Hotfoot it across the Channel this September to enjoy the last lobster of the season. Cooked fresh from the water by one of the region’s many excellent chefs, it will make your seaside break.
Escape from routine with a foodie couple’s break in northern France this September and you’ll discover a little secret. The high-quality lobster fished in this part of the world is super-affordable for such a luxury product – and for one that is brought to you by top chefs in a country whose gastronomy was awarded UNESCO classification in 2010!
Add some French wine recommended by your sommelier and you have all the makings of a truly memorable meal. And as well as discovering new flavours, this is the chance to experience with your partner some of that famous French art de vivre and culture along with breathtaking natural sites.
From Fishing Boat to Fork
Many local chefs buy from fishermen like Jean-Jacques Baillet, who runs the village of Audresselles’ last working fishing boat. As well as buying your own seafood direct from Jean-Jacques’s van, you can chat to him about his fishing methods – a unique and unforgettable experience within such easy reach of the UK.
Waterfront Dining
Gastronomic discoveries often go hand-in-hand with sea views. Michelin-starred Tony Lestienne at La Matelote by Nausicaà in Boulogne-sur-Mer offers a Lobster Menu including the crustacean roast in coral oil, with wheat fricassée in octopus ink.
La Grenouillère in Montreuil-sur-Mer, is another Michelin-starred venue – this one beside a river. Contemporary dishes by Alexandre Gauthier include lobster smoked with juniper.
Also in Boulogne, Le Châtillon is owned by an ex-fishmonger who handpicks ingredients for the kitchen. For more sea views, try Aquar’aile in Calais (lobster salad with basil oil), La Liégoise in Wimereux (curried lobster with spring onions and roast tomatoes) or La Sirène at Cap Gris Nez (grilled lobster in coral sauce). Le Homard Gourmand at Fort Mahon has its own lobster tank; Les Mouettes in Mers-les-Bains serves simply prepared seafood right on the beach.
In Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, Le Mathurin is a true family affair, with Pierre-Alain Delaby in the kitchen, brother Jean-Joseph bringing in the catch, and parents Alain and Catherine preparing it at their fishmongers. In Le Crotoy, Les Tourelles offers classic lobster dishes on a terrace with Baie de Somme views.
Luxury accommodation close-by includes Les Corderies in Saint-Valery (sea-view rooms and spa), seafront L’Atlantic in Wimereux, and Auberge de la Grenouillère in La Madelaine-sous-Montreuil.
Romantic places to visit along the French coast
Walking and cycling are fantastic ways to explore this coast as a couple, including the fishing villages of Le Crotoy, Audinghen and Ambleteuse and great natural sites such as the Deux Caps nature reserve and the Baie de Somme.
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