Even though I didn't think we were having oyster-eating weather when I was in Paris two weeks ago today, I was really tempted by the display of coquillages et crustacées (shellfish) at the Bar à Huîtres (the oyster bar) on the Boulevard Saint-Germain.
The man who was arranging all the shellfish on the display out on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant just kind of grunted his assent when I asked if it was okay for me to take a photo. He must be used to it.
I do love to eat oysters, raw or cooked. On the half-shell, with lemon juice or shallot vinegar. Steamed with cocktail sauce. Fried with sauce tartare. I guess I should have treated myself. Cooked oysters, by the way, are still kind of a novelty in France. Most people would say that cooking them ruins them.
I guess I just wasn't in the mood. And the restaurant was nearly empty, because, I guess, of the early hour. Fresh oysters are easy to get here in Saint-Aignan, anyway. The fishmonger from Marennes-Oléron makes sure of that by coming to the Saturday morning market every week. I'll wait for the weather to cool down.
This new series on Paris is absolutely outstanding. Just like the one last year from the Tour Saint-Jacques.
ReplyDeleteSince I already know where you finally had lunch, I'm not as anxious as your other readers! LOL
Looking more closely at the menus, I noticed the Grand Dessert au Chocolat de Madame Dorr. This rang a bell since it is the same dessert as offered at Le Grand Bistro de Breteuil. I did some research and found out the Oyster Bar belongs to the Dorr family just as the Grand Bistro chain.
Deletehttp://www.legrandbistro.fr/fr/bistro-chic-paris-carte.php#grand-bistro-paris-famille-dorr.php
Thanks, CHM, for saying that. I really enjoyed my stroll through Paris in late October, even though I wasn't enthusiastic about doing it all alone. I've never eaten at the Bar à Huîtres but would like to one day, now that I know about its relationship with the good Bisto de Breteuil.
DeleteI like oysters both raw and cooked. I've found myself reluctant to eat them since we went to Ile de Ré last year though. I think I gave myself oyster overload. I've had the chance many times to buy them locally, good quality, but I just haven't.
ReplyDeleteI've gotten sick from eating oysters three times that I can remember — once in Ireland and twice in France. Nasty but not nasty enough to put me off oysters forever. Speaking of scallops, have you ever eaten them raw? We used to pick them up out of the sounds (bays) in North Carolina, open them, and eat them on the spot like that with just a little seawater as seasoning.
DeleteI like oysters, raw and cooked. Are Oysters Kilpatrick an Australian phenomenon? They are rather nice and a good introduction to people who think they don't they will like oysters.
ReplyDeleteIn the U.S. we have Oysters Rockefeller. Maybe it's kind of the same thing. But I don't really know. I saw a woman on French Cuisine+.tv make what she called beignets d'huîtres, which I were breaded, deep-fried oysters. Those are good too.
Deleteno oysters for this girl; I do love scallops though!
ReplyDeleteAnne Marie, oops, I left a comment for you up above after Susan's post. Raw scallops — tempting?
Deleteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew! cooked please! not a fan of raw fish cause you never know what's in it.
DeleteWell, good for CHM, he knows where you had lunch... I'm still waiting, with growling tummy, to find out! *LOL*
ReplyDeleteThe Bar à Huîtres has always intrigued me (do they really sell that abundance of seafood, or does a lot of it go to waste?), but we've never eaten there. Makes a great photo though.
ReplyDeleteYou're pretty close to Le Pré Verre, on Rue Thénard. They have an interesting fusion menu and it's a great place for lunch.
ReplyDeleteThe suspense is killing me.
I've eaten at Bar a Huitres and Bistro de Breteuil several times and have always enjoyed them. I can't think of any food that I like more than raw oysters. Yum!
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