The local gastronomy is an essential step in the discovery of a destination.
Gastronomy between “land and sea”
Vendée gastronomy draws its inspiration from the riches of the ocean and the abundance of the bocage. Seafood, fish, meat, vegetables, cheeses and gourmet pastries, there will be something to compose a real 100% Vendée meal!
Mogette ham
When you ask a Vendéen what is his favorite typical dish, he will certainly tell you about the Vendée ham, grilled and full of flavor, accompanied by moths, our signature white beans that have simmered for hours.
Others will salivate while evoking the “grilled mogettes”, or “roti mogettes” in the local patois. These are large slices of bread (four loaves, please!) toasted, rubbed with garlic, spread with butter (salted, of course!) and topped with cooked white beans.
A strange recipe for novices at first glance (white beans on bread, one wonders anyway!), its secret is revealed when you ask your interlocutor the reasons for this preference. In reality, each grilled mogettes evokes childhood memories : a breakfast with grandfather on a corner of the table, village festivals and times spent with friends. A bit like a Proust madeleine à la vendéenne…
Did you know?
A sign of its success, our white bean has inspired master chocolatiers. With a heart of nougatine coated in classic chocolate or white chocolate, our sweet mogettes appeal to young and old alike!
Vendée brioche
Another Proust madeleine, sweetened this time, is Vendée brioche. Of course, it's hard to match the brioche of our grandmothers, whose flavor we all keep in our mouths. Each had her secret, one preferring the scent of orange blossom, the other the aroma of brandy. Even today, the brioche remains very present in large family celebrations. A dance is even dedicated to him in Vendée weddings ! Don't confuse it with the waste, ancestor of the brioche, but with a more compact crumb and which contains fresh cream. Lots of fresh cream!
The forerunner
Our traditional recipes are often simple, but so tasty! Take the example of the prefou served as an aperitif : bread, with garlic and butter, baked and served hot? Only a Vendéen could have imagined it. So simple, and so good! Once you've tasted it, you'll take it again!
Salt
Sea salt and fleur de sel harvested in Vendée are on all the tables. A safe bet for ae gift idea or souvenir to take home. You should also know that the people of Vendée prefer – yes, even at breakfast – salted butter sweet butter… which they consider heresy!
Eat well on our territory
As you can see, in Vendee, we like to eat, and our territory is no exception to the rule. In the Pays des Achards, you will find the great must-haves of Vendée gastronomy.
The products from the sea arrive ultrafresh at our place. If you prefer to buy them even closer to their place of production, go to the big fishmongers des Sables d'Olonne, go to the oyster farmers and go see the salt workers in the salt marshes of the Ile d'Olonne.
Our favorite
The oyster port of La Guittière in Talmont-Saint-Hilaire is a real pearl to discover just a stone's throw from our territory. Several small huts offer you to taste the oysters labeled " Vendee Atlantic » on site with a view of the channel and the refining basins. Accompany this tasting with a chilled white wine – pure pleasure!
For products from the land, you will find what you are looking for, with us, on site. A fifth of our farms are geared towards short circuits. You will be able to meet our passionate producers during the regular markets, within the framework of farmers markets or at home on the days of direct sale To find out more, browse our guide "It's good, it's fresh and it's local" which lists the points of sale and local products in the Pays des Achards.
