A Sea of....Sea
food! Fresh, colourful and ready to eat!
Local Specialties
Come to Brittany and
sample some of the local culinary delights. It is a paradise for
seafood lovers. If on a particular evening you do not want to eat out
the supermarkets sell a fantastic variety of fish and shellfish at
very reasonable prices to bring back to Riverside Cottage and prepare
yourself. One of our favourites is a kilo of prawns sautéed in
garlic and butter and served with a fresh baguette and salad - washed
down with a chilled white wine.....!
The famous Breton
crêpe
can be bought at either local market stalls to nibble on while you
shop or at hundreds of various crêperies in the region. The
savoury crêpe
is made from blé
(buckwheat) and comes with a variety of fillings. The sweet
crêpe can also be served with many varieties from a simple
filling of butter and sugar to the deliciously rich creme de marron
(cream of chestnut). Served with a green salad and some local cider
crêpes provide a lovely, simple but truly delicious meal.
Speaking of
crêpes, you can't do better than Ty
Karin.
This lovely stone crêperie is nestled within the picturesque
village of St. Rivoal. Owner Karin will ensure that you fall in love
with these Breton pancakes as you gaze into the hill tops of the Monts
d'Arrée.
Ty Karin in the
heart of St. Rivoal
Another local
speciality is Andouille,
a pork chitterling sausage. For those who love it you will be able
to find it as a pizza topping or a filling for crêpes.
Kouign aman
is a Brittany buttercake - equally unkind to your hips as your
arteries but worth breaking your diet for.
Cider
is the traditional drink of Brittany and there are numerous cider
makers locally, many of whom work in the traditional way. During the
summer months there are guided tours which allow you to visit the
cider factory in Fouesnant on the South Coast - complete with
tastings of course.
For chocolate lovers:
we have discovered two wonderful chocolatiers nearby. Visit the
exquisite Au
Chat Bleu
in Quimper
and again blow your diet! Or closer to home in Pleyben is Chatillon
Chocolatier
where you can see inside their factory followed by free sampling in
the shop. - do try their florentines!
Just when you have
overdosed on chocolate, there is a macaronerie/tea
shop
nestled in Rue
Kèrèon in Quimper
which serves over 15 different flavours of macaroons along with a
myriad of other delicious sweet and savoury morsels.
Restaurants
We have sampled many of
the local restaurants ranging from typical Breton fare to pizzerias
which also sell locally-reared steak. Most restaurants are child
friendly with separate children's menus that have been tried and
tested by the Davis' children! For those who can't bear to leave
their London life behind totally there is a sushi stall in Quimper
covered market.
