Oysters - Les Huîtres

 🦪 A Taste of the Sea in Normandy & Brittany! 🌊

Treat yourself to a delicious day trip to the famous oyster beaches of Normandy and Brittany — a seafood lover’s dream and a feast for the senses!

Just a couple of hours’ drive away, you’ll find Cancale, Granville, and Agon-Coutainville - coastal gems renowned for their world-class oysters (les huîtres). These nutrient-rich bays produce oysters with a crisp, briny flavour that even Parisians rave about. In fact, Louis XIV himself was a fan of Normandy and Brittany oysters!

🚗 What to Do:

• Watch the tide roll in and reveal rows of oyster beds stretching into the sea

• Chat with local farmers and buy oysters fresh from the stalls

• Visit a cabane à huîtres (oyster shack) and enjoy a seaside tasting with a glass of chilled Muscadet or a cup of local cider

🛶 See the Harvest Up Close

One of the highlights of visiting Normandy’s oyster beaches is watching the farmers at work. During low tide, the sea retreats to reveal vast grids of oyster beds, and you'll see them in waterproof gear using tractors and flat-bottomed boats to collect the oysters by hand. It’s a fascinating, age-old tradition that combines generational knowledge with the rhythm of the sea. Many producers are happy to explain the process - and offer a tasting right on the spot. You can’t get fresher than that!

🍽️ How to Enjoy Them:

Try oysters raw with just a squeeze of lemon 🍋 or classic mignonette (shallot vinegar). Feeling adventurous? Here's a local twist on a classic:

🔪 Baked Oysters (Huîtres chaudes au cidre)

• Shuck your oysters and place them on a baking tray

• Add a splash of Normandy cider, a little cream, finely chopped shallots, and a pinch of sea salt

• Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and a little grated cheese

• Bake at 200°C (390°F) for 10 minutes until golden and bubbling

• Serve with crusty bread and a view of the sea for maximum effect!

✨ J’❤️ La Mayenne…From field to fork, or tide to table — your taste adventure starts here! 🍴