NORMANDY: things you have to try!

Normandy is absolutely stunning and along with Brittany it’s our favourite region in France. At least for now! We love the cities with distinct architecture, charming harbours, beaches in northern France which I love almost like the ones in northern Spain. So far we have shown you green and flowery Giverny and the Zoo in Cerza. Be prepared for more Normandy coming. But before we’ll tell you about our favourite spots it’s time for FOOD! Seen it coming, right? 🙂

 

The food was yet another reason to go back to Normandy. Apart from typical French dishes, Normandy is known for mussels and seafood which are excellent there! Here’s our personal guide to the culinary musts of Normandy… or the meals worth coming there! 🙂

 

1) MUSSELS SERVED IN HUNDREDS OF WAYS

 

 

You can’t go to Normandy and not eat mussels at least once! As soon as you start walking around in Etretat or Honfleur you get the impression that mussels are EVERYWHERE! The best thing about it is the fact that they’re served so many different ways: in wine sauce, cream sauce, Provençal (with tomatoes – I love it!), but also with roquefort or camembert cheese or with Calvados – a typical version as for Normandy.

 

Usually they serve it in large pots along with a bowl of French fries. Like in Belgium. Sometimes they also add bread so you can eat up all the sauce left after you’re done with the mussels. Delicious! Absolutely! 🙂

 

2) SEAFOOD

 

 

If you like seafood, Normandy is the place where you’ll go mad! Lobsters, crabs, shrimps, langoustines. In restaurants and on fish markets. Snails, oysters and everything else you’ve ever dreamed about. During our first visit in 2011, Łukasz fell in love with the lobster served in a href=”http://www.entreterreetmer-honfleur.com/” target=”_blank”>Entre Ter Et Mer restaurant in Honfleur. This time we mostly ate fish and mussels in restaurants since we decided to try other types of seafood on the fish market in Trouville-Sur-Mer.

 

This must have been the most memorable place after our visit to Normandy when it comes to food. A row of stands, each and every one stuffed with fresh seafood and fish. Next to them several tables where you can eat your ordered platter of delicacies with aioli and a glass of white wine. Perfect.

 

We noticed that the French also take these large platters filled with seafood with them: nicely prepared, covered with cling film.. just put it on the table and invite your friends! Or eat on your own 🙂

 

 

3) OYSTERS

 

 

I know that it’s seafood too. I know. But oysters require special treatment. Northern France is known for them and if you haven’t tried them yet, that’s the best place to start. And if you like them, prepare to be amazed! As for us, opinions vary. Łukasz likes oysters very much, I guess I can say he loves them since he often orders 6 or 12 oysters for starters. I’m not so sure though and stick to mussels, fish and shrimps for now

 

4) BREAD AND SWEET BAKED GOODS

 

 

It’s not a secret that I love all sorts of croissants, baguettes and melt-in-your-mouth sweet buns. That’s why France with all of its tasty boulangeries is heaven for me! Everything looks gorgeous there. It looks like you HAVE to eat it! Croissant is surely the ultimate classic – delicate, soft inside and lightly crispy on the outside. Chocolate and almond filling maybe? Or maybe the quintessence of France – the brioche? Or kouign-amann – typical for Brittany but also popular in Normandy (literally: a butter cake). Or small kouignette wit pistacchios, chocolate and fruits? It’s really hard to decide!

 

And these breakfasts… you just need a crispy baguette and a croissant which you tear up with your fingers and the world looks better instantly. Even on a rainy day! If you’re going for a baguette, add some kind of French cheese, Calvados marmalade and you’re on a short track to heaven!

 

 

5) CHEESE

 

All sorts. Every time. I want one. Creamy texture with distinct bitterness or these delicate ones, perfect for a sandwich. For breakfast, for desert after lunch, dessert after dinner, on a stand during Saturday’s market. All are perfect. A real paradise for cheese lovers!

 

There’s also plenty of my favourite one – chevre, goat’s cheese. My favourite meal with it is a salad with toasts and warm goat’s cheese. Quite popular in the North of France.

 

Neufchatel is one of the most popular types of cheese in Normandy. In Rouen for instance. It’s soft, delicate, aged and made from cow’s milk. It comes in distinct shape you’ll quickly notice..

 

 

 

6) CREPES

 

 

We’re no big fans of crepes or pancakes and we usually look for more interesting flavours since we ate enough of (at least I did!) pancakes when we were little. Nowadays I usually order them for Maks, usually with chocolate or powdered sugar.

 

In Normandy you’ll find plenty of creperias which serve pancakes in many different ways: sweet, savoury, something for everyone. It’s also one of the cheapest meal on the menu – perfect for a quick lunch.

 

7) CREME BRULEE

 

If you want a dessert, be sure to go for the ‘burned cream’ – creme brulee! One of the best French desserts with the name that literally means ‘burned cream’. One would wish all burned meals tasted like this!

What’s more, I got the impression that even the most ordinary French eatery can serve a perfect creme brulee. With crispy caramel on top, perfect texture and served in a chilled bowl or ramekin. Delicious!

 

8) MACARONS

 

 

Macarons have been lately becoming increasingly popular in Warsaw. I see them in more and more confectioneries, ice-cream shops, cafes, shopping malls and restaurants where they serve as part of the dessert. Macarons come from France and in Normandy you’ll find plenty of them in different colours and flavours. Just try any confectionery.

 

9) CALVADOS, CIDER AND POMMEAU

 

 

French food goes perfect with French wine, but in Normandy you should also try apple-based alcohols which are a local specialty. We know cider, however calvados and pommeau are not so popular in Poland.

Lots of apples of different kinds are cultivated in Normandy. That’s why they produce both cider and calvados – a kind of apple brandy made after distilling cider. We didn’t know much about pommeau before. It’s an aperitif (18%) served before the meal. Quite tasty!

 

These are the meals, sweets and drinks which you have to try in Normandy according to us. 3 days may not be enough to get to know with local cuisine but it’s enough to get amazed by some of the flavours and return later on 😉

 

* We tasted Normandy thanks to Atout France – French Tourism Development Agency and Regional Tourism Committee of Normandy.