The latter two offer types known as Fines and Fines de Claire, although they traditionally hail from the Marennes-Olron region. "It has a strong, earthy brininess that is perfect for the steak lover," Brownlee says. Where to Taste the Best Oysters in Normandy?Normandy is known for its unusual variety of excellent oysters. Brittany Oysters In May each year, locals and visitors alike celebrate the Bluff Oyster Festival. The word Aquitaine is derived from the French words Bonjour (for oysters and pronounced WEE-truh). Oyster shacks are all over Paris, and Parisians have a lot of love for oysters. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. In appearance creuse are typically a pale ivory lined with black and brown. The fresh ocean taste of an oyster while relaxing on a luxury yacht is hard to beat. I succeeded in finding them in 10 of the 14 countries that I visited. If so, get in touch with now. To get the best sense of oysters' individual flavors, it's best to eat them unadorned before adding garnishes like mignonette or cocktail sauce. Full of flavour and ideal for tastes that are a bit adventurous, these iodine-rich varieties are said to leave a subtle hint of almond on the palate. 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). La Subhasta Restaurant, where a dozen will cost you35, Picture courtesy of Iakov Filimonov/Shutterstock.com. The process is known as Lostriculture and the growers are known as Ostriculteurs. Elegant Address The very best in luxury villa rentals on the Cte dAzur and French Riviera. 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. Because French oysters are grown in France, they are considered to be the best. The best white wine pairings for oysters are cool-climate, high-acidity wines grown in mineral-rich soils. 9. Oysters are prized for their soft, delicate flavors and firm texture due to their origins in the plankton-rich Bay of Veys. The region, with roots in Celtic roots that stretch back thousands of years and fishing practices that are just about as ancient, has perfected the art of the huitre through a combination of treasured tradition and present-day innovation. For many oyster connoisseurs, Aquitaine is synonymous with incomparably fresh, delicious huitres (French for oysters and pronounced WEE-truh. The Domaine Hippolyte Reverdy Sancerre does nicely here. The oysters are harvested when they are three years old and have a slightly briny taste with a hint of sweetness. Their boutique in Bourcfranc makes an excellent port of call to procure the houses exquisite oysters for a festive and elegant meal, perhaps aboard a privately chartered boat or yacht. 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. Kumamoto oysters have gained popularity due to their sweet taste as well as their mild brininess. Due to the way they are cultivated, Gillardeau oysters can be eaten more than eight days after packaging so ensure your chef orders some in if you are in the country on your private yacht or enjoying a luxury yacht charter in France. You can very rarely go wrong with a Pouilly Fuisse when eating oysters, or a pale, crisp Provencal rose could also be considered. 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. That, to a layman is what all oysters look and taste like but to a true connoisseur, every variety of oyster has its own characteristics. They are flavourful and juicy, with a nutty flavor that is difficult to resist in many cases. The oysters alone (from a farm up the road) are worth the hour-long drive from San Francisco to a dockside shanty on Tomales Bay. The plants are difficult to grow and require a small amount of production, so they are more expensive to produce. If youre looking for a seafood dish that has a French flavor, try French oysters. Ask any Frenchman or woman and theyd look at you as if youre crazy to even think they may not be. These oysters are lauded as being unusually sweet and as having a pleasing, complex texture. The country has a long tradition of oyster farming"L'ostriculture," and eating them, of course. France has some of the best oyster experiences in the world. The Kelly Galway is a very large oyster grown in wild oyster fisheries along Irelands West Coast, before being moved to oyster beds to fatten and develop their flavour, giving them the flavour of the Atlantic and the fresh waters of the Clarinbridge and Kilcolgan rivers. They have a flavor reminiscent of brine and an intense copper finish, and they are full of umami. We are a London and French Riviera based yacht brokerage offering crewed luxury yacht charters and boat rentals in the south of France, throughout the Mediterranean and beyond. 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 wild huitres found in villages such as Plougastel-Dauolas are more similar to scallop meat than any other type of fish. French oysters are known as the best oysters in the world and are served in a variety of restaurants across the country. The meat is chewy and sweet, with a umami aftertaste and brininess to it. If youre looking for a more intense oyster flavor, consider California oysters. Best for On-Demand Harvesting: Fishers Island Oyster Farm - NY. Oyster prices vary significantly from one location to the next. A platter full of oysters, as well as other seafood, is another excellent way to enjoy oysters. The resulting oysters are silky in texture, with an addictive sweet-salty flavour. Its flavour is easy, fresh and sprightly, evoking bracing sea breezes and sea water. Improve this listing. Antisan is also a very popular yacht rental choice for events such as Cannes Lions and MIPIM. 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. Huitres et Saumons de Passy. If youre going to Normandy, here are a few posts to help you plan your trip. 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. However the area of the Delta de l'Ebre in Catalonia, produces such excellent oysters that actually 80% of these are exported to France. Going Deep Into Oyster Country. Oysters are best found on the coasts of the Northeastern and Eastern United States. In France, oyster butter is a simple and tasty way to enjoy seafood. Aided by the significant tidal difference, the oysters filter plenty of nutrient-rich seawater every day. The arctic temperatures and great depths of the southern waters in New Zealand contribute to the Bluff Oysters' rich and succulent flavours. If you are enjoying a private vacation or luxury yacht charter in Spain then your superyacht chef should be able to obtain fresh oysters from the Delta de lEbre. 1 medium jalapeo, minced (about 1 tbsp.) The average price per kilogram for fresh oysters in July 2021 was 7.2 euros. Oysters are grown in seven different regions in France, including Normandy, Brittany, Arcachon, and Aquitaine. Like Kelly Galways, Loch Ryans are native oysters of the European variety, and they have been grown by the Wallace family since 1701, when King William II gave the family the rights to harvest the beds. A letter from Julius Ceaser reportedly claims that Loch Ryan oysters are the best in the world. Cancale, Marennes-Olron, and Arcachondre are three legendary oyster cultivation areas in France. Winnder of the best savoury oyster dish in 2018 (Denmark Oyster Festival/ (Sren F. Gammelmark)) The Denmark Oyster Festival, held on the Wadden Sea island of Fan, has only been going since 2016, but it has quickly established itself as one of the best in the world. The Isigny oyster is one of the most well-known, with a rich and flavorful flavor. At sunset, follow the Rance west to St-Malo, a fortified citadel with ramparts at the mouth of the Rance. Why not hire a private boat and embark on a tour of the areas fascinating oyster farms, implanted around the bay and visible at low tide? If you want an unforgettable seafood experience, visit the East Coast. The meat is briny and firm, with only a hint of sweet sweetness and a refreshing acidity, as compared to cucumbers. McDonagh's, where a dozen oysters will cost you22. There, their golden flesh firms and the shellfish attain their full wild flavour. 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. Oyster regions of France Normandy Oysters Known for its highly iodised and fleshy oysters. Oysters are calibrated from 000 to 6, with the smaller number indicating the larger-sized oyster. 2 spot with an eye-popping score above 96. Oysters are popular among the French, and there are a variety of ways to enjoy them. They are delicious raw or cooked in different traditional Norman dishes, including ones featuring local apple ciders. Whether you opt to visit a few local producers, charter a private vessel to enjoy local delicacies as part of a freshly prepared lunch, or stake out the regions best gastronomic tables serving exceptional huitres, your experience will be at once authentic and exceptional. The plates have flatter shapes than usual, and they are also known as Marneens or Belons in the two places where they are produced. Aquitaine is a thriving oyster-producing region, thanks to the presence of small oyster farms and restaurants specializing in the delicacy. France is well known for its delicious oysters, which are prized by gourmands around the world. With 640 km of stunning coastline it comes as no surprise that Normandy produces some of the world's finest oysters. Huitrerie Regis. It is the Damariscottas crisp, clean waters that allow the oysters to escape the sand and silt. Our favorite is Emile et une Hutre in Village l'Herbe. By combining butter and salt, the oyster brine is enhanced and complimented by the richness and creaminess of the butter. Among the best Oysters in the world, French Oysters fall into 2 categories: plates (flat shells) and creuse (curved shell). Are French oysters the best in the world? Ireland's oyster industry is an international powerhouse. If youre looking for the best oysters in the world, you wont be disappointed by deep-sea oysters from the Cotentin Peninsula. 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.. 22 boulevard Veyrier Montagneres, 33120 Arcachon, France. Bartenders are getting creative with their martini and oyster collaborations; some now make martinis with an actual oyster thrown in there to take place of the vermouth, while others pop the oysters own salty, delicious juice in there to take the traditional olives dirty role. The Glidden Point oysters in Maine are known as the gold standard, and they are some of the best oysters in the state. Marennes-Olron is famous for its La Pousse en Clair variety, which is elevated in low density ponds and shallow waters. 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. Save. 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