The Channel Islands are fast gaining a reputation as a food-lover’s paradise – and no wonder when you consider how many delicious ingredients are produced in this part of the world. With this in mind, trying the local delicacies is something you must include in your Jersey travel plans.
On your culinary adventure around the island, we recommend you try these three dishes.
Black butter
OK – technically speaking this isn’t an actual dish, but the delightful spread is one of the people of Jersey’s most cherished recipes. Also known as Le Niere Buerre, it tastes perfect just smothered on a slice of thick, crusty bread.
This spread is actually not butter at all, but more like a jam. It was a by-product of Jersey’s thriving cider-making industry during the 17th and 18th centuries, when 20 per cent of usable land was occupied by orchards.
As you can imagine, this meant apples were in abundance, which prompted the locals to come up with a tasty new snack that made good use of them. To make black butter, new cider would be boiled for hours – sometimes for as long as a couple of days. Once it had reduced in volume by half, more apples were added, along with lemon, spices, sugar and liquorice. To get it just right, the mixture must be stirred with a wooden paddle called a rabot. Try some yourself and learn what all the fuss is about.
Bean crock
This is another of the most famous recipes on the island and is truly hearty – so prepare to feel full once you have finished the last drop. It is similar to a stew, but originally it was cooked to be eaten for breakfast and set the islanders up for a busy day ahead.
The key to perfecting this dish is patience, as the dried beans are soaked for several hours, before being added to an earthenware pot with meat – preferably pork on the bone – and boiled overnight. Along with the meat and mixed beans, onions are included and the finishing touches are black pepper, salt and a few bay leaves.
Ormers
If you get the chance to sample ormers while you’re here, you must take advantage of the opportunity. This is a type of marine snail that is quite rare and can’t be found any further north than the Channel Islands – so if you’re visiting from the UK you may never have tasted one before.
Picking them is a traditional pastime on the island but because of efforts to conserve the creatures there are strict guidelines in place overseeing the practice. For instance, you may only fish for them between the beginning of October and end of April and within this timeframe fishermen are only allowed to operate on the first day of the new or full moon and the three days that follow.
Keep your fingers crossed that there are some on offer at the restaurants you visit, as such is the rarity of ormers that when they are found the fishermen often prefer to keep them to themselves.
While ormers are a quintessential Jersey dish, there’s plenty of other shellfish on the island for you to tuck into if you’re after a treat. Crabs, mussels and oysters are all in abundance here so whatever you order, don’t miss the chance to sample the delicious seafood of Jersey.