Paris1972-Versailles2003

And again going over my blog, and updating memorable places of my family I come back to Rochefort en Terre in my beautiful Morbihan of my lovely Bretagne. I have mentioned briefly in other posts but feel this place deserves a post of its own in my blog. I will tell you a bit more on the Café Breton of Rochefort en Terre!!!

Over the years since arriving in the Morbihan dept 56 way back it seems in 2011, we have come to Rochefort en Terre as in my job,they told about the Chrismas market, the best in the region me think. We have come every year since, but also, many visits during the year. Our favorite hangout of all is the Café Breton!! love it!!!

Built in 1544, this listed granite house has been said to have been a bar since 1818, making it, if it is true, one of the oldest cafes in Europe. A legend well maintained by the exceptional decor of this charming crêperie whose walls bear magnificent frescoes created by the providential man of Rochefort-en-Terre, the American painter Alfred Klotz (who owned the castle see post).

Café Breton is one of the “Gourmet Crêperies”, a local label promoting Breton know-how. Come have a drink, lunch or dinner in this authentic medieval house, nicely renovated. In terms of decor, we like to be in a place steeped in history and marked by decades of conviviality. After visiting Rochefort en Terre, do stop by this Café Breton; it is a corner of paradise to discover, it is both the pleasure of the eyes, but also that of gluttony. You will taste excellent galettes and crêpes, a moment of pleasure and happiness to be consumed without moderation.Indeed ::)

Two dining rooms with two atmospheres: The first, rustic and traditional, woodwork from 1600, an original fresco by the American painter Alfred Klotz and the fireplace lit according to the season.  The second, the chic bistro spirit is reflected in the parquet floor, the woodwork filled with photo frames of people, known or not, as well as a gigantic baroque-style mirror enthroned above the fireplace. The Café Breton officially located at 8 Rue du Porche; there are parking lots for your car, the nearest is Rue Candré which is 125 meters from Café Breton. 

The official Café Breton webpage: https://www.cafebreton-rochefortenterre.com/se-restaurer/

The Rochefort en Terre tourist office on the café Breton: https://www.rochefortenterre-tourisme.bzh/manger/creperie-questembert-rochefort-en-terre-56/?tif_r=f797e7bd-d9ad-4668-a0d6-0c0765a6cb1a&Creperie-Le-Cafe-Breton

There you go folks, a dandy spot to enjoy the very best Breton cuisine surrounded by history and beautiful architecture in an already name most beautiful villages of France, Rochefort en Terre! Hope you enjoy it and bon appétit!

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!

And coming along some of the memorable spots for us in the beautiful Morbihan of our lovely Bretagne we came to drink one of our favorite drinks, the ciders. One of our favorites here is the Maison du Cidre in the village of Le Hezo, this is in the Rhuys peninsula. Let me tell you a bit more on a deserving post for them me think: Hope you enjoy it as I.

We have been stopping here for years now in the village of Le Hézo on the D780 road to load up on cider!  A case mix of brut, doux, and fruité or semi sec. There is a museum here too, musée du cidre,  and they show you how it is made ; and a great boutique with a lot more than cider, such as honey, jams, house deco items, whiskies, eau de vie de cidre, etc.

It is in the heart of the small village of Hézo, on the Rhuys peninsula, that the Nicol family, a cider maker for 3 generations, produces one of the best ciders in Brittany: the Royal Guillevic. A farmer’s cider, made in an artisanal way, from the green Guillevic apple, one of the oldest varieties of apple trees in the region. The Maison du Cidre is at Rue Lann Vrihan, 56450 ,Le Hezo done by the couple Chantal and Didier NICOL. 

The Maison du Cidre or Cider House reveals the different stages of traditional cider making, through the ancestral methods of the peasants and the modern techniques. The visit begins with an exhibition on apples, pollination and the essential role of bees, then continues with a remarkable collection of tools and machines of yesteryear used in the manufacture of cider and brandy by distillation. The visit includes a free tasting and for the little ones, a fun course.

Born from a man’s passion for the craft of a cider maker, this museum traces the cider-making activity, from the origin of apple cultivation to distillation, including grinding, pressing, and all the stages of the making of cider.   You will discover the orchard, the collection, the crushing, the pressing, the sieving, the storage, the bottling, the role of the bees in the formation of the cider apple, a 15 min film, produced in the Morbihan countryside, will immerse you in the amazing world of cider makers.

The brands they sell are the Cidre Saint Armel (brut-fruité-doux); Jus de pomme Saint Armel (apple juice);  Jus de pomme Guillevic (apple juice Guillevic) ;  Pommette Saint Armel, Cidre Royal Guillevic – Label Rouge (top brand). the prizes are many some in the Concours Général Agricole are:

PRIX D'EXCELLENCE 2017: Médaille d'or 2017 - Cidre fermier SAINT-ARMEL brut, Médaille d'or 2016 - Cidre fermier SAINT-ARMEL brut ;  Médaille d'argent 2016 - Cidre fermier SAINT-ARMEL doux.
PRIX D'EXCELLENCE 2015:  Médaille de Bronze 2015 - Cidre fermier SAINT-ARMEL doux;  Médaille d'Or - Cidre fermier  SAINT-ARMEL doux;  Médaille d'Or -  Cidre fermier SAINT-ARMEL doux ,and Médaille de Bronze - Cidres fermiers SAINT-ARMEL brut et doux.

The official maison de la cidre webpage: https://www.museeducidre.com/en

The Gulf of Morbihan tourist office on the maison de la cidre: https://www.golfedumorbihan.bzh/fiche/la-maison-du-cidre/

There you go folks, another dandy spot in my beautiful Morbihan of my lovely Bretagne. Traditions of always in Breton lands of the venerable cider, goes perfect with those galettes and crêpes!!! Hope you enjoy the visit to the Maison du Cidre in Le Hezo, a must stop.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!

My fav event in the area of Vannes and they are back!!!  I moved here and heard about it, but always too many to choose from went elsewhere, then in 2014 got the bugs and was nice . Then, skip again 2015/2016 and got hook, now have gone to the events in 2017/2018/2019! Unfortunately 2020 was cancelled due to the virus and great news they are back in 2021 !  

Once again I bring you back to the wonderful superb Salon de la Gastronomie  et Arts Culinaires (change name a bit this year) of Vannes 2021 held over the weekend of November 27-29 at the Chorus Parc des Expositions de Vannes in the Parc du Golfe. All from 10h to 19h, Monday 10h to 18h. General admission 5€!  More than 100 exhibitors representing French gastronomy and sorted for the quality of their products. Free entertainment and cooking classes, wine tasting during the show, professional competitions and a variety of catering in a friendly space. We were there again Saturday morning as it already has become a tradition for us.

For this edition it was once again the opportunity to meet some of the providers we shop while in our adventurous ways thru the French countryside and some new ones met here. You have the real France here nothing industrial, supermarket type but the real deal straight from the farms and the artisans who produces the marvelous things we all came to know France for and still is. You have them here from different regions all defending their land and product. We later came to visit many of them on site and the history continues,,,,And they even had cooking competition as in masterchef type tv series!

Admission is 5€ adult but as I go often we get invitation for free from wine houses as is the case this year. There is free parking, lending of wheels caddy with proper personal ID, restaurant on site even to drink the bottles you purchase there, and tasting glasses with a deposit of 1€ (you can keep the glass or get the refund at end). And on some years we have kept the tasting glasses!

The stands are many and varied with producers coming from all over France. Some of the repeated favorite for us, and again back this year are (with stand number and direction). highlighter in Black those we purchase again this year!

Brasserie Vénètes – Cidres Nicol T27 as you enter to your far right

Caves ROUGEBEC Vouvray B12 as you enter middle range second stand

Champagnes LAGILLE B25 as you enter just after the above

Domaine du Haut Bellay E73 as you enter bear right at the back near the T27 above

Guy MORIN – Fronsac C43 as you enter, bear left second row back

St Nicolas de Bourgueil EARL Cousseau Boireau C33 (recently visited in their property the wines of Christel and his wife Claudine we are clients since 2014 ! see post) as you enter bear right third row next to village section. My son and the cap of my Dad!!!

Alain CHARTIER chocolats A 01 as you enter bear right on fifth row
Le Pays Basques Chez Vous T15 as you enter bear left all the way back

We were there Saturday morning on the first day to get it all fresh and fast,  Unfortunately, our favorite basques ,the Maison Gastellou from Saint Jean Pied de Port will not be here this year, We ordered direct and they deliver in France ! Also, missing will be Domaine Lamothe wonderful Gaillac (we had and on my wife’s father side home turf) , but again we can order in France !

And we met a new member of our favorite club at the salon, the folks of Château Tour Birol E61 entrance to your left back ,from the côte de Bourg, Bordeaux region with delicious malbec reds!!! Also, my sons went for their teas at Un thé pour soi B13 entrance straight ahead ;they even got banana flavor teas lol!

The official Salon de la Gastronomie et des arts culinaires : https://www.saga-vannes.fr/

The official Le Chorus Parc des Expositions de Vannes on how to get to it : https://www.lechorus.com/fr/infos-pratiques

There you go folks, a dandy indeed! These fairs events are held throughout France every year except the darn virus. We have been to some but this one is so convenient we repeat visits even if already visited the producer in their farm. Already looking forward to the next one, catch it , this is France at its best for the food, the ambiance the savoir faire and all!

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!