Oysters actually spend a scientifically determined number of days being dipped in and out of the water. For a more formal gastronomic experience, we particularly recommend lunch or dinner at Tabl Breizh Caf in Cancale, a Michelin-starred address whose Brton and Japanese menu fuses traditions beautifully; the menu includes oyster platters and fusion specialities using the delicacy as a key ingredient. As the only oyster fishery still operating in Scotland, and a very slow maturation time of up to 8 years, the Loch Ryan oysters are a true delicacy to savour over Christmas and New Year. The oyster can be served plain, with a splash of lemon juice, vinegar, or a shallots sauce, or with vinegar and a dash of lemon juice. On the island of Capers in South Carolina, a robust and juicy oyster known as the Capers Blade is produced. From North to South there are seven distinct growing regions: Normandy, North-Brittany, South-Brittany, West-Central, Marennes-Olron, Arcachon, and the Mediterranean. France is known for producing oysters in three forms: plates, creuses, and fines. They are difficult to grow and are produced in small quantities, and so they are more expensive. Theyve drunk malty, creamy stout with their oysters for generations, and it works surprisingly well with the salty hit of the oysters. If youre looking for the best oysters in France, the Gillardeau oysters are an absolute must. Anthony Bourdain takes great pleasure in traveling because he respects people and food. Oysters, as a side dish, are popular as an appetizer made with bread and butter. Ireland's oyster industry is an international powerhouse. 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. Finally, there's no need to worry about calories whilst eating oysters! Some kind of dry white wine or Champagne is generally suggested as an accompaniment. At sunset, follow the Rance west to St-Malo, a fortified citadel with ramparts at the mouth of the Rance. Then, the only species available was the plate, or flat oyster (Ostrea edulis), more commonly known as the Belon. Some of the more popular places include Le Bouchon du Palais in Paris, LEcailler du Bistrot in Lyon, and La Cote des Monts in Bordeaux. French restaurants often offer a perplexing miscellany of oysters, at prices that differ according to shape, size and provenance. From coastal Virginia to New York and New Orleans, a writer delves into the history and lore surrounding the shellfish, with a focus on the role African Americans . In fact, one in four French oysters hail from this region and are prized by locals and visitors alike for their variety and frank, complex flavours. Website. During the winter of 2010, I had the incredible opportunity to travel around the world for business. We particularly recommend tables including Le Patio, a Michelin-starred restaurant on Arcachons main beach thats headed be French chef Thierry Renou and features outstandingly fresh oysters and creative regional cuisine, as well as the recently opened Skiff Club in gorgeous Pyla-sur-Mer, with fantastic views over the dunes, remarkable gastronomy from chef Stphane Carrade, and a superb wine list. The laws in place are aimed to prevent food waste at large. Bourdain enjoys oysters from the coast in both regions, as well as seafood from the local region. The famous advertising slogan for Guinness Guinness is good for you rings true in this case, but Murphys or your preferred Irish Stout will be just as good. This unique terroir produces oysters that are delightfully fresh and full of aromatic flavours. These oysters are lauded as being unusually sweet and as having a pleasing, complex texture. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Improve this listing. This is an occasion where you dont need to fork out hundreds for a bottle of Cristal- and in fact shouldnt, as the complexity of a vintage champagne will only compete and clash with the oysters flavour profile. Gillardeau Marenne-Oleron Belon (France) Belon River, Brittany Many regional dishes include shellfish, which is aromatic and delicious in traditional dishes as well as in excellent wines. 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. The country is well-known for its oyster farms, which are an important part of the French culinary culture. Typically, this is the mouth of the Belon or Marenne rivers, where fresh and salt water blend. France produces two types of oysters: the flat oyster (in French known as the hutre plate), a variety native to the region, and the rounded oyster (in French, hutre creuse), which is imported from Japan.Though the flat oyster, also known as Belon, originates here, most of the oysters harvested in Cancale are the rounded style, with the flat-shelled Belon making up approximately 2% of . As one of Scotland's largest oyster beds, both wild and farmed Ostrea edulis oysters are still harvested at the site and they are famous for having a tangy long-lasting flavour and are more round and flat in appearance. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Monte-Carlo Music Masters showcases outstanding musical talents, Winter Tipples on the French Riviera : Where to Enjoy Vin Chaud and Other Wintery Treats, Michelin Stars and Rooftop Bars : 11 Things to do on a Cannes Yacht Charter, 3 reasons to charter a yacht to the South of France, The most fun toy for superyachts: Reverso, Discover The Best French Riviera 2022 Events, Discover ultimate luxury on a Monaco yacht charter, Why you should consider a Cannes Film Festival Yacht Charter, Best Affordable Restaurants on the Cote dAzur, Why you should charter a yacht on the French Riviera this September, Best Affordable Restaurants on the Cote d'Azur, MY Splendid Isolation : Why A Charter Yacht is a Haven from Coronavirus. The production is small, really, considering that Brittany produces 35,000 tonnes of France's annual 150,000 tonnes of oysters. He enjoys the simple pleasures of a seafood dinner in a fishing village such as Plouhinec and the more upscale surroundings of the Cte Blanche Resort in Saint-Malo, both of which are close to his home. Bespoke Yacht Charter Bespoke Yacht Charter offer luxury yacht charters and boat rentals on motor yachts, sailing yachts and superyachts on the Cte dAzur and French Riviera. It is not uncommon to see oysters shucked in front of you while you eat them (to preserve their flavor), or to serve them on ice. The sea views over the port are also superb. The best white wine pairings for oysters are cool-climate, high-acidity wines grown in mineral-rich soils. To this day, the city offers many opportunities to enjoy oysters, in restaurants or from side walk vendors. In some places, oysters were easy to find. There are around 350 oyster farmers in the Arcachon Bassin and they produce 8000 - 10,000 tonnes of Pacific cupped oysters per year. Paimpol: La creuse fineHeading northeast to the rugged Cote dArmor area, discover the remarkable local oysters of Paimpol which are raised in the middle of the sea and celebrated for their rich flavors and satisfying, fleshy texture. Favorite varieties include Capital and Shigoku oysters from Washington, Kusshi oysters from British Columbia, and the coveted Hog Island Sweetwaters from California. It produces two types of oysters: flat oysters (which are native to the region) and rounded oysters (which are imported from Japan). The crisp fruitiness of the oyster is derived from the way they are cultivated, with a minimum fattening period of two months spent in the nutrient-rich water of salty marsh beds. As coastal Normandy is home to some of the finest oyster beds in France, the region is brimming with raw bars, seafood restaurants and oyster farms that serve these local delicacies in style! France is home to four different oyster varieties. True Belon oysters are produced in the area around the French river Belon, and some say that they are some of the rarest oysters in the world. Prized by the Parisians, this delicate oyster is found in fine restaurants around the world. In the flavor of the Hama oyster, there is a cucumber aftertaste and a pleasant salinity. France (7) Gulf Coast (15) Hood Canal (20) Ireland (3) Long Island Sound (16) Maine/NH (20) . They have a flatter shape and are known as Belons or Marennes in two of the places where they are made. La Subhasta Restaurant, where a dozen will cost you35, Picture courtesy of Iakov Filimonov/Shutterstock.com. Malpeque Oysters 5. Aided by the significant tidal difference, the oysters filter plenty of nutrient-rich seawater every day. Labelled according to the same calculation as the fines, these oysters are a larger and fleshier. Ask any Frenchman or woman and theyd look at you as if youre crazy to even think they may not be. The oysters are harvested and sorted by size after being hand-harvested. Generally, there is a small fork provided for this purpose, so that it is not attached to the shell. The best oysters are available in September through April, but they are unlikely to be found on menus until October. Because oysters have unique flavors and textures, you should chew them (not swallow them whole) to get a full taste. Have we managed to intrigue your palate? Save. 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. They can be found in the coastal areas of the country, as well as in the rivers and lakes. Additionally, personal preferences will also come into play. With a shared language of terroir and cru and descriptive terms like crisp, buttery, or fruity, the French appreciation of oysters goes hand in hand with their appreciation of wine. During a private oyster-tasting tour, you may also visit oyster producers and local restaurants. Vive la France! It is possible to find some of the best oysters in France, from Cancale in Brittany to Arcachon near Bordeaux. The rolls Royce of French huitres are the oysters from Maison Gillardeau. It's a French word that you may have heard used with wine. Matunuck Oysters are grown in Potter Pond, an aquaculture farm in East Matunuck, Rhode Island. Last but certainly not least, the northern region of Normandy (which borders Brittany) is also home to some outstanding oyster producers and gastronomic restaurants that make creative delicious use of the shellfish. It is simple, but delicious, to serve as a showcase for each of the ingredients. Dishes such as Cancalaise oysters with apple pure, Japanese vinegar, pink onion flan and langoustine bisque are both delicate and full of gourmet flavour. You should make sure you sample Sydney Rock oysters if your are cruising in the country on your own yacht or enjoying a luxury yacht charter in Australia. Best for Beach Cultivated: Hama Hama - WA. Review. If you like buttery Chardonnays, these pair well . Olron and Marnenet oyster La Fine (the fine) is a type of oyster that is finished in old salt marshes. The oysters grown in this harbor are some of the most flavorful and juicy youll ever taste. Christmas is almost upon us, and villages and cities across France are preparing for the seasonal Gallic rush on oysters. Fish and shellfish from West Sweden are some of the best in the world. France is known for its western seaboard with three separate oyster growing regions: Cancale, Marennes-Olron, & Arcachon. According to Michelin, as a child, Savoy would peek into the pans in the kitchen of his family's restaurant, La Buvette de l'Esplanade, in Bourgoin-Jallieu.. Continue on the D116 south to the turn off for the Port de Belon to visit the port side of the river or turn onto the D24 toward Riec-sur-Belon to . Aged for an average of three years before being harvested, the oysters cultivated in this unique environment benefit from an ideal ecosystem: the relative calm of Bay waters fed by the wild Atlantic ocean on one end, dunes and pine forests on another. Some people enjoy them simply because they are without any extras, while others enjoy them with a sprinkle of butter and bread. Casanova allegedly ate 50 oysters every day, naturally served by some dazzling beauty: It is the food of lovers, sucking the essence out of life. Blog all about Luxury Travel on the French Riviera and Cte d'Azur. The countrys long coastline and diverse climate provide the perfect conditions for oyster farming. If youre having an event, pair your oyster with a cold Chablis or ros to make it extra special. The country has a long history of oyster cultivation, and today there are dozens of different types of French oysters to choose from. For eating raw, sizes 3 - 4 are best. Around 164,000 years ago, it was common for humans to consume oysters, which were introduced to Europe by hominids. Here is our guide on where to find six of the best oysters in the world. Of those oysters, 50% are eaten in the single week between Christmas and New Year. It was in 1825 that the first oyster restaurant in France opened, as oysters were a popular dish in ancient Rome. In appearance creuse are typically a pale ivory lined with black and brown.