Few places in France make an oyster lover happier than Normandy's Cotentin Peninsula. Here, where the land juts into the sea a few miles beyond the Landing Beaches, are ports such as Blanville-sur-Mer, Granville, and particularly St. Vaast-La Hougue, where oystermen haul in tons of plump, briny oysters distinguished by a subtle note of hazelnut. Enjoy a dozen on the half shell at many traditional restaurants in this region, accompanied by a saucer of shallot vinegar and brown bread.