At Home in Brittany

Eating Out On a Budget in Brittany

I expect all the ex-pats in Brittany are having to tighten their belts due to the falling value of the Pound, but do not despair; you can still enjoy one of the greatest pleasures of living in France, eating out. Okay you may not be able to enjoy the luxury of haute cuisine or the delights of a ‘fruits de mer’, but it is still possible to have a three course meal and a glass of wine for between 8 to 10 euros if you know where to go.

 

The first venues I would recommend is best described as the ‘the white van restaurants’, every small hamlet and village has a restaurant that provides midday meals targeted towards the mobile artisan. There are however no restrictions on who is served and they are happy to receive tourists, locals and the odd ex-pat that happens to be passing. The menu is fairly restrictive, referred to usually as ‘la formule’ i.e. a choice of two to three main meals at the set price. A typical meal would consist of small buffet starter, usually salad, followed by Steak and frites or fish with vegetables, followed by a choice of dessert or cheese and fresh bread. Bottles of the house red and white are placed on the table to be shared amongst the diners.

Pass the Cheese

French Friends Coming for Dinner

 

After a relatively short period of time in our rural home in France my husband and I thought it time to take the next step in breaking the ice with our new French (and Breton) speaking acquaintances.  There is no better way to get to know people than to share a meal with them; particularly if the meal is to their taste and is well prepared; and thereby hangs a tale.