Delicious oysters in Cancale, Brittany, France

There is something special about experiencing oysters in France. In Brittany, France, Cancale has sometimes been called the mecca of oysters. Here the oyster beds are lined up, and everywhere in the small town there are small shops selling oysters and other seafood.

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Dinner with mussels and oysters

We walked around Cancale and of course couldn't resist going into one of the shops selling seafood. It's so tempting when you realise that everything comes straight from the sea!

What was for dinner in the motorhome in the evening? Mussels and oysters of course, and some baguette with cheese and white wine. We have cooked and eaten mussels many times, but we have never opened oysters ourselves before. So how did it go?

Opening oysters

We have never opened oysters ourselves before, so it was a challenge. Peter attacked them with a Mora knife while I googled instructions. The internet doesn't always work well via the sim card on the phone so it wasn't easy, but I did my best to help.

The first oyster led to a bit of bloodshed, but by then Peter had learnt the technique. You have to open it by wiggling the knife just inside the 'hinge' and, if you want, you can hold the oyster with a towel.

Was it good? Wow, we've never tasted oysters or mussels as good as they are here! Here you can really talk about fresh, straight from the sea. An absolutely fantastic dinner!

I ostronens mecka i Frankrike i Bretagne ligger Cancale — Oysters, baguette and mussels

READ MORE: Oysters - how to open them, tips and facts

Oysters in France and the best in Cancale

This little town feels quite English but we are also very close to England right now. From Cancale to Brittany there are eight different flavours of oysters. From Cancale alone, almost 30,000 tonnes of oysters are exported every year. The tide can vary by up to 15 metres along this coast, and it comes in fast so you have to know what you're doing.

Ostron i Frankrike, Cancale — Oysters in France, Cancale

Bästa ostron i Cancale Frankrike — Cancale France

More to see in the neighbourhood

There is of course much more to see in the neighbourhood of Cancale. For example, you can visit Concarneau with its Ville Close. It is also fascinating to discover the abbey. Mont Saint Michel. Below you will find even more tips on places to experience in France.

11 December 2014 17:09

France, Food and drink

fish & shellfish, Food and drink, Experiences in Europe

Helena

Administrator

19 Comments

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JoY says:

We were just talking about how we should be eating mussels soon and then you have all the good stuff right in front of you and it can't get any fresher.
It's good to read that the car has been sorted out.
Hugs

11 December 2014 - 17:23

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Ditte says:

How wonderful to have fresh oysters and mussels. As for the oysters, I prefer to have just a few, but I eat a lot more mussels.
Nice that you have just arrived in Brittany. Much to see and experience there too.
Keep up the good work.

11 December 2014 - 17:51

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Comment by post author

admin says:

JoY, the mussels are fantastic here! We often eat mussels in Sweden too, but these beat all the ones we've tasted!
🙂

Ditte, that's probably the case for us too, as you can see in the picture... Some oysters and lots of mussels! We like to eat them with a little lemon and preferably a stronger spice too, like sambal oelek.

11 December 2014 - 18:04

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Stina says:

I don't know what it is, but I have a problem with oysters....ugh 😉 .

11 December 2014 - 18:14

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Belfina says:

So much fun following your journey and reliving our own memories. Even the car trouble memories, which ended well for us too.
Cancale was reasonably quiet and sleepy even in the warmer season. At the end of the village street, the stalls were lined up. The locals bought fish, oysters and mussels there. Tourists bought specially shaped barrels for oysters, took them to the wall above the beach by the oyster banks, sat opposite each other straddling the wall and ate the oysters. The shells then ended up below the wall on the seabed/beach and the oyster barrels were returned to the vendor in the stall. All this while the spectacle of oyster workers in rubber suits and with tractors took place on the stage below.
We will continue to follow your journey even if it takes us down unfamiliar roads. It will be exciting to see where it goes.

11 December 2014 - 19:34

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Stina, I've also had some difficulty with oysters, but I'm starting to like them more! A few oysters at a time, with high quality, and with a little strength in the seasoning is what made me like it. But I'm still more fond of mussels!

Belfina, it's so nice that you follow us and also share your experiences! Interesting to hear about Cancale in the summer! Now we saw few tourists, but still active sales!

11 December 2014 - 19:47

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Kors och Tvärs says:

Of course you'll be tempted by seafood again 😉.
We also had mussels on the Atlantic coast last summer and they were absolutely fantastic!
Keep up the good work!

11 December 2014 - 21:02

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BP says:

Drool, drool. Guess if I would give anything to replace the Christmas table tomorrow night with oysters and mussels. MUMS:-)

11 December 2014 - 21:09

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Rolle o Carina says:

We don't like oysters, we make do with prawns and sushi.

11 December 2014 - 23:27

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Steve says:

What a delicious meal!

11 December 2014 - 23:52

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Marina says:

The mussels sound fantastic, but the oysters are yours to keep for yourselves! Giving me oysters is really casting pearls before swine. I've tried a few times but realised that it's not worth it, so I'll settle for the mussels and leave the oysters to those who have the sense to appreciate them.

12 December 2014 - 3:14

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Anders och Birgitta says:

Yes in Cancale we have also been, where we ate oysters for the first time and it was good. A little difficult to get them up only. Continue to have a good time on your long journey.

12 December 2014 - 10:50

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Anonymous says:

Criss-cross, hard to resist... And thank you so much!
🙂

BP, we also prefer seafood to Christmas dinner... Although Christmas dinner can also be delicious!

Rolle and Carina, shrimp and sushi are not bad either!
🙂

Marina, we have learnt to eat oysters over the last few years and are enjoying it more and more!
🙂

12 December 2014 - 11:18

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Anja says:

Oh Helena!
It is SO much fun to read and see all the pictures! You are travelling right in our "tire tracks": Honfleur, Omaha beach, Mont St Michel and even Cancale! Too bad we didn't talk more about LPG tubes before you left. We had the same problem, you see. Perhaps it was when we made the morning coffee over tea lights...:-) Hugs from Anja.

12 December 2014 - 17:19

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Anja, how nice to hear from you, and how nice that you travelled in exactly the same places!!! Yes, we should definitely have talked more before! Both about the places and about the gas... Take care and say hello to everyone!

12 December 2014 - 19:37

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Elisabeth says:

Mussels of different sizes are very tasty. A few oysters can suffice.

12 December 2014 - 20:20

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Inga M says:

It's good that the car problems were solved! And that you still met someone who knew English. I have tried oysters at some point but can't stand the texture. And the smell like rotten water. No flavour other than salty. But then I haven't been to the Mecca of oysters of course! I can imagine that this is the right place to start eating oysters.

I have read all the posts below but only comment here.
Have a nice weekend!

13 December 2014 - 6:53

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Inga M says:

By the way, I forgot: Now you don't have Lucia to watch, but you can always play with each other today, the 13th of December.

13 December 2014 - 6:54

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Elisabeth, I think I can agree. I can eat any number of mussels. I only want a few oysters.

Inga M, the texture of oysters is a bit special, I agree. But I think the smell is fantastic - the smell of the sea! Then I like to spice them up a bit too! And thanks for the tip haha, we get to louse for each other!
😉

13 December 2014 - 10:12

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Delicious oysters in Cancale, Brittany, France

Dinner with mussels and oysters

Opening oysters

Oysters in France and the best in Cancale

More to see in the neighbourhood

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19 Comments

JoY says:

Ditte says:

admin says:

Stina says:

Belfina says:

admin says:

Kors och Tvärs says:

BP says:

Rolle o Carina says:

Steve says:

Marina says:

Anders och Birgitta says:

Anonymous says:

Anja says:

admin says:

Elisabeth says:

Inga M says:

Inga M says:

admin says:

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