Ten foodie reasons to visit Guernsey

The elusive Ormer, Hechet home-made ice-cream, Guernsey gâche (fruit bread), yellow butter and cream, local crab salad, the traditional 'bean jar' and much more - 10 tasty reasons to visit Guernsey.

1. The elusive Ormer!
Ormers are a local delicacy and islanders spend hours wading through coastal rock pools in search of them. There are strict rules on collecting these fruits of the sea which can only be gathered on a handful of dates between January and April under a full or new moon, and on the two days following them.

2. Hechet Homemade ice-cream – a taste of Guernsey
Delicious, scrumptious ice-cream from local dairy using real Guernsey milk – 30 different flavours. Supplies to outlets all over the island, from beach kiosks to top restaurants.

3. Cider Country
A once vibrant industry from the 1700s has been recently revived and an ancient cider orchard in the heart of island is once again bearing fruit. Guernsey has a long brewing tradition and local beers are widely available.

4. Hedge Veg
Local Guernsey produce left on tables and at kiosks at the side of the road with honesty boxes for payment … get your freshly grown carrots, tomatoes, potatoes and Guernsey freesias on your way home with no need for a supermarket queue.

5. Guernsey gâche, yellow butter and cream
A delicious Guernsey fruit bread eaten straight or toasted with lashings of yellow Guernsey butter. Or how about a traditional cream tea in one of the islands many tea rooms - scone, jam and dollop of thick Guernsey cream. Done. (Then choose from 28 miles of cliff paths to walk it all off!)

6. Guernsey Crab Salad and Sandwiches
The Mediterranean may be short of seafood but Guernsey isn’t. Crab is a local speciality – sandwiches served full to bursting, delicious crab salads and used in used in more extensive dishes.

7. Jewels of the ocean
The famous oyster beds on Herm’s east coast. Washed down with a glass of cold white wine – utter luxury!

8. Menu Degustation et Vins at the Old Government House Restaurant
Executive Chef, Jerome Barbancon from Brittany, has created a fantastic ‘Surprise’ 7-course Menu’. Only £65 per person for seven freshly prepared courses and wine to complement each course – a menu worthy of the two AA rosettes the restaurant has been awarded.

9. The traditional ‘bean jar’
A delicious rich stew eaten on the island for hundreds of years and still is – a slow cooked bean casserole.

10. Vraic (seaweed)
Vraic gathering played an important role in Guernsey’s past. Today, edible seaweed is plentiful on Guernsey’s pristine beaches and some local chefs are harvesting it from selected bays at dawn for use in a variety of restaurants.

For more information, log on to visitguernsey.com .