From the Middle Ages to the present day, the Bretons, common people and nobility alike, have enjoyed pancakes. When bread was short, the lady of the house would set to work in front of the "cooking-slab." Masters and servants alike were treated to delicious butter dripping pancakes. In Brittany, they were eaten with one's fingers since cutlery only became common in the country areas towards the beginning of the 20th century.

Galette pancakes are probably one of the oldest known dishes in Brittany and elsewhere. The pancake batter was sometimes used to make a porridge like dish which was eaten with a wooden spoon. In most areas, the pancake replaced bread but it could also be served as a main dish if accompanied with an egg, a sausage, raw onion or sardines. The pancakes were even used to thicken soups.

The word "galette" comes from the flat stone or "galet" on which the pancakes were cooked originally. A "bilig," Breton word for a griddle, also comes from the Breton word for pebble "bili." The original cooking slabs were eventually replaced by wrought iron "griddles" and have now been superceded by cast iron "griddles."

Of course, Galettes are very popular today in Brittany and are the main theme at village Fetes, fairs, meetings and Breton Dance evenings. On these occasions, we can see the "Galette Ladies" driving 3 hotplates at a time and officiating like priestesses.

Crepes are more recent and date back to hardly 100 years ago. Ordinary wheatflour used to be expensive and it was only at the end of the the 19th Century that it became common place. Farms had their own "Creperie," the corner of the cellar (or barn) fitted out especially for the purpose. Crepes just used to be flavoured with a large knob of salty butter. Today, however, we can see a long list of imaginative fillings and flavourings as seen in our Crepe Filling section.

If you are ready to have a taste of Breton History then please follow these links to the The Full Menu to view our full menu at The Pear Tree Creperie, or alternatively, why not Book a Table now.