). Set aside.
3. Finely chop the bacon into thin strips, cutting larger pieces in half if they bacon is wide. Warm a small skillet/frying pan and cook the bacon (you don't need to use any additional fat) until the bacon is cooked and just starting to crisp/brown.
4. If cooking on the grill/BBQ, rest the oysters on some scrunched foil or in the container they came in, if you have one, to keep them relatively level. If using oven/broiler (overhead grill), place some rock salt in a baking dish or on a baking sheet (if the dish is too big, make a smaller holder for the salt using foil as in video). Nestle the oysters in the salt to keep them level. You can also use a layer of scrunched up foil.
5. Spoon roughly a teaspoon of the sauce over each oyster then top with a few pieces of bacon (exactly how much of each depends on the size of the oyster a little but you want them fairly well covered).

For broiler (overhead grill)

1. For broiler cooking, don't use a glass/pyrex dish as it may crack under the high more direct heat. Make sure you use a dish suitable for the broiler (a baking sheet works well). Place the oven dish/baking sheet under a pre-heated broiler on high setting for around 4-6 minutes until the sauce is sizzling and the bacon slightly crisped. Keep a close eye as you don't want the toppings to burn, just caramelize a little.

For grill/BBQ cooking

1. Place the oysters on a pre-headed grill (medium-high heat), using the grates to help keep them level, tucking in some scrunched pieces of foil under the oysters if needed. Cook for around 3-5 minutes (covered) until the sauce is bubbling, taking care that the oysters don't overcook.

For oven cooking

1. Preheat the oven to 400F/200C ahead of time. Place the oven dish with the oysters in the oven for around 5-10 minutes until the sauce is bubbling and the bacon slightly crisped.

For all - serving

1. Once cooked, serve the oysters in the shell with a slice of lemon on the side. Typically, you would serve them on some rock salt (eg transfer some that you used in cooking) or you can get special dishes that keep the oysters relatively flat.