265182 Sat Jan 08 08:14:22 -0800 2005 3 26 International 0 1399803 I am planning a trip to the Brittany coast in January- does anyone know good areas to go oyster tasting on the coast? I would ideally like to go straight to the producer. Thanks! Sat Jan 08 08:14:22 -0800 2005 0 Zuzana 1 1399807 Just posted about this producer - prat au coim - below, in terms of their making incredible oysters ... Don't know if they offer tastings on site, but their oysters are that good, that it's worth e-mailing to ask. Link: http://www.prat-ar-coum.fr/ Sat Jan 08 11:18:24 -0800 2005 1399803 0 Elaine Golin 2 1400207 Hello, I am just discovering your site. I am the producer's daugther. To answer your question, we propose a little restaurant in Prat-Ar-Coum during 2 month in summer (july august). The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner from monday night to saturday night. You can eat oysters, lobsters and drink a selection of french wine. I hope to see you there next summer caroline Thu Jan 20 04:29:37 -0800 2005 1399807 0 madec caroline 1 1399837 Elaine's recommendation is on the north coast. We've spent a lot of time on the south coast and suggest: 1. Plouharnel (near Carnac on the Baie of Quiberon) Didier Militon sells his excellent oysters at le Domaine de Kercroc, but mostly retail un-opened. If you ask, he or his wife might have time to open some for you. You have to watch for small signs on the road between Carnac and Plouharnel and keep going toward the bay until you see his place. Not sure if they speak any English, so it will help if you do. From there, go south down the peninsula to Quiberon and Port-Maria. Views along the coast drive of cliffs and ocean are great. In Port-Maria, best restaurant is La Criée, which has a great retail seafood store next to it ("bacon de mer" can be bought in shrink-wrapped packages - it is lightly smoked tuna). La Criée is crowded at meal times during warm weather, but maybe in January you can get in without a reservation. 2. Go west on the south coast toward Pont-Aven (Worth a visit in any case). Just east of Pont-Aven is Riec-sur-Belon where you can get the famous huîtres de Belon. Seek out a tourist information office for suggestions and directions. I recaul that there is a well-know restaurant there close to the water (name of a woman in the restaurant name) and I found just across the street an oyster store offering various sizes and ages of oysters (plate - flat shells, or creuse - hollow shell) which I bought to eat there. Had to shuck them myself, but the store clerk gave me a knife and rubber glove to do so. These oysters are completely different in taste from any others I haave eaten - a beautiful nutty taste> I have found the most good restaurants in this area of Brittany serve very good oysters of various types. Not the same as going to the producer, but that's whom they buy from themselves. If you are not fluent in French you may have difficulty communicating what you want with a oestriculteur but sign language often does the trick as well. Sun Jan 09 16:12:22 -0800 2005 1399803 0 CJ