628797 Wed Jun 17 12:03:09 -0700 2009 16 49 France 0 4781693 Have any chowhounders had recent experiences with restaurants on the Brittany coast? We'll be there the first week in October. I see there are quite a few Michelin one-stars, often in Relais & Châteaux hotels, and a couple of two-stars. The only ones I've been to are now-closed Roellinger, which I loved, and Crouzil, which I found very disappointing. Wed Jun 17 12:03:09 -0700 2009 266399 fanoffrance 1 4783650 Not on coast, but in Pont Avan, restaurant called Le Taupiniere. Been twice, great regional one star, langoustines were the bomb. Cancale's oysters will still be wonderful even without Maison de Bricourt. And if you head up the coast to southern Normandy, will be the start of scallop season with all the wonders of that. Last fall went to a one star, famed for its rognons, on north coast between St Brieuc and St Malo, and thought pretentious and dreadful. Thu Jun 18 04:34:08 -0700 2009 4781693 71113 Delucacheesemonger 2 4826795 Thanks for your help, but La Taupinière will be closed when we're there, according to the Michelin, and I'm not too crazy about scallops! Oysters I like. I couldn't figure out which restaurant was famed for its rognons. Fri Jul 03 05:46:53 -0700 2009 4783650 266399 fanoffrance 3 4826832 Sorry, before posting originally, tried to dredge up the name and locale with a map of Brittany and failed. Fri Jul 03 06:07:31 -0700 2009 4826795 71113 Delucacheesemonger 3 5104542 I'll have to eat my words, as I had scallop dishes at least three times on this trip and enjoyed them each time! Thu Oct 15 03:27:46 -0700 2009 4826795 266399 fanoffrance 1 5101802 We're now back from that trip, having dined and stayed overnight at three R&C's along the Brittany coast: Lan Kerellec at Trebeurden, Locguénolé near Hennebont, and Fort de l'Ocean at le Croisic. All had good food, but I would rank Locguénolé best, while the cuisine at the Fort (which lacks a Michelin star) was simpler and perhaps less well conceived. At Honfleur (Normandy), don't miss La Fleur de Sel, which has superb cuisine at moderate prices in a charming rustic atmosphere. Wed Oct 14 04:53:25 -0700 2009 4781693 266399 fanoffrance 2 5101808 Hope you did not miss the mushroom guy in Honfleur at the morning market. Last time in, he had at least 18 varieties. You know what l cooked that night. Also the crevettes gris, the small grey shrimp you eat whole. Wed Oct 14 04:58:49 -0700 2009 5101802 71113 Delucacheesemonger 3 5104538 Sorry, we missed the market. Were only there one night. Do you eat those shrimp without peeling them? Thu Oct 15 03:22:28 -0700 2009 5101808 266399 fanoffrance 4 5104543 Yup. Greatest thing is how they are sold. They are sitting in wooden flats and old women come along, wave their hand over the boxes and the ones that wiggle their legs the most, the shrimp not the women, are the freshest are the ones that are bought Thu Oct 15 03:30:51 -0700 2009 5104538 71113 Delucacheesemonger 2 5103147 Although the real "don't miss" in Honfleur is "Sa.Qua.Na" Wed Oct 14 13:26:16 -0700 2009 5101802 64584 PhilD 3 5103353 Should we start a Normandy thread? Wed Oct 14 14:40:14 -0700 2009 5103147 1107357 mangeur 4 5103440 Why? the OP mentioned Honfleur and did state it was in Normandy. Wed Oct 14 15:08:27 -0700 2009 5103353 64584 PhilD 5 5103792 Quite right. I was only hoping to prevent a reader from missing Sa.Qua.Na.should he miss this reference. Wed Oct 14 17:35:56 -0700 2009 5103440 1107357 mangeur 3 5104535 I know. I called SQN to make a reservation, but was told that the restaurant would be closed when I was there because the chef was going to be away taking part in some food seminar/conference. Thu Oct 15 03:18:13 -0700 2009 5103147 266399 fanoffrance 4 5104545 Might have been the big one in NYC Thu Oct 15 03:32:00 -0700 2009 5104535 71113 Delucacheesemonger 5 5105961 He (Alexandre Bourdas) was in Sydney last week (11th Oct), speaking and cooking at the Sydney International Food Festival. He cooked dinner with Justin North of Becasse of of Sydney's great French restaurants. I didn't go because it was $250 a head, although that was for 8 courses including wine. Thu Oct 15 12:53:14 -0700 2009 5104545 64584 PhilD 1 5102126 Do not miss Youpala Bistrot in St. Brieuc for a most delightful meal. Every bite of every dish absolutely delicious. http://www.youpala-bistrot.com/ Also, slightly south of Cancale is a wonderful chambre d'hote that offers an evening meal several days a week. The host is the former head chef at the French Embassy in London, and his dinners show it. Large and comfortable rooms. Highly recommend to those who can forego hotels in order to experience real life. http://www.chateaumontdol.com/ Wed Oct 14 07:31:43 -0700 2009 4781693 1107357 mangeur