Grau-du-Roi (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This Sunday we were invited to friends in Castillon du Gard where we were presented with a surprise ‘Sunday Dinner’ – Oysters, Bulots, Shrimp and Salmon. As only 3 of us were eating Oysters and it appeared we had a lot to devour. They were milky and nutty and tasty.
The French love their seafood! So much so that here some one and a half hours from the sea we have a Seafood Restaurant nestled in the vines in St Hilaire d’Ozilhan. The restaurant is called ‘Les Huitres et Les Vignes’ with visitors from all around the world including as far away as Japan. http://www.lhuitreetlavigne.com/index.php/fr/ – In fact this is where our platter came from. If you want to eat there in the summer you have to book, well in advance. It is a beautiful idyllic restaurant nestled in the Cote du Rhone vines just off the A9 motorway (exit Remoulin).
We have never been fans of the Shellfish platter but have come to eat the odd oyster and suffered various evenings involving all kinds of molluscs. The most delicate and tasty that we really said yes to a 2nd helping were the ‘Couteau’ or Razor Clams which we had at the beach in Grau du Roi last summer. Delicate and very flavoursome. We will go back for more this year!
Art of Oils 