These are some of the restaurants referred to in Catching a Rainbow. Click on the name for more information.
Les Jardins des Trieux
Les Jardins du Trieux is a charming Crêperie situated in the centre of
Pontrieux on the banks of the River, which gives the town its name.
It is open all year offering traditional Breton Crepes, Galettes as well as
other more substantial dishes of steak and local sausages. The interior is relaxing, the owners congenial and the food simple but well prepared.
From spring through summer Pontrieux is a riot of colour as the bright
coloured shops and houses are complemented by the profusion of flowers
decorating the bridge and the surrounding streets and its famous wash stones
or Lavoirs.
Pontrieux is only a short distance from the impressive chateaus of La Roche
Jagu and the ruined Abbaye de Beauport.
Le Gouermel
Le Gouermel is a charming beachfront restaurant to be found between Bugéles Plougrescant, not far from Tréguier in the Cote d'Armor region of Northern Brittany.
The restaurant is situated 30 meters from the high tide mark, in an exquisite bay of which dreams are made. Do not expect to see the sea at low tide, but invest in a tide table to see the Bay of Gouermel at its best, at high tide.
On first seeing Le Gouermel one is reminded of a beach hut, but it is this simplicity, which makes it such a special place and certainly not a place to drive by. The food is simple... but wonderful. The menu does not change, although there is a blackboard of plat de jours; but it is the certainty of Le Gouermel that is so reassuring. Favourites such as Palourdes Farcie a small clam stuffed with herbs and garlic. Moules au Cidre, mussels cooked with cider and bacon, obviously served with chips. Salade de Chèvre, goat cheese wrapped in air dried ham and grilled then served with a salad and crusty French bread...absolutely bloody marvellous, especially eaten outdoors.
The proprietors are a gracious couple who always have time to chat to their guests and personally great their customers before serving aperitifs.
Le Gouermel is open between Easter and September, closing Sunday evening and Mondays. From September to Christmas it is open Friday Saturday and Sunday lunch. It opens at noon and during the summer the terrace is popular and completely full by twelve-thirty. But, it is after the crowds have gone, that the gracious simplicity of Le Gouermel becomes evident...the terrace season is drawing to a close and the customers or guests sit closer to the fire gaze at the sea and think just how fortunate they really are.
