Warming Up with Crêpes & Cider at Bar Breton
By Dame Beth Allen

Picture this: A snow hurricane is hitting New York City this Thursday afternoon, February 25, 2010—leaving the sidewalks of New York covered with ice and snow and the traveling in the City, very cold and blustery. But inside the cozy Bar Breton on Fifth Avenue, it’s a very different story. Fourteen New York Dames and guests have gathered inside this brasserie, which is owned by the award-winning Chef Cyril Renaud, and are having a wonderful “warm” time, enjoying endless cups of cider, in true Brittany style.

We soon learned we were sipping Kerisac Apple Cider, made from five different types of apples by the Guillet family in Guenrouët, Brittany. Chef Cyril explained this was one of his favorite ciders and that it had just arrived from France a few weeks earlier. It is a special cuvée, low in alcohol (only 2.5%), refreshing and fruity, ideal as an apértif and even excellent poured over desserts and sherbets.

Next, we were offered our choice of three large, thin free-form pancakes, which the Britons call galettes. They are made with organic buckwheat flour, traditionally cooked on one side only, then stacked, layered and filled with savories aplenty. There were Smoked Salmon Galettes with Horseradish Crème, Radish, Shallots & Chives; Crab Meat Galettes topped with Parmesan Gratin; and Fourme d’Ambert & Anjou Galettes with Honey Pecans. All delicious!

Traditional sweet crêpes followed, each whipped up from a white flour batter that the French are so famous for. Once again, we had our choice of Caramelized Apple Crêpe with Devonshire Cream; Nutella Galette; even Huckleberry Bread Pudding with Passion Fruit Ice Cream.

The surroundings in Bar Breton were so homey, the crêpes and cider so delicious, the camaraderie so friendly and the experience so enjoyable that we forgot all about the stormy weather outside, at least for two wonderful hours.

Thanks go to: Dames Rita Jammet for creating and chairing this event; Melanie Young for garnering a publicity placement on Tasting Table New York, February 25, 2010; Helen Studley and Deborah Mintcheff for handling the reservations; Liz Young for acting as the official photographer.