Caviar, the Bay’s black gold
A culinary treasure that’s not that well-known... Yet there are two sturgeon farmers and caviar producers at the very heart of the Bay. "The Esturgeonnière", in Teich, has created “Caviar Perlita” and the "Moulin de la Cassadotte" in Biganos, its “Diva” range. The two firms propose visits of their pools, their farms and invite to discover the passionate history of Aquitaine caviar. With a tasting session to crown it all off...
These exceptional delicacies can be found in the region’s most exquisite restaurants and in the most refined gourmet food stores and delicatessens.
- www.caviardefrance.com. Prices: 25 euros for a visit (free for children – excluding tasting), 20 euros for groups (minimum 10 people)
- www.caviar-perlita.com . Price: 28 euros for a visit.
Andernos and its tasty jams
Delphine Cuville is a real alchemist. Her grandmother, a pied-noir with Spanish origins, whom she charmingly referred to as “Marelia”, gave her her passion for spices, the art of combining sweet and savoury flavours... Since 2014, in Andernos, she has been recreating her “warm, coloured childhood memories” with her “Maison Marelia” range which now boasts some 70 flavours.
Authentic, traditionally-made jams, cooked in copper pots and containing 70% fruit and 30% cane sugar.
32 rue Panhard & Levassor in Andernos-les-Bains. Tel: +33 (0)7 79 49 85 90
www.confituremaisonmarelia.com
Beers adding bubbles to the Bay
Arcachon Bay has seen a hopped-tasting surge hit the shores in recent years... The trend for craft beers has become somewhat of a cult with several products worth a mention... and a taste. First of all, there’s the Mira beer and its pub in La Teste. The firm has also just launched its cola and its lemonade. Not far from there, Grégoire Agostini’s “Burdigala” beers have been collecting medals and awards for excellence. And, last but not least, let’s give a shout-out to “La Petite du Bassin” for its cool, refreshing look.
Abatilles, Grand Cru Water
Under Abatilles pine forest landscapes, exceptional water has been drawn from a depth of 472 metres for more than 90 years! Its absolute pureness and its almost absent minerality endow it with thermal virtues. Today, the famous “Bordeaux” bottle reigns on Aquitaine’s finest tables, it quenches the thirst of athletes from the best clubs in Gironde and sits supreme among the grands crus of wine in the Cité du Vin in Bordeaux. The industrial facility, including the bottling plant and the small museum, may be visited throughout the summer.
Every Tuesday & Thursday throughout the year from 10am to 11:30am. Price: 7 euros for a visit/person Information and booking via Arcachon Tourist Office.
Tel: +33 (0)5 57 52 97 97. www.sourcedesabatilles.com
Gujan’s delicious snails
Highly-original and ever-so tasty change in career for Sandie Roche, this young thirty year old who swopped the world of telecoms for the world of outdoor snail farming… Here, in her Gujan smallholding she pampers them, from when their eggs are laid through to harvesting them. The snails, fed on plant material (nettles, radishes, parsley) and vegetable meal, remain on the farm for five months before being shipped for consumption. Her persillade sauces, her sun-dried tomato preparations, her “croquilles” filled with herb butter are well worth the trip.
Sold directly by the producer.
1871 av. de Césarée in Gujan-Mestras.
sandie.roche@live.fr; Tel: +33 (0)6 44 24 62 13
