GASTRONOMY: specialities from the island of Oleron, an island of authentic flavours!

Nicknamed “l’île aux parfums” by Pierre Loti, Oléron is a destination of choice for lovers of local gastronomy. What to bring back from Oleron? What’s a must-taste? Where can you go to “tap the bell”? Here’s a roundup of Oleron specialities and places to feast your taste buds and warm your heart. Oysters, but not only oysters!

Marennes-Oléron oysters

Marennes-Oléron oysters are renowned for their delicate flavor and firm flesh. Refined in oyster beds called “claires”, they have been awarded a red label, a guarantee of their exceptional quality. Find out everything you need to know about Oleron oysters right here!

Our tip: enjoy your oysters plain, with a squeeze of lemon, to fully appreciate their iodized taste.
Where to find Marennes-Oléron oysters: visit the port of La Cotinière, Charente-Maritime’s leading fishing port, or the oyster huts at Fort-Royer, La Baudissière or Château-d’Oléron.

Mussel éclade: the must-try speciality on the Ile d’Oléron

Eclade (or églade) is THE emblematic culinary specialty of the Ile d’Oléron. To make this typical dish, bouchot mussels are arranged in a spiral on a board, covered with pine needles and then set alight. This cooking process gives them a unique smoky flavor.

Our tip: accompany a mussel éclade with a local dry white wine for an authentic taste experience.
Where to enjoy this typical Oleron dish: several restaurants on the island offer this specialty, notably in Dolus d’Oléron and Saint-Georges-d’Oléron.

Fish and shellfish

A land of fishing and fishermen, the Ile d’Oléron is renowned for the diversity of its fish and seafood: sea bass, tuna, sole, langoustine, crab, lobster… In all, nearly 90 species are landed daily.

Expert advice: for a simple, tasty recipe, opt for sole meunière. Its fine, white, slightly sweet flesh makes it one of the finest fish on our coasts.
Where to buy fish at an affordable price: La Victorine market in La Cotinière is the ideal place to buy fresh fish direct from the fishermen.
Also worth trying: fish and shellfish rillettes made with mackerel, sardines or langoustines. Perfect as an aperitif.

Cakes, cookies, desserts and other sweets

Small cakes, cookies and other delicacies, the nostalgia of our childhood can also be found on the Ile d’Oléron! The galette charentaise is the emblematic cake of the Ile d’Oléron. This sandy pastry, golden on the outside and crumbly on the inside, is often flavored with angelica or cognac. Perfect for breakfast, dessert or afternoon tea. Enjoy your galette charentaise slightly warm to appreciate all its flavor. But that’s not all. Sweet tooths can also enjoy caramel shortbread with fleur de sel d’Oléron, Charentais “broyés” and churned butter palets.

The right address: La Cotinière cookie factory, Route touristique de Matha, 17310 Saint-Pierre-d’Oléron.

La Jonchée, star cheese of the Ile d’Oléron

Jonchée is a fresh, rindless ewe’s milk cheese. It is wrapped in natural rushes. It has a melt-in-the-mouth texture and is sometimes flavored with almond or orange blossom. You’ll find it in cheese dairies across the island, as well as on market stalls, in delicatessens and in specialist stores.

Tasting suggestion: enjoy this cheese with fruit jam.

Craft wines and beers from the Ile d’Oléron

The Ile d’Oléron can be proud of its vineyards, which have been awarded the “Vignobles et découvertes” label. It covers some 800 hectares and includes 15 winegrowers. The island produces red, white and rosé Vins de Pays Charentais. The dry, subtle whites are ideal with seafood. The rosés, fresh and fruity, evoke vacations, while the top-of-the-range reds reveal the noble grape varieties. You can also sip Cognac or Pineau des Charentes, a sweet liqueur wine made by blending grape must and cognac. Enjoy chilled as an aperitif, and always in moderation, of course.

Where to go: the Vignerons d’Oléron cooperative cellar offers a selection of wines and pineaux produced on the island. You can also visit wineries such as Maison Favre, located in St-Pierre d’Oléron, for a tasting tour and purchase local wines directly from the producer. For more information, visit www.vignoble-ile-oleron.fr/.

Olive oil craft beers

On the island of Oléron, several breweries perpetuate UN savoir-faire artisanal with original and tasty creations. In Dolus-d’Oléron, the Fort Boyard craft brewery produces blondes, blanches, brunes and ambrées with authentic aromas. Near Saint-Pierre-d’Oléron, the “Île Et Elle” brewery offers 100% organic production, with a range that includes gluten-free beers. In Saint-Georges-d’Oléron, the Naufrageurs beer won the highest award in the French Brewery Museum’s national competition.

Restaurants, oyster shacks, market stalls: Oleron’s best addresses

On the Ile d’Oléron, markets and restaurants are true showcases of local gastronomy. Here are just a few of the best places to enjoy a delicious meal.

Markets :

Château d’Oléron market: every morning throughout the summer (the biggest market on the island).
Saint-Denis d’Oléron market: year-round, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sunday mornings.
Saint-Pierre-d’Oléron covered market: open every day of the year.

Restaurants and oyster shacks :

Chez Mamelou (Dolus-d’Oléron): on the banks of the La Baudissière channel, taste deliciously prepared oysters and mussels.
Le Relais des Salines (Grand-Village-Plage): specializing in seafood and mussel éclade right in the middle of the old salt works on the Ile d’Oléron,
L’Ecume restaurant (Saint-Trojan-les-Bains): young, creative cuisine, with a panoramic view of the Ile d’Oléron bridge.

Bon voyage gourmand à l’île d’Oléron!