Je T'aime BREST....

PSYCHE!!!!

Alright, I'm going to be real with you on this post...my confession today is this...I haven't been honest with you about where I've been and how I'm doing over here in France...at all. So, here it goes:

Brest is terrible. It is actually known as the "armpit of France." When we told our friends in Paris about where we were going they all gave us strange looks and questioned why we would go to such a place..."really? oh...you do know there are NO Americans in Brest and you know, it's the armpit of France...?"
Well, we thought that was just a dramatization by Parisians so we came here not expecting the armpit, rather maybe an elbow or a knee or something.
Turns out the Parisians were right. It IS the armpit. Fully and completely. I would equate it to a Modesto or a Bakersfield...but WORSE (no offense to anyone from those towns). Seriously...there is construction everywhere, people are still depressed from the war (WWII) and there is close to no history since it was all destroyed from the war. Sad but true. So sad actually.

From the beginning I've been "disappointed in humanity." I know that sounds dramatic but it's true. I've been sad about the people here. I feel like superficiality is taking over me and I'm drowning in a pool of it. The people at La Fleur de Sel were pretty challenging and unwilling to accept that women can be key players in the kitchen...and from what we experienced, their attitude towards externs in general didn't get better with time. But enough about that.

I'M EXCITED.

You want to know why? Remember my post a few days ago about Rennes? Well, I'm moving there!!!! Yep...to the beautiful town of Rennes. I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am. God is so amazing...He has orchestrated the entire thing. I am so grateful.

Gina and I are starting work a week from today in a Michelin Star restaurant called Le Fontaine aux Perles. We're beginning our entire 18 week externship over but you know what, it's WORTH it, SOOOO worth it.

Brest Farmers Market

This little girl is the perfect picture of a French woman in the making; wearing a beret, leaning against the cheese case at the Farmer's Market and staring off into the street of vendors with an inquisitive look. I had to be sneaky about this picture so she didn't think I was a creeper. Isn't she adorable?

Other delights that caught my eye at the Market...





The butter from Brittany (left) is absolutely phenomenal. Gina and I eat it like cheese...big slabs on slices of delicious Bannette bread. This particular butter came from the cheese store at the Market and was the best, saltiest, creamiest butter in the whole world.

Welcome to Brest!

About a week before graduation I was able to speak to the Chef we would be working under in Brest, Chef Yann Plassard. He informed me when we arrived in Brest we would work at another one of his establishments (he owns 3 restaurants in Brest and according to everyone, "he owns the town") since he and the restaurant we are going to be working at, Le Fleur de Sel, would be on holiday. He assured us when we arrived in Brest from Paris someone would come from this other restaurant, L'O a' la Bouche, and pick us up in a black Audi.


After the 4.5 hour train ride from Paris, Gina and I arrived, called L'O a' la Bouche and spoke with the Chef de Cuisine there, Erwhan. He said he'd be right over. We watched car after car drive by the train station making jokes at the ugly ones saying it was probably our ride and perking up at any Audi that came by. About 20 minutes went by and this vehicle pulled up and we both just knew it was for us. Out popped the Chef who was unable to open the side door of this classy van and instead threw our luggage into the back through the front door while cars honked at him as if he couldn't hear. Gina and I hopped in, uneasy and excited, and sat like sardines to the restaurant. A few minutes into the ride I noticed a huge trash can of dirt and a shovel in the back of the van...I'll let you imagine where my thoughts went from there.

The whole day was super overwhelming meeting the kitchen staff, seeing the restaurant, seeing our temporary apartment, learning the town and attending an incredibly strange party that was reminiscent of a junior high dance with the addition of booz, crazy French talk and chain smokers. We were delighted to see the ocean which was something we both looked forward to while in Paris.