These oysters are lauded as being unusually sweet and as having a pleasing, complex texture. Antisan is also a very popular yacht rental choice for events such as Cannes Lions and MIPIM. Some oysters in particular, known as La Gravette feed on local plankton that lend them a unique, highly-prized flavour. Oysters, the French Obsession - The Good Life France If you like buttery Chardonnays, these pair well . The Best Seafood in the World (& it's Sustainable, too!) This episode of How We Eat explores the complex history of this beloved bival. Enjoying a suite of international oysters with friends in Hong Kong. In particular, the French coast is famous for its oysters, particularly in Bouziques, France. Many countries produce lots of wonderful oysters. The oyster industry is rich in history, as can be seen by dipping your toe into the briny waters. The French oysters are meaty and nutty in taste. She is one of the few yachts able to cruise with more than 12 guests onboard and can welcome up to 40 guests for day charters. When I wasn't working or sleeping, I was hunting for oysters. Coming from the Loire Valley, this cool climate wine is grown on an ancient sea bed known as the Paris basin, and its bracing acidity, citrus notes, and mineral profile matches exceedingly well with oysters. You can even board a 2CV vintage Citroen on embark on a rustic yet elegant tour around the landing beaches and picturesque natural sites such as the Cliffs at Etretat, stopping to taste oysters and other authentic Norman products (calvados, wines, cheeses, ciders) along the way. Arcachon, Pyla-sur-Mer & Cap FerretThe seaside resort town of Arcachon and its magnificent Bay is renowned for its fresh oysters. Mont-St-Michel Bay, located between Normandy and Brittany, is a stunning sight to see. The best oyster on the planet, the Belon is harvested from all over France and finished in specially designed ponds (claires) in the brackish waters of the Belon River, where the French call garaging. The plates have flatter shapes than usual, and they are also known as Marneens or Belons in the two places where they are produced. 9. HUITRERIE REGIS, Paris - 6th Arr. - Luxembourg - Tripadvisor The average price of a kilogram was 7.5 euros per kilogram in July of 2020, which is down from the previous years average. Kelly Oysters, based in a small inlet in Galway Bay, have been described as the best flavoured in the world. Since Roman times, they have been farmed in the Lagune de Thau, in the Mediterranean, and in the Bay of Arcachon. If youve eaten them before, or whether youre curious and about to experience them for the first time, theres nothing in the world quite like French oysters. Picture courtesy of Bikeriderlondon/Shutterstock.com. They are generally whitish-gray in outer shell color, and their inside shell . The Beauty of the Belon Oyster - Trulucks Open now : 12:00 PM - 2:30 PM6:30 PM - 10:30 PM. Grown in the cold waters of the Foveaux Strait, the number of oysters harvested has been limited for decades, partially due to a suddenly wide-spreading a disease in the late 1980s that turned oysters black and watery. Then, the only species available was the plate, or flat oyster (Ostrea edulis), more commonly known as the Belon. Though Bluff itself is a little off the beaten track, it's oysters are available across the country, so you should absolutely sail your superyacht to New Zealand Auckland and Queenstown in particular are of to some of the world's best restaurantsoffering this southern island delicacy. There are over 450 parks and gardens to visit in Paris. They explain every aspect of oyster history and nurturing. According to First We Feast, each one of these oysters can measure up to 7.09 inches long and weigh up to 2.2 pounds. This results in oysters that are plump and full of flavor. Although France is normally the first place that springs to mind for the worlds best oysters, the Delta de lEbre, situated between Barcelona and Valencia, it a top contender. Read our No BS Guide to Eating and Drinking Like the French. The country has a long tradition of oyster farming"L'ostriculture," and eating them, of course. Prized by the Parisians, this delicate oyster is found in fine restaurants around the world. oysters from France are typically served raw with a squeeze of lemon, but they can also be cooked in a variety of ways. They are raised in shallow water from 4 to 6 months, producing only two to five oysters per square meter of water, producing a nearly crunchy oyster shell. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. He takes the time to appreciate the natural beauty of the region not only because it is rugged on the coastline but also because it is rolling and rural. Best for On-Demand Harvesting: Fishers Island Oyster Farm - NY. Easily accessible by superyacht, these oysters alone make Rhode Island a destination to cruise by. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The Hog Island Oyster Company of Tomales Bay, California, is famous for its hog Island Sweetwater oyster. Located between Barcelona and Valencia in the pristine wetlands of the Delta de lEbre National Park, these delicious oysters benefit from the salt water of the Mediterranean and the fresh water of the River Ebro. Like wine, terroir and variety matters when . Here's how to tell oysters from the US, France and Australia apart. Because oysters have unique flavors and textures, you should chew them (not swallow them whole) to get a full taste. Meanwhile, at Le Vauban in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, the fresh shellfish platters are excellent, as are the beautifully presented dishes made with fresh local ingredients. Oysters are among the best in France, as they are found in towns along the countrys coast. France is known for its western seaboard with three separate oyster growing regions: Cancale, Marennes-Olron, & Arcachon. In particular, the French coast is famous for its oysters, particularly in Bouziques, France. Exceptional but relaxed tastings can be enjoyed at places including Au Pied dCheval on the Cancale Port, whose oyster platters (sourced from the restaurants own local production site) are remarkably fresh and delicious; the seaside views are breathtaking, too. Bluff Oysters from the southern most tip of New Zealand's South Island are some of the most prolific. Kumamoto oysters have gained popularity due to their sweet taste as well as their mild brininess. During the winter of 2010, I had the incredible opportunity to travel around the world for business. 3 rue de Montfaucon, 75006 Paris France +33 1 44 41 10 07 Website Menu. If youre going to eat raw oysters, allow 6 to 8 oysters per person, and 5 if theyre going to be served warm. They taste slightly different depending on where they came from: salty and nutty in Normandy, iodiney and delicate and invigorating in Brittany. Touring & Tasting on the PeninsulaWhy not couple a historical tour of Normandys landing beaches with a few gourmet tastings at some of the areas most prestigious oyster houses and seafood restaurants? Finally, another destination in Nouvelle Aquitaine that reserves some of France's best oysters is the town of Marennes-Olron, famous for its "La Pousse en Clair" variety that is elevated in low density conditions and in shallow ponds called "claires". Around 164,000 years ago, it was common for humans to consume oysters, which were introduced to Europe by hominids. Europe's Best Oysters & What to Drink with Them Beauregard. Sharpen your elbows, grab your shucker, and join the fray! With over 2,000 miles of coastline, France is the largest producer of oysters in Europe. They are large, juicy and have an intense flavour, earning them a place among the finest oysters in the world. Cancale, Marennes-Olron, and Arcachondre are three legendary oyster cultivation areas in France. As mentioned above, theres a language of terroir and crus that accompanies oysters, particularly in the French oyster industry, and some of the very best pairings are when an oyster is paired with a local wine, particularly in regions where the soil the vines are grown in was once seabed, and therefore rich in marine sediment. Let your tastebuds be your guide! France also goes to greater lengths than anywhere else in the world to coddle some of its oysters, which can be finished in special salt ponds where each gets a designated amount of water, or may even have special algae added to turn their gills green (and flavor fruity). The oysters are harvested and sorted by size after being hand-harvested. Where to Enjoy the World's Best Oysters - BOAT International Oyster World Map - Oysterater Where to eat oysters in Paris - Guide for the best oyster - INSIDR That means a standard order of a dozen Coffin Bay oysters on the half shell would add up to $1,200. Chez Pierre in Arcachon is also prized by locals for its fine platters and excellent wines. While Normandy is perhaps a bit more well-known for its French cheeses and Calvados liqueur, this region should be a priority when youre interested in tasting superb huitres and related products. They have a slightly sweet flavor that is generously filling in their semi-round shell. Towns such as Plougastel-Dauolas, also nestled on the harbour, are also noted for their wild huitres, which have a particular texture closer to a scallop and are rich in iodine. The classics in Paris are oysters from legendary French oyster cultivation areas such as Cancale, Marennes-Olron, and Arcachon. Cancale: La-Pied-de-ChevalAnother variety that seafood aficionados prize is from Cancale, and more specifically an oyster referred to as Le Pied de Cheval (the horses foot). Heres a summary of some of the terms you are likely to encounter: France produces two types of oysters, plates and creuses. This sweet, fruity oyster grows in Marenne-Oleron on the west coast of France, the largest oyster growing region in Europe. Additionally, the French take great care in harvesting their oysters, using traditional methods that have been perfected over centuries. Tut, tut.). Huitrerie Regis. "Always begin by loosening the oyster. The plates are flatter in shape and are also known as Belons or Marennes, two of the locales where they are produced. Also raised on the Cotentin Peninsula but further to the east, the huitre de Saint-Vaast la Hougue is another noble oyster with a fleshy texture, rich in iodine and featuring a subtle suggestion of hazelnut. Its flavour is easy, fresh and sprightly, evoking bracing sea breezes and sea water. Oysters Shallots Butter Flour Mushrooms White Wine Cayenne Pepper Salt Breadcrumbs Parmigiano Reggiano WHERE TO EAT THE BEST Oysters Bienville View more 1 Arnaud's New Orleans , United States of America 2 Felix's Restaurant & Oyster Bar New Orleans , United States of America 3 Antoine's Restaurant New Orleans , United States of America 4 Going Out for Oysters. If youre looking for a tasty, low-cost dish, try some of the more well-known French dishes like macaroni and cheese and croisins. Another popular standard for judging oyster meat is the Worth Index. The coast of France also offers fantastic oyster experiences. In addition to visiting local oyster producers in Arcachon and the nearby Cap Ferret, your gourmet adventure in the region might include lunch onboard a privately chartered yacht, prepared by a local chef and featuring freshly caught oysters accompanied by crusty bread and salted butter and some of the regions finest, crispest white wines. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Fishermen place baby shellfish in beds in order to grow them as they approach maturity, and they return to the beds to place them as they grow. However the area of the Delta de l'Ebre in Catalonia, produces such excellent oysters that actually 80% of these are exported to France. The biggest oysters are best used for cooking something like an oyster stuffing, which my grandma loved to make for Thanksgiving (and I always managed to hide the heaping scoop of oyster stuffing or slip it in to napkin). During private tours, you can discover the very best places to eat, hidden away, and at the very least for the first time. The latter two offer types known as Fines and Fines de Claire, although they traditionally hail from the Marennes-Olron region. The town of Isigny-sur Mer and nearby Grandcamp-Maisy are both excellent ports of call for sampling the prized local produce. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Types of Clams and Oysters - WebstaurantStore Oysters grow all around the globe on rocks and piers in the saltiest of waters. Our favorite is Emile et une Hutre in Village l'Herbe. The oyster has been revered by kings and peasants in France for thousands of years, and it is still loved today as a salty and briny treat from the sea. Whether true or apocryphal, these are some mighty fine oysters, famed for their tangy, lingering flavour. Website. View all posts by Alex Coles. Located next to a multi-deck boat house on Skull Creek, this landmark waterfront restaurant features an extensive cocktail and food menu. The plants are difficult to grow and require a small amount of production, so they are more expensive to produce. Guy Savoy, touted as the best chef in the world, loses Michelin star These varieties typically. The waters are cold, fresh and salty and contain prawns, langoustine, lobster, mussels, oysters - and fantastic fish. Sydney Rock Oysters are small and soft and have a distinctive taste although their flavours can differ depending on which location they have come from. Meanwhile, in nearby Plougastel, a trip to the tasting room of prestigious oyster producers Thierry Larnicol and Jean Le Moal (Keraliou) is a wonderful place to try creative regional cuisine from chef Philippe Lambert, with dishes such as beef tartare with oysters certain to please gourmet palates. A Guide to Oysters. French oysters; a quick guide to choosing, shucking and eating Vive la France! Due to their unique taste, their longer maturation (up to 6 years), as well as their relative scarcity compared to the Pacific oyster, the native Kelly Galway oysters are prized by connoisseurs and chefs alike. If you want to try something new, you can begin with Anthony Bourdains journeys; his travels are a great place to start. Fish and shellfish from West Sweden are some of the best in the world. If youre looking for a seafood dish that has a French flavor, try French oysters. The cold, crisp waters of the Candian coastline produces some of the best oysters in the world, such as Barron Point, Chef Creek, Golden Mantle, Mary Point, Malpeque and more. List of oysters | World of Oysters And justifiably so. Cupped oysters come in a variety of sizes and come in a numbered box. This allows them to grow fatter and more substantial than fines de claire. I am cofounder and senior yacht charter broker at Bespoke Yacht Charter. During a private oyster-tasting tour, you may also visit oyster producers and local restaurants. Oyster regions of France Normandy Oysters Known for its highly iodised and fleshy oysters. For one, they are grown in some of the cleanest and most pristine waters in the world. The Best Oyster Tasting in France - From Brittany to Arcachon It is the Damariscottas crisp, clean waters that allow the oysters to escape the sand and silt. Loch Ryan is the only active oyster fishery remaining in Scotland and has been run by the Wallace family since 1701 when the beds were given a royal charter by King William II. The Oysters of Isigny-sur-MerThe Norman oysters that are perhaps the biggest household name are those cultivated in Isigny-sur-Mer and surrounding towns, in the Calvados department famous for the liqueur of the same name. Are grown at just 10 to the square yard. In the 19th century, there were three oyster capitals in the world: Paris, London and New York. Also called portugaises or japonaises, these oysters have a convex shell. The best white wine pairings for oysters are cool-climate, high-acidity wines grown in mineral-rich soils. They look identical at first glance, coming in some shade of grey with a similar briny flavour. Oysters from the East Coast are unquestionably the most popular in the seafood world. In addition to eating and drinking with locals, he learns about their traditions and their cuisine. Arcachon Bay Oysters in France Piret Ilver Oysters are "affordable luxury" - always special, different in every corner of the world, and every moment while eating oysters is special.