We live near San Francisco and are huge Kouign-amann fans (Patisserie B's in S.F. is the holy grail here in Northern California)....

I just learned that they originated in Brittany, where we will be going this summer. (Also Normandy and Paris).... we can't make it to Douarnenez, which Wikipedia says is ground zero.. are there any favorite bakeries in the areas where you've had an amazing Kouign-aman?? (we will go from Paris to Rouen, then down from mid-Normandy coast, ending in Angers...)

Try Georges Larnicol.

http://www.chocolaterielarnicol.fr/c...2-nos-magasins

kerouac... WOW, that was fast!! i clicked and clicked... but don't see an address for this place?? even when i click on "nos boutiques"... ??? thanks!!

kerouac... ok found it by pasting name into tripadvisor. thanks!

EVERY patisserie and EVERY grocery store in EVERY town west of Mont St. Michel sells Kouign-Amann. Even the Kouign-Amanns in the supermarchés and hypermarchés are pretty good, since the recipe is simple (butter, butter and butter) and the gateau preserves well. It is best when warmed up before eaten.

For factory-made Kouign-Amann, look for the "Produit en Bretagne" sign with the lighthouse on the wrapper. These "factories" are just regional bakeries which are a bit larger than neighbourhood bakeries, so they ship to grocery stores.

A big second vote for Georges Larnicol - several addresses in Paris. The nice thing about his kouign-amann is that it's available in miniature size, so you can pick and choose from several different versions. Also look for the croquantes, which are very good. He does make some astounding molded chocolate centerpieces, but I find that they look much better than they taste.

There are 4 addresses in Paris on my link.