For this bartender profile, we're focusing on a man who shucks more oysters behind his bar than he slings beers.

Seven years ago, Mauricio Carbajal, 29, moved from Mexico to Milwaukee, and for the last five years, he has manned the oyster bar at the St. Paul Fish Company in the Public Market, 400 N. Water St.

Carbajal says he loves oysters: eating them, serving them and educating people about them. On a recent Tuesday night, we bellied up to his oyster bar, downed a dozen of his mighty mollusks and talked about shucking, over-eating and aphrodisiacs.

OnMilwaukee.com: Do you prefer to serve drinks or oysters?

Mauricio Carbajal: Oysters. I really like to shuck oysters.

OMC: How do you shuck an oyster?

MC: (Demonstrating) You take an oyster knife and you put it between the two shells and you just pry it open like this. It's pretty easy.

OMC: Do you like fried or raw oysters the best?

MC: Raw oysters for sure. I don't really like fried oysters.

OMC: What's the best way to eat a raw oyster?

MC: Right out of the shell, with lemon and a little cocktail sauce and horse radish on it.

OMC: Do many people complain to you that raw oysters are too slimy?

MC: Actually, no. People who come here really love them.

OMC: How many different kinds of oysters do you have?

MC: It ranges every week. Right now, we have five. Next week, we'll have seven.

OMC: What's the watery part of the oyster called?

MC: The brine.

OMC: How many oysters do you eat on average every week?

MC: Oh, at least a dozen.

OMC: What do you like about raw oysters?

MC: The flavor. The texture. Some are sweeter and some are saltier. I just really like all of them.

OMC: Do you think they are aphrodisiacs?

MC: I have heard that a lot, but I think probably not. There's iron in oysters, which might be why people say that.

OMC: Do people eat as many oysters in the winter?

MC: Yes, we have a two-for-one oyster night on Thursdays that's always very popular. We sell about 1,000 oysters per week and 400 of them are usually sold on Thursdays.

OMC: Do people eat a lot of oysters in Mexico?

MC: Yes, a lot. I grew up eating them.

OMC: Where do most of your oysters come from?

MC: Canada, Maine. The Blue Points you are eating are from Virginia.

OMC: What is a "Lady Chatterly?" I see it on your sign.

MC: It's a small oyster from Prince Edward Island in Canada.

OMC: What's the most oysters you have ever seen a person eat?

MC: Three months ago, I saw a lady eat 87 oysters in one sitting. I don't know if she was really hungry or just liked oysters a lot.

OMC: Was she drunk?

MC: No. She just kept ordering more oysters and more water.

OMC: Other than oysters, what's the best thing on your menu?

MC: The lobster dinner, It's only $12.95 and it comes with fries. It's a great deal.