The world’s their oyster

Boston’s best chefs and biggest shellfish fans will descend on Duxbury Beach Saturday for the Island Creek Oyster Festival. It’s a combination fund raiser, food fete and late-summer beach party celebrating a great Bay State success story.

“I’m always amazed at the passion people have for our product,” said Skip Bennett, who founded Island Creek in 1992.

Today, Island Creek oysters are found in some of the nation’s most exclusive restaurants, while Bennett has used his good fortune to help others. Saturday’s festival raises money for the Island Creek Oyster Foundation, which is building a shellfish hatchery on the island of Zanzibar in Tanzania.

The 2010 festival features plates prepared by nearly two-dozen Boston-area chefs, drinks from Harpoon Brewery, Grey Goose vodka and winemaker Pascal Jolivet, and plenty of fresh oysters. Go to islandcreekfoundation.org or call 781-934-2028 for tickets and information.