pconte

My wife and I will be car touring in Brittany and Normandy Oct 20-27, and my #1 goal is to enjoy the bounty of Belon oysters from different coastal areas. (I was amazed to learn there are 13 official AOC appelations of oysters in Brittany alone.

I would love to have any advice and recommendations, including towns, oyster growers, restaurants and lodging. Also, any resources, such as books and Web sites.

For those who enjoy the same love of Ostrea edulis, here is an interesting Web site:
http://www.relaischateaux.com/en/des...957/iti/detail

Merci!

-- Paul

avalon

YOu must go to Cancale. We called it Oystertown. Loved the statue in the center of town women with big oyster baskets

pconte

Hi "avalon" ... Here are the notes I've collected so far on Cancale and its oysters:

"Considered the 'oyster center of the world'".

Raised in the fierce tidal currents around Mont St Michel, those grown in the sea have round, toothed shells while those grown on the foreshore are smooth-shelled. The "robe" (mantle) is pale beige and the firm, supple flesh has a strong scent of iodine, with a hint of nuts.

"Firm with nutty aftertaste."

"Salty taste, firm and supple."

The tides in the bay of Mont Saint-Michel are some of the highest in the world (up to 14 metres), ensuring that the oyster beds are perfectly oxygenated as a result. The strength of the currents means that the waters are continually stirred up and fresh plankton is brought in. The mesh bags used to grow the oysters are attached to metal tables between 40 and 50 cm high. After three or four years, the oysters are harvested, washed, cleaned and sorted and are full-flavoured with a salty taste and firm but tender flesh. Three to four thousand tonnes of cupped and a thousand tonnes of flat oysters are produced every year, some of which reach “horse’s hoof” size.

(Quote) Cancale isn’t blessed with the most glamorous hotels, but the following are all comfortable:

Hôtel La Houle (00 33 299 896238, www.hotellahoule.fr; doubles from £30, room only)
Hôtel Le Continentale (00 33 299 896016, www.hotel-cancale.com; doubles from £70, room only)
Le Manoir des Douets Fleuris (00 33 223 151381, www.manoirdesdouetsfleuris.com; doubles from £73, room only)
La Mère Champlain (00 33 299 896004, www.lamerechamplain.com; doubles from £50, room only).

The Quai Gambetta, which stretches along Cancale’s seafront, is where most of the town’s seafood restaurants are concentrated. As virtually every property is a restaurant or oyster vendor, this is where the cheapest prix-fixe menus are to be found. As long as you like shellfish, you won’t go wrong at:
Au Pied d’Cheval (10 Quai Gambetta; 00 33 299 897695)
Bistrot de la Marine (28 Quai Gambetta; 00 33 299 899928)
Le Cancalais (12 Quai Gambetta; 00 33 299 896193)
Le Narval (20 Quai Gambetta; 00 33 299 896312)
Le Surcouf (7 Quai Gambetta; 00 33 299 896175)
Restaurant L’Huîtrière (14 Quai Gambetta; 00 33 299 897505)
Restaurant Le Troquet (19 Quai Gambetta; 00 33 299 899942).

Crêperie à l’Abordage (1 Quai Duguay Trouin; 00 33 299 895555), a classic brasserie, is also very good.

There is a farm/museum of oyster & mussel cultivation.

cigalechanta

I'm a huge oyster fan and I made a pilgrimage to Reic-sur-Belon to taste them where they are harvested. My favorite place is in the Port of Belon, CHEZ JACKY.

cigalechanta

P.S....
For a book, THE OYSTERS OF LOCMARIEQUER

pconte

"cigalechanta"

The Oysters of Locmariequer is a wonderful book about place, life and oysters. One of my main inspirations for visiting this area.

Do you know if you can see any of the specific places mentioned in the book. Any recommendations in addition to Chez Jacky, which we certainly hope to eat at.

Pvoyageuse

B

Pvoyageuse

Between Granville and Cancale try the famous and enormous "pied de cheval" oysters.

cigalechanta

not far from Chezjacky are the best crepes I have tasted at CHEZ ANGELE.
In Pont Aven, we stayed and dined at THE MOULIN DE ROSEMADEC
Here in boston it's difficult to find a good grilled lobster. The Rosmadec and Les Flots in La Rochelle, the lobsters are so good!