Brittany on Your Plate

Take a look around. Between the tempting smell of warm butter and the lively café terraces, this is the perfect time for a food break! Carnac isn’t just packed with history.

It’s also a great place to discover the full range of Breton cuisine. On one side, there’s Brittany by the sea. And here, the undisputed star is the Carnac oyster.

Farmed just a short distance away in the famous Bay of Pô, it appears on market stalls and restaurant plates alongside bouchot mussels, clams, and incredibly fresh seafood. It’s a real taste of the sea, best enjoyed out on a terrace. And it’s good for you, too!

Then there’s inland Brittany, with its popular country traditions. Can you smell that delicious aroma drifting out of the crêperies? That comes from buckwheat.

Once a staple food in the Breton countryside, the buckwheat galette has become a culinary classic. Filled with an egg, cheese, or a generous slice of andouille de Guéméné—the great charcuterie specialty of Morbihan—it’s something you simply have to try. Wash it down, of course, with a good bowl of Breton cider, or with traditional chouchen served nice and cold.

And make sure you save room for dessert! As you probably know, in Brittany, salted butter isn’t optional. It’s practically a religion.

So why not try the legendary kouign-amann? The recipe is right there in the name. In Breton, kouign means “cake,” and amann means “butter.” So there you have it: bread dough layered with a very generous amount of salted butter and sugar.

As it bakes, the sugar caramelizes, creating a crisp, golden crust around a wonderfully soft, melting center. Another bakery favorite is far breton, or farz forn, which literally means “oven-baked far.” Somewhere between a custard and a clafoutis, it began as a very simple, rustic cereal porridge. And here’s a little fun fact: the original traditional far was eaten plain.

Prunes were only added later by Breton sailors, who took them aboard their ships because they kept so well during long sea voyages. Whether you’re in the mood for a huge seafood platter, a crisp buckwheat galette, or a buttery pastry, you’re spoiled for choice all around you. And really, that’s what vacations are for—so enjoy discovering the flavors of Brittany!