Cotentin: the place to be for food lovers
To discover the range of local products on offer, there’s no better way than at the weekly markets or local farmer’s markets: come and taste the products on the market stalls, then buy some to take home as a treat or as a gift. You’ll find all the products of the sea on the stalls held by local vegetable farmers, fishmongers or fish merchants.
Vegetables and dairy products can also be purchased directly at the farms.
Biscuits and other sweet treats, not-to-mention Cotentin cider can all be found at the specialised biscuit shops and cider houses, as well as the local shops and delicatessans.
Exceptional products
They all come from the coasts of Cotentin: Saint-Vaast oysters, the “bouquet de Cosqueville” prawns, the Cotentin blue lobster, which was recently awarded for its great flavour.
Traps are used here to capture shellfish alive, in a more friendly way. The traps are usually put in the sea for 24 hours at a time. This type of fishing is subject to strict regulations in Cotentin. There is a certain quota of authorised boats and the number of traps they use is limited.
Don’t forget the excellent Cherbourg salmon from the fish farm in Cherbourg harbour. You can taste this salmon at the local restaurants, buy it from the fishmongers or on the markets throughout Cotentin
Ancestral know-how
One of the most well-known artisanal specialities here is the Cotentin cider which bears the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) for “Cidre Cotentin” and can be found at all the local restaurants, in shops and from producers. The Cotentin Cider is characterised by its bitter taste from the subtle blend of apples from the orchards of Cotentin. The result is a full-bodied cider, that is dry, or even extra dry, and goes perfectly well with the local specialities of Normandy.
The local producers strive to protect their “terroir” and their know-how, to make sure they produce a top-quality product.
Some of the cider houses offer guided tours so visitors can find out about how this beverage is made, from the harvest to bottling. The tours always end with a tasting of cider products such as calvados, pommeau, cider and apple juice.
The Land of Cockaigne
The “terroir” of the peninsula is also ideal for cattle breeding. The lamb of La Hague, also known as “roussin” is very well-known. Poultry, vegetables (cauliflower, carrots, leeks, etc.) and fruit (apples, pears, strawberries, etc.) are also popular specialities of Cotentin.
