Brittany: an astonishing gourmand French region

It is not a secret: French eat well. Every region has it own specialty that is proud of. Brittany (Bretagne in French) is not an exception. Situated on the northwest of the France this is an astonishing gourmand region which offers some unique and tasty local specialties. Just to warn you, there will be a lot of fresh seafood, salted butter, sugar and some very strong drinks. Bon appétit!

Pancakes are the must

If you travel to Brittany make sure to taste one of the regional specialties – pancakes (galettes in French). Savoury pancakes from Brittany are made with buckwheat. Buckwheat pancakes are eaten as a main course with ham, cheese or eggs. On the other hand, sweet pancakes (crepes in French) that you can order for a dessert are made of wheat flour and can have various fillings, from jam to chocolate or honey. With your pancakes you can drink lait ribot, sort of buttermilk, or a local cider, an alcoholic drink made from fermented apples. But is you are fond of something more interesting, then go for a glass of cold chouchen. Chouchen is maybe less known than cider, but it is the oldest traditional alcoholic beverage in Brittany and it is made from fermented honey. If you want to taste the best galette in the world than book a table at “Mad’moiselles Breizh, the restaurant which won the first price for the best galette in Brittany and therefore in France!

Heaven for a seafood lover

If you are a seafood lover, that Brittany is going to be a heaven for you. With 2800 km of coastline delicious and fresh seafood can be find everywhere. In some small harbours you can even buy fish directly from the fisherman. Like in Cancale, a picturesque fishing port, also know as a capital of the oysters in Brittany, you can taste very fresh oysters that you can get directly from producers. In case you won’t miss any of it delicious and tasty seafood, order a so-called “Plateau de fruits de mer” a seafood platter with oysters, crabs, langoustines, winkles, shells and prawns. If you want to treat yourself with fresh and delicious seafood, don't miss "Coté Mer", the restaurant in a beautiful house overlooking the bay of Cancale away from the city center and the crowd.

Salted butter and sugar

If you are on a diet, don’t even think about trying traditional pastries from Brittany. In this astonishing gourmand French region the pastries are all about salted butter and sugar. Kouign-amann witch literally means a butter cake is a generous cake perfectly soft in the centre, crispy golden on top and caramelised on the edges. The best Kouign-amann is to be find at the bakary Plomarc’h in Douarnenez in the capital of the Kouign-amman. Far Breton is a flan-style eggs and milk custard with flour. And the traditional sweet treats in Brittany are caramels with salted butter or crepe à dantelles, rich butter biscuits.

Cancale, the oyster capital

Quai Gambetta, 35260 Cancale, France

Mad’moiselles Breizh

29630 Plougasnou, France

Boulangerie des Plomarc’h

20 Rue des Plomarc'h, 29100 Douarnenez, France

The restaurant "Coté Mer"

4 Rue Ernest Lamort, 35260 Cancale, France