The Trail of Crumbs • A Gastro Travelogue

OYSTERS AND BEYOND IN BRITTANY

We love discovering flea markets and little surprises in unexpected places. Brittany is full of them. A pot bellied pig hanging out at the market... A mass of stripes at every turn and world renowned oysters sold at low prices with big smiles. Here is a flea market and a farmer's market on the shores of Brittany in Erquy.

Oysters, Oysters, Oysters... ahhhh! Eyes for Oysters in Brittany. Such goodness!

Loved the delicious homemade apple cider from these friendly young gentlemen

Cannot visit France without purchasing an Opinel knife. Seriously.

Love the stripes on everyone... these dudes are stoked

Our friend took us on a little day trip to various views and villages... this one was one of the most charming. Dinan.

The very charming and picturesque village of Dinan. We recommend stopping for lunch and a walk around here.

Gainsbourg forever at this bar in Dinan

A mysterious traditional Breton cake called Tourteau fromage à l'ancienne ( Tourteaux Jahan is a respected producer of these magical cheese cakes). Neither sweet nor savory but curiously delicious with a hint of char.

A mysterious and abandoned house that we couldnt resist exploring after driving past it many times. I dream of doing a photo shoot here.


La Ribote , a sweet little restaurant that serves fresh and tasty local cuisine in a casual setting. Just the way we like it.

Kig Ha Farz, a traditional Breton dish with a buckwheat dumpling and bits of steamed meat. A sort of Brittany style Pot au Feu

can't get enough Oysters!

Lait Ribot, buttermilk, is often had with lunch and dinner in Brittany

Café Gourmand... a french way of eating a bunch of dessert in tiny bite sized portions

Fresh housemade fromage blanc with honey. One of my favorite traditional french desserts

SUMMER TIME IN BRITTANY

Les Sables d'Or beach in Brittany

While spending our Summer in California this year, we are reminiscing over our other coastal trips of Summer's past. Our friend Hélène Renaut once took us to her Summer house in Erquy, on the eastern edge of the Bay of St-Brieuc, in the Brittany region of France. It was magical. Here are some photographs of our day trip to several beaches along Les Sables d'Or, golden sands, as well as our welcome meal of freshly caught Mackerel.

The symbol of Erquy... Hélène's father pouring our apéritif before lunch

Hélène giving us the lay of her land

the view from our guest room at Chez Renaut


fresh mackerel caught earlier in the day... seasoned with coarse sea salt and herbes de Provence

the most delicious grilled mackerel we've ever had

Hélène taking a sunset dip in temperate Bretagne waters

A SMALL AND SWEET CALIFORNIA SUMMER WEDDING

Last month on July 4th, my sister Lisa gathered close friends and family at a home on the Santa Barbara riviera and celebrated her beautiful wedding overlooking the shimmering Pacific ocean. Native Santa Barbarans, singer Kenny Loggins, his son Crosby and dear family friend, Carrie Clough, sang the couple down the garden aisle. They sang the Loggins and Messina song, "Watch the River Run" and kissed underneath fig trees. A true Santa Barbara wedding.

Crosby Loggins, Carrie Clough and Kenny Loggins sing the processional song in perfect harmony

A sun sheltering fig tree hangs over Lisa and Chuck as they exchange vows

Blood orange margarita's by Pure Joy catering and a luscious devil's food cake filled with
chocolate buttercream, frosted with sweet buttercream by Robyn Loves Cake