The Brittany or Bretagne region is unique in that the Bretagne food, language, and culture are different than anywhere else in France.
Brittany was independent until the 1500s when Anne of Brittany, heir to the Brittany throne, married several French Kings and the region became a part of France. Despite this, the region continued to rebel against French rule over the, and ensuing centuries. Today, the region is known for being one of the most conservative regions in France, where old customs are clung to and the unique Breton culture is preserved by those that live in the region.
While perhaps best known for their famous crepes-normally served filled with cheese and ham, topped with a fried egg and, served with a pitcher of cider, food in the Bretagne region offers a more diverse array of culinary delights including a lot of fresh seafood, butter cakes and butter cookies, and more.
Gigi Griffis (aka the Vicious Foodie) shares her culinary discoveries in the Brittany region of France with us below:
My Favorite Bretagne Food/Brittany Food Discoveries
Over the past few years, I have savored different food and drink experiences all over France. However, the full month (of June) that I spent in the region of Brittany (Bretagne) and the Bretagne food I was introduced to may be among my most memorable.
I chose the capital city of Rennes as a base in Brittany because at just under an hour from the coastal city of Saint-Malo, and being reachable by train from Paris, it is a good central location from which to explore the region. During my stay, I made it a point to ask as many locals as possible about their favorite foods and where I could find them.
This is how I came up with a list of my favorite Brittany food discoveries.
Five of My Favorite Brittany Food Discoveries
Favorite Bretagne Food Discovery #1: Kouign-Amann
In short-this amazing little pastry is basically butter and sugar and then butter again…and then some more butter for good measure. My French friends have approved this assessment and statement.
This Bretagne pastry may be all butter, but it is still somehow perfectly and delicately light and not too sweet. The pastry dough is folded, and folded and folded again, creating a small circular cake with a tight circular swirl. The top should be caramelized, with a light crunch. The interior is all softness.
If I could only have one treat from Brittany, this would be it. If you’re in Rennes, the best version I found was at Boulangerie Pâtisserie Coupel, a phenomenal pastry shop and bakery near the periphery of the Old Town.
Favorite Bretagne Food Discovery #2: Salted Butter
Brittany is, famously, where salted butter originated in France. The reason for this is all politics: In the middle ages, salt was an expensive commodity. It was heavily taxed across the rest of France. But because Brittany was where that salt came from, they had plenty of it and no tax on it. Thus, while other French folks were spreading unsalted butter on their bread, Brittany was loading theirs up with salt.
The traditional version has large salt crystals that actually crunch when you eat it. It’s really something special and you’ll find it at most farmers markets (like the famously huge Marche de Lices) and shops.
Favorite Bretagne Food Discovery #3: Salted Butter Caramel
Can you tell I have a sweet tooth? When it comes to the best food in Brittany, salted butter caramel has to be toward the top of the list. Locals make it at home with plenty of butter and sugar. And you can buy it by the jar or as chewy candy in many shops and markets.
Favorite Bretagne Food Discovery #4: Galettes with Cidre
This Breton version of a crepe is made with buckwheat flour and tastes heartier and richer than its sweet cousin.
Bretons serve these crepes wrapped around sausages or stuffed with things like veggies and eggs. If you want the real local experience, order yours with a glass of local cidre (hard apple cider).
Favorite Bretagne Food Discovery #5: Breton Lobster
Brittany is a region that juts out into the English Channel, and it has miles of coastline. Even better, that coastline is rich in all kind of foodie delights. You’ve got the famous fleur de sel sea salt that harvested from salt pans by the seaside, prized oysters and the distinctive black-and-blue Breton lobsters (that turn red after boiling!) hiding along the rocks off the coast.
If you’re lucky enough to find fresh Breton lobster, don’t pass up the opportunity. Local tip: Eat your lobster cool and with hand-whipped herb mayonnaise.
The Best Meal I Had in Brittany
My favorite Breton specialties were all pretty spectacular, but one dining experience I had during my month in Brittany stands out as the best of the best.
The restaurant is called La Fleur de Sel (yes, named after the salt), and it’s located on a quiet side street in the popular ancient riverside city of Dinan.
The restaurant is adorable inside (and small, so book ahead), with clean, simple, modern furnishings in rich colors like deep purple and blue.
The meal starts with gourmet butters (of course it does; this is Brittany!) and homemade bread. From there, we chose the lunch-tasting menus (priced at a respectable 30 and 42 euros – a steal for how good the meal was).
Menus change regularly and feature the freshest, most local ingredients. So expect every bite to be a genuine representation of the region.
Have you visited the Bretagne/Brittany region of France?
No matter how many years I travel and how many places are on my bucket list, I find myself back in France at least once a year. Drawn by the food, the architecture, and the beautifully diverse landscape, I just can’t get enough of this country, and the Brittany region is among one of my favorites now.
If so, what were your favorite food or dining experiences? Let us know in the comments!
