Kouign Amann, Craquelins… The best culinary specialities to eat in Saint-Malo

The scenery in Saint-Malo is stunning, but the food is second to none! In fact, the port region offers a truly copious and varied gastronomic cuisine. Everyone appreciates the good produce from the sea and the land, which has made some of its specialities famous the world over. As you will have gathered, a stroll around the city walls will allow you to discover some of the unmissable dishes of the local gastronomy. This is your chance to indulge in a real culinary experience using local produce.

What to eat in Saint-Malo

1 – Kouign Amann

To get this selection off to a good start, here are the Kouign-amanns, a Breton speciality with a strong presence in Saint-Malo, which you’ll love to try by the sea, with your feet in the water. In Breton, kouign means “cake” and amann means “butter”. It’s a delicious dessert that appeals to adults and children alike. Kouign-amann is rich in butter and sugar, and the pastry is ‘rolled’ to give it an original shape, like a pretty flower that has just bloomed. The recipe was discovered by chance in 1860 by Yves-René Scordia, a baker from Douarn.

2 – Cancale oysters

It’s hard not to mention the unmissable Breton speciality of seafood, and Cancale oysters in particular. These oysters, so popular with the Falklands, are produced just a few kilometres from Saint-Malo. The Cancale marine farm is the perfect place to discover this incredible speciality, which is an integral part of the region’s heritage. You can eat them morning, noon and night! With its tides and breathtaking scenery, oysters and the oyster-farming world will hold no secrets for you. Ready for a tasty treat?

3 Saint-Malo Crackers

Ideal for an aperitif with friends, Saint-Malo Craquelins are traditional Saint-Malo puffed bread rolls. Since 1923, this recipe has endured and preserved all its authenticity. In fact, they’re so popular in the region that you can take a guided tour of “Les Craquelins de Saint-Malo” on Wednesdays and Fridays at 10am. You’ll be able to follow the production of these bread rolls live, free of charge! Crunchy to the bite and particularly melt-in-your-mouth, discover the secrets of this legendary recipe!

4 – Gavottes

This time we’re talking about a rather original crepe that you’re probably familiar with. A gavotte is a pancake that is “accidentally” left on the stove a little longer. Marie-Catherine made this discovery in Quimper in 1893. It is now known as crêpe dentelle gavottes, and its authenticity has won it many fans. Crunchy and light, this recipe is incredible. It’s a treat that can be eaten plain, or with milk chocolate or caramel… A real treasure!

5 Bordier butter

What is Bordier butter? Bordier butter is a variety of butter with a texture described as “silky”, and a delicious creamy flavour. If you go to Saint-Malo, you’ll find the last craftsman to knead butter in a wooden kneading trough, Jean-Yves Bordier. This unique, traditional method makes butter from soft to semi-salted, and is used by France’s greatest gourmets and chefs. You can even find butter with seaweed or Espelette chillies. On a slice of wholemeal bread, Bordier butter seduces and delights the taste buds.

6 Saint-Malo pearls

This is a sweet that we all know. Chocolate! The shop at the Thermes marins de Saint-Malo is a must if you’re staying in this little port town. Carré Chocolat offers breathtaking chocolate creations by Sylvain Dahirel. If you’re with family or friends, you can even take part in a class with the pastry chef to learn all his secrets. From Yule logs to tarts and macaroons, you’ll be able to have fun and enjoy yourself at the same time.

7 – The potatoes of Saint-Malo

You may not know it, but the Malouin potato is highly reputed and exported all over the world. What do we love so much about Saint-Malo potatoes? They’re sweets made with Krisch liqueur and cocoa with a base of crushed almonds. An absolutely exquisite taste! These little delicacies have only the shape of potatoes in common, but they taste absolutely divine. The original shape of this dish generally arouses the curiosity of visitors, who have never tasted anything like it before.

8 The Ker-y-Pom

Staying with the sweet and let’s talk about Ker Y Pom. These delicious Breton shortbreads are baked with half an apple inside and a dome of shortcrust pastry to cover it. Children love them with chocolate, bananas or Nutella. Straight from the town of Saint-Malo, this is typically the kind of pastry you’ll find in bakeries, and at snack time. This little dome of pastry leaves no one indifferent, and certainly not you!

9 Galette-saucisse

In Saint-Malo, as well as crêpes and sweet galettes, you’ll find Breton buckwheat galettes surrounding a country sausage. This dish is usually eaten standing up and with your fingers, so don’t be shy! Visitors are generally very appreciative of this dish: after all, who would have thought that you could eat a sausage wrapped in a buckwheat pancake? If you don’t know where to find one, head to the market in Saint-Malo and you’ll be sure to be able to taste this marvel.

10. Ice cream

Let’s end this ranking with a note of freshness, topped off with a thick layer of whipped cream. Ice creams are real stars in the city. You’ll regularly come across a young couple or a gang of children proudly displaying this delicious trophy, which consists of one or two scoops of frozen sweetness and a cone. In the streets of Saint-Malo, you can easily find a whole host of ice-cream makers, each with their own ice-cream recipe. Enjoy your ice cream!