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Oyster cultch and bags
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We left La
Rochelle and headed south along the coast for a visit to
Marennes. This is
where the conditions are perfect to farm oysters. There are over 800 farmers in
the region and they produce 45% of France's oysters. In the summer months, the oysters produce a milk for reproduction.
Wooden poles called a 'cultch' are placed in the water to which the larvae attach to start the
process. They grow for 9 months and then are sorted by size into bags of
oysters. Here they continue to feed and grow. Three times a year for the next 2
years the farmers go out and fetch the bags, they hit and shake the shells to
ensure they have a rounded shape rather than an oblong shape and then boil them
for 3 seconds to remove any parasites. In the last stage of the process, the
oysters moved to marshland where they continue to grow in the different water
which modifies their taste. The particular farm we went to managed 20,000 bags
of oysters. After the detailed explanation we listened to a movie which showed farmers
wading in the sea water and marshes to work the oysters. Then came our
challenge for the day. They taught us how to properly open an oyster so we
could sample the product. They were good, but I personally wouldn’t spend a lot
of money to eat them. An interesting side note: Grand Circle discovered this
place last year, and loved it. But no one spoke English, so they asked if they
could brush up on their English over the winter for Grand Circle’s tour. Our
host did a terrific job of giving the tour and answering our questions.
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I did it!
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We
traveled on to have lunch in Sainte at the
Tavern du Maitre Kanter. Another hour and we reached to Bordeaux to
board our riverboat, the Chanson. This boat was just purchased and refurbished
by Grand Circle, it’s only been cruising since March. We had a delicious
Captain's dinner with 3 appetizers, a sorbet, veal main dish and creme' brule
for dessert. Not a bad start.
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Riverboat Chanson
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