Hen and Stag weekends - Gourmet Gals & Guys

Pop over to Calais on a Friday night and indulge yourselves in a gourmet meal in one of the fantastic local restaurants.  For some great ideas, check out the Pas-de-Calais website.   Get up early on Saturday morning and head on down to one of the many local markets in the area.

Markets are held every Saturday morning in Douai, Boulogne, Calais, Le Touquet, Montreuil and Saint-Omer and in many other smaller towns in the region. Visit one of the charming villages nearby and refresh yourselves with a coffee and croissant, before visiting one of the many micro breweries in the region.

Try one of these, but do call in advance to book your visit:

Brasserie de Saint-Omer, 9 rue Edouard Devaux, 62500 Saint-Omer.

Tel: 00 33 3 21 98 76 00

Brasserie de Saint Amand, 2 avenue du Collège, 59230 Saint-Amand-les-Eaux.

Tel: 00 33 3 27 48 77 77

Ferme Brasserie Beck, Eeckelstraete, 59270 Bailleul. Tel: 00 33 3 28 49 03 90

Brasserie Thiriez, 22 rue de Wormhout, Esquelbecq.  Tel: 00 33 3 28 62 88 44.

Then after a long, lazy lunch, why not head back to Calais, Boulogne or other local towns and sample the best that the speciality regional food shops have to offer.... here's a selection:

	Calais
Maison du Fromage, Place d’Armes - huge choice of French cheeses Les Délices de la Mer, Boulevard La Fayette - buys in fish daily from local fishermen Huitrière Calaisienne, Boulevard La Fayette - specialising in Brittany oysters, plus crabs and lobsters. Gastronomie du Sud-Ouest, Boulevard la Fayette - specialising in foods from the south west of France. Le Terroir, Rue des Fontinettes -  wine merchant and seller of fine gastronomic products  Charcuterie Maffrand, Rue des Fontinettes - produces its own meats, patés and terrines. A la Ferme, Boulevard Gambetta - is owned by a local farmers’ co-operative who sell their own produce and other goods.

	Boulogne
Jeff de Bruges, Rue Faidherbe - speciality chocolate and sweet shop Maison Tellier, Rue Porte Neuve - delicatessen also selling gift baskets, including Champagne and foie gras Philippe Olivier, Rue Thiers - great assortment of cheeses from all over France Fromager, Grande Rue - cheese specialist Comtesse du Barry, Rue Thiers - delicatessen specialising in products from south west France Les chocolats de Beussent, Rue Thiers - speciality chocolate boutique