Martin and Nadine haven’t been to France since January, and Covid complications certainly are an issue and a constant worry. It seems sorting out a ferry crossing isn’t the only hurdle. Is it better to go or to cancel?
On 1st July 2012, a law was introduced in France: all drivers had to carry a breath test kit in their car. Find out why and if or how that law was implemented. Read more about the driving requirements in France.
Kouign-amann is a beautiful, buttery, traditional Breton cake. During the current lockdown, unable to travel to Brittany, we have found an alternative: the British lardy cake. Read on.
Is it possible or indeed practical to buy a LHD car in the UK, originally registered in Poland, and then import it to France? Are there guidelines to be followed?
In recent years, travelling across to the continent and driving in France has become increasingly easy for Brits, but there are laws and regulations to bear in mind while driving abroad.
Chris Slade describes the son et lumiere presentation at the abbey of Bon Repos called "Le Pays de Conomor" in Brittany, which takes place during the first two weeks of August.
Can anyone buy a metal detector in France and go detecting wherever they like? You can if you’re on a beach, but in other areas you are likely to need a licence for metal detecting in France
On 1st July 2012, a law was introduced in France: all drivers had to carry a breath test kit in their car. Find out why and if or how that law was implemented. Read more about the driving requirements in France.
Kouign-amann is a beautiful, buttery, traditional Breton cake. During the current lockdown, unable to travel to Brittany, we have found an alternative: the British lardy cake. Read on.
Make sure there is a clear and obvious way for people to get in touch with you wherever they are on your website. Failure to do so could result in lots of potential bookings finding their way to somebody elses website.
What’s in a name, Simon asks? His Brittany property has two names – the original, official Breton name, and the slightly changed name chosen by the previous owner of the property.
Can you light a fire outdoors in France to burn your garden waste? Maybe – but it’s best to check first with your local Mairie or fire service to make sure you don’t get a fine.
Breton oyster farmers will argue that the quality of their oysters is due to their unrivalled expertise, handed down through the generations. This is possibly partly true, but the incredible taste is also due to Brittany’s outstanding waters. The strong currents constantly mix the water, giving the oysters all the plankton they need to ensure healthy growth.
Types of Oyster in Brittany
Brittany harvests 12 types of oyster (including the Belon, with its hint of hazelnut, which is native to Brittany and which some people consider to be the epitome of oyster eating), and the real oyster connoisseurs will tell you they all have their own distinctive taste.
All these varieties of Breton oyster boast their own character. For example, the Pleine Mer oysters from the Baie de Quiberon are bred in open seas. They have a rich, full-bodied taste and a rich iodized flavour. Paimpol oysters have a strong taste and are more fleshy.
Oysters from St-Vaast, fleshy and iodized, are also famous for their nutty taste.
Milky oysters (or huitres laiteuses)
Some people prefer their oysters milky, some don’t. Personally, I prefer them milky, so long as they are not too large, but it really is a matter of taste! Have you ever heard of the “loi des mois en R” in France? It is a rule that says you should only eat oysters during the months containing the letter R, ie January, February, March, April, September, October, November and December.
The reason behind this is that the height of the reproductive season is from May to August. During that period, oysters produce a soft milky roe: la laitance. Neither the taste not the nutritional value of the oyster are affected. Having said that, connoisseurs enjoy the sweetness and slight crunchiness of those milky oysters.
However, in order to avoid this natural phenomenon and to allow people to eat non-milky oysters all year round, some producers grow sterile oysters (also called triploids: these don’t spawn, and also grow faster than reproducing oysters because the energy that normal oysters put into reproduction can instead be used for growth). Not everybody is a fan, so this is a way of pleasing oyster lovers all year round.
What nutritional value do oysters have?
Not only do oysters taste delicious but they also contain proteins of superior quality with essential amino acids which the body needs for tissue formation and repair. They are also an excellent source of vitamin B12.
Absolutely. The traditional and most common way to enjoy a Breton oyster (or any oyster, for that matter) in France, is the simplest one: raw, with nothing added. However. they can be seasoned with just a squeeze of lemon juice (my favourite), some ground pepper, or even with shallot and wine-vinegar dressing. This will help release the full flavour of the oyster. One important point to mention is that it is best to always make sure that the oyster is alive before eating it. Simply poke it with the point of a knife or fork, which will make the oyster flinch.
Oysters come in different sizes, which are numbered: the smaller the number, the bigger the oyster. Our number of choice is number 3, not to big nor small, an average size. You can buy oysters in a basket called bourriche. It is regulation for the bourriche to display the size, weight and guaranteed minimum number of oyster on the packaging.
Editor Notes
When we’re in France we go to the market at La Roche Bernard on a Thursday morning. It’s a bit of a tradition for us to pick up a dozen Penerf oysters there (Penerf is just a few kilometres away) and have them for lunch with a glass of Muscadet. The thought of enjoying a Breton oyster washed down with crisp, white, local wine, is a dream.
I am a UK-based Franco/British national with almost 30 years of customer service experience for a major International airline.
I am now enjoying a new lease of life as admin and content manager as well as English-French-English website translator for DMJ Computer Services, a long-established web development company that specialises in WordPress.
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