Flagship product
The Brest oyster, a gastronomic gem to discover
While the Brest harbor is renowned for its nautical activities, coves and environment, it's also famous for its hollow oysters, a favorite among seafood lovers. To find out more, we spoke to Julien CoĆÆc, oyster farmer in Logonna Daoulas.
Discover the Creuse oyster from Brest bay!
An exceptional product
The Brest oyster, a unique product
What makes the hollow oyster from the Brest bay so special is the environment in which it grows. Several rivers flow into the Brest harbor, including the Elorn. This mixture of seawater and freshwater encourages the growth and quality of plankton, resulting in a fleshy, full-bodied oyster. As for the flat oyster, it has unfortunately all but disappeared from the bay, but research is underway to reintroduce it.
An exceptional natural environment
The Brest roadstead, an ideal environment for shellfish farming
It's also the geography of the site that allows shellfish to reproduce. Protected by the "goulet" between Brest and the Crozon peninsula, the bay is sheltered from offshore swells. It is nevertheless subject to certain currents that encourage larvae dispersal. This, combined with the shallow waters and alternating tides, create ideal conditions for shellfish farming... to the delight of gourmets!
Did you know?
The Brest harbor is one of the largest in the world, but the goulet is only 1.8 kilometers wide!
Short circuits
The best oysters are direct from the producer
Visit your local market to find quality oysters from short circuits.
Some shellfish farmers also open their doors to you, directly at the farm, and offer tasting and direct sales to the rhythm of the tides.
Julien CoĆÆc, oyster farmer
Growing oysters, a passionate profession
Julien CoĆÆc is a 3rd generation oyster farmer in Logonna Daoulas. He took over the family business "CoĆÆc HuĆ®tres et Coquillages" in 2003.
Julien and his team raise oysters at the Pointe du ChĆ¢teau in Logonna-Daoulas, from captage (spat birth and accompaniment) to direct sale. You can find CoĆÆc oysters on Sunday mornings at the Daoulas market and for direct sale on site, Monday to Saturday (depending on tides).
Like many oyster lovers, Julien CoĆÆc prefers oysters au naturel, but he shares his favorite recipe for sublimating them: oysters on a bed of leeks.
Cooking oysters
Recipe: oysters on a bed of leeks
Recipe serves 4
- 24 oysters
- 1.2 kg coarse salt
- 3 leek whites
- 1 teaspoon curry powder
- a few pink berries
- 1 shallot
- To make the beurre blanc: thinly sliced shallot, 10 cl white wine, 200 g half-salt butter, 5 cl whipping cream.
In a saucepan, reduce the shallot with the white wine. In another saucepan, melt the semi-salted butter.
When the shallot reduction is ready, add the cream and bring to the boil. Insert the head of a blender into the reduction and gradually ladle in the melted butter. Do not add salt, as the oysters will release it.
Open the oysters and remove from their shells. Split the leeks in half to wash them thoroughly. Place them on a board and slice finely into julienne strips. Place in a saucepan, cover halfway with water, add the curry powder and stew for 15 minutes.
Spread the coarse salt on four oven-safe plates, then arrange the oyster shells. Put the flesh back inside and add the leek fondue on top.
Bake in the oven for 10 minutes at 180Ā°C, then pour a tablespoon of beurre blanc into each oyster. The plate is ready! For the finishing touch, place a few pea shoots and a sprig of chervil in the center of the plate, a little chopped chives inside the shells. And a rose berry in the center of each shell.
All about oysters
Would you like to discover Julien's oyster farm in Logonna Daoulas? Join the tourist office for summer visits and enjoy a tasting of local oysters and products.
Fishing on foot
Harvesting wild oysters on foot
Great, it's the high tides ! This is the perfect time to put on your boots and head out onto the foreshore for a spot of shore fishing in search of wild oysters and other shellfish.
But be careful: for your own safety, don't forget to check the tide times and health restrictions for recreational fishing.
By car
By train and bus