We agree also, having walked in France April-May 2008. For the relative privacy and solitude that you get on the Chemin St. Jacques, this is indeed a bargain for the cost.
We tended to get petite dejuener where we were staying, although often overpriced perhaps. Unlike in Spain, it was rare that there was a convenient open bar/cafe five kilometers down the road for a convenient breakfast. We also tried to buy fruit the night before, so as to have somthing for lunch. Since one of our objectives for the two months was to lose wight (which also helped hiking) this was a bonus.
As most gites d'etape also had refrigerators, we often bought yogurt at a convenient store for breakfast the next morning, if one decided to forgo petite dejeuner.
The evening meal at the gite was a real treat if offered. We still carry warm memories of the cameraderie offered. The host/hostess usually took real pride in preparing a family meal, which was almost invariably superb. The pilgrim's menu offred by the bars in Spain never quite offered the same opportunity to build cohesion among a diversity of pilgrims from different nationalities and backgrounds, but all propelled forward by a similar mometum.
As mentioned above, it you make reservations at a rural gite, there are usually few other options for meals. Miam Miam Dodo is perhaps the best guide for approximating the size of amy village or hamlet where the gite is situated. The larger towns obviously offer more options for meals or buying food. Nonetheless, as margaret and others have mentions, don't be surprised if anlmost everything in town is closed on dimanche or national holidays, such as VE Day and Pentacost.
Finally, we noticed that even gites where the host went out of his way to put on a memorable repast of local cuisine (e.g Fermne du Barry, he also had a kitchen and tables available for those who brought and prepared their own food. There was not sign of any disapproval of their not paying for meals at the gite. Randonners/pelereins came in a types/ages/states of conditioning. One delightful co-walker was a social worker who had been laid off and was making her pilgrimage on compensation that she was getting from the state. She appeared to stay in any places on the Chemin that requested a donation more than charged a fixed price per nights, and prepared her own meals.
We envy you your pilgimage
