Eating local on vacation in Saint-Jean-de-Monts

How to consume responsibly on vacation in Vendée?

As you enjoy your holiday in Vendée, you may be wondering about the food products you see in the shops and on the market stalls: are these products locally sourced? Are they seasonal fruits and vegetables? Can the quality of these foods be guaranteed?

To help you answer these questions and make your choices, we recommend some good addresses that will meet your personal commitments: respect for the environment and support for the local economy.

If you pay attention to your diet, take the time on vacation to choose what you put on your plate or your picnic: fresh products, whose origin and production method you know. And why not, go and meet those who produce them. Many farms are open for visits.

Fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables

Pineau Vegetables: Family market gardening business located in Perrier. Saint Jean de Monts and Perrier markets.
Aux Jardins des Colibris: Small family farm in peasant agriculture which has chosen direct sales. Soullans.
Les Jardins de la cure: Farm that produces plants for herbal teas, herbs, vinegars and syrups. Open to visitors. Beauvoir sur Mer.
Moulin de Rairé: At the mill you will find organic flours: wheat flour - type 80 and buckwheat flour, pancakes and biscuits. Open to visitors. Sallertaine.

Cheese, meat and fish

Very salty: Breeding of Maraïchine cows: beef and Poitevin goats: cheeses. Notre Dame de Monts.
Ferdinand and Donatien: Goat farming: cheeses and dairy products. Open to visitors. Bouin.
Les Cochons du marais: Pig farming in the heart of the Montois marsh: meats and charcuterie. Saint Jean de Monts.
GAEC La Barge: Maraichine cow breeding: beef. Notre Dame de Monts. Atlantic fish and seafood. Don't miss out on tasting fresh Atlantic oysters!
L'Huîtrière de Vendée: David Lecossois, oyster farmer, offers takeaway sales and on-site tastings, facing the sea. Open to visitors. Fromentine.
Les Huîtres du cap Horn: 4th generation who farm oysters off the coast of Noirmoutier Island. Fromentine. Fish is also a must on vacation by the ocean! Hake, red mullet, sole, sardines as well as shrimp, cuttlefish, squid, from local fishing, await you in the fishmongers.
Jean Fi Marée fishmonger: Notre Dame de Monts.
La Marée montoise fishmonger: Saint Jean de Monts. Another idea of the sea: samphire, an ingredient with a unique flavor. This condiment, called "sea pickle" grows in salt marshes. You can buy it in most local fishmongers and grocery stores. To be sure of the origin, we recommend Pierre, a professional shore fisherman.

Salt

You will definitely recognize the salt marshes if you come in the summer. They cover part of the north-west of Vendée. To add a finishing touch to a carpaccio of old tomatoes or a peach salad, think of fleur de sel!

Salt marsh of the star: Production of salt, fleur de sel and coarse salt. Open to visitors. Saint Hilaire de Riez.
Breuil Saltworks: Production of salt, fleur de sel and coarse salt. Open to visitors. Beauvoir sur mer

Organic honey

Au Pré des abeilles: Local production of honey, pollen, propolis, gingerbread and even sweets for the most gourmands. Open to visitors. Notre Dame de Monts.
The Ruchers de la Vie: Local production of honey, pollen, mead. Saint Gilles Croix de Vie.

Cave coast

The troussepinette is an aperitif that is served chilled, composed of wine and brandy in which young blackthorn shoots have been macerated. Avoid flavored versions to experience the taste of the real trousseptinette.
The Fiefs Vendéens are made from grape varieties such as Chenin, Pinot or the rare Négrette. They are characterized by different ecosystems: Vendée coast, wooded hills, forest edges... Today, the AOC Fiefs Vendéens is made up of 14 winegrowers spread over 355 hectares and 5 fiefs: Brem, Chantonnay, Mareuil, Pissotte and Vix. Discover these wines during your stay in Vendée.
La Petite Ramonière Farm-brewery in Notre Dame de Monts open to visitors, which grows its own cereals and brews a whole range of beers.