Gourmet products local specialties and wines Calvados

What an extraordinary storefront! Designed by the same artist as Maison du Biscuit, it plays on the convenience store's old-fashioned charm. And when you get a little closer, you'll notice owner Florian Lajoye's tribute to his parents, who were cream-makers by trade, and whose (delicious!) Manche butter he sells. From Sablés d'Asnelles to caramels d'Isigny, Florian makes a point of promoting more and more delicious local products on his shelves! And you can be sure he's doing the same at his 2nd store in Carpiquet! Hats off to Florian!

Year after year, Rémi Chapuis' patisserie-chocolaterie remains a favourite. With your senses on alert, you wander around the store with one fixed idea in mind: try everything! You'll have to choose between the éclairs or the margaux, the macarons or the praline rochers, the chocolates with fragrant ganaches or Guillaume's Conquest, THE house specialty. Hard work! But the smile and welcome of Sandrine, the owner, and the certainty of coming back make the ordeal surmountable.

Once you enter, spices and olives spread their delicious scents between tapenades, homemade taramas and oriental pastries. Moreover, you will not escape the small loukoum of the sultan, the date or the toast of houmous, generously offered by way of welcome by Slim and Sonia, diet abstain! It is as a guest that we discover the treasures nestled in the alcoves of this palace, impossible to resist the Berber hospitality. Do not leave without a bottle of natural geranium water to perfume your fruit and vegetable salads, a rarity!

Another rarity we can boast! Run by Jean-Marc, a qualified naturopath-herbalist, it's the ideal haunt for lovers of gentle methods and natural medicines. Cosmetics, dietetics, essential oils, cleaning products and other health supplements, as well as everything related to organic products and well-being. On the grocery side: seeds, herbal teas, cereals, pulses... and a few bulk products. And for further information, books are also on sale.

Along the pretty roads of Auge, you must stop here! Père Jules was born just after the First World War, when Jules Desfrièches was selling cider from the Auge region to Le Havre. After the farm cider, Jules started distilling to make Calvados. The reputation and excellence of the beverage are passed on by word of mouth, from generation to generation. Today, Guillaume is the fourth to carry the family flag. Calvados from 3 to 40 years old, cider, pommeau and perry: give in to the temptation of a tasting.

For almost 30 years, this independent wine merchant has been taking us on a journey to the heart of the vineyards, overlooking... the sea, the lighthouse and the port. Over 300 wines from the best grape varieties of our terroirs in this Ali-Baba (rne) cellar, 90% of them from small growers. Local wines (do you know Coteaux du Giennois?) or grands crus, spirits, ciders, beers from local brewers, rums from overseas and elsewhere, there's something for every palate and every budget. There's nothing flashy about it, but the presentation is neat and tidy, with regular new arrivals.

In the family of small, independent and friendly shops on Rue Froide, I'd like to mention Les Cousins! Come and visit Alice and Brice (real cousins, yes, yes!), who have opened this pretty grocery store. All smiles, it's a pleasure to chat with them and discover their superb selection of local and seasonal products. Fruits and vegetables, skinless sausages, cheeses, flours, beers and even herbal teas. Normandy is favoured, otherwise it's always from France, or at least organic and sustainable. A great place!

Always so much craze for these Baratineurs! Catering service at noon, aperitif on Friday and Saturday, brunch on Sunday... For the rest, you will find good home-made butter, milk, fresh cream, faisselles... from local productions and tempting cheeses! Without forgetting the delicatessen and the trendy products and especially, of the season. All washed down with cider or a local beer on the terrace. No churning here, but churning!

Do you dream of a dozen oysters, mussels, langoustines or a handful of shrimps? Go to Le Vivier. You will fill up with iodine, all year round, even on Sundays, morning and afternoon. Since 1958 and three generations, the Colleville family has been treating you to shellfish and seafood straight from their water. Take the time to walk around the basins in the basement of the house. Le Vivier also has a tasting room, "La Cabane du Vivier", installed on the same level facing the sea...

Since 2018, Tiphaine and Stéphane's chocolate shop has been located in the town of Ouistreham. With your nose glued to the window, you give in to temptation: dark chocolate, milk chocolate, garnished chocolate... The range, made with Valrhona - the professional brand - and grands crus (pure Brazil, pure Madagascar), includes a variety of creations (mendiants, roses des sables, lollipops, tablettes, orangettes) and confectionery (fruit jellies, caramels, marshmallows). In addition to the chocolates, gourmets will also fall for the fine pastries.

Nicolas and Rita opened their Épicerie du Coing in Pont d'Ouilly in 2019, in a former ballroom, followed by an annex in Clécy in 2023. Today, and since the start of this beautiful new adventure, they have been working with producers of organic fruit and vegetables, dairy products, cheeses, honey, cookies, nougat, craft beers, medicinal plants... With a sewing "quince" for your alterations and confections, this is a great address to take note of for your next shopping trip!

Ah, that P'tit Chou, what would we do without it and its specialty: the famous petit chou topped with an old-fashioned pastry cream, so light and tasty that it never weighs down the stomach, just like its price. At lunchtime, you can eat for a pittance! As for the famous brasillé, go early to be sure to enjoy it. As for the bread, the baker has mastered his trade, and we're sure to fall for the classic Normande, the "tradi" seeds or the corn bread. 100% homemade!

While the store on rue Saint-Jean is more centrally located, it doesn't have a bakery (yum... lemon or chocolate cake!), nor any delicious savory treats. But the sweets it does offer - chocolates and, more specifically, macaroons (veritable culinary masterpieces) - are just as fabulous as those on boulevard Yves-Guillou. In summer, we love the ultra-gourmet, refreshing pots glacés. As for the pastries, they're an ode to the sublime and to gourmandise, and we're particularly enamored of the lemon meringue tart. It's a no-brainer.

How can you do without them? How can you not succumb to the sweet scent of teas and sweets that tickle your nostrils? We're not going to lie to you, Chocolathé is our favorite address. Next to the counter, chocolate sweets, mendiants, nougats and other lollipops catch our eye. Tea merchants for over 20 years, the address also stocks a wide selection of dedicated crockery, organic coffees, ground or bean-to-cup, and homemade cakes that you can also enjoy on the spot for your little "four o'clock"!

The Bayeusains, as well as the tourists, are delighted with this pastry and confectionery shop (and tea room) founded in 1898. An institution! Run for the last twenty years by Isabelle and Pascal Doublet, Reine Mathilde has a unique cachet: high ceilings, mouldings, gilding, chandeliers and old-fashioned frescoes all combine here for the pleasure of the eyes. But the taste buds are not left out, because this Mathilde is also a cordon bleu! Macaroons, nougats, pastries and specialities. To take away or on the spot, a paradise where one succumbs to temptation.

Craving an Asian recipe? Run to Extrême Orient! Established in 1980, this grocery store has everything you need to whip up tasty Oriental dishes: round rice, spices, shrimp noodles, rice cakes, nori leaves, pickled ginger, ramen noodles... A fine selection of fresh aromatic herbs, unusual fruits and vegetables. Tired of cooking? A delicatessen section is just waiting to delight you. And prices are ultra-reasonable, so what are you waiting for?

If you're one of those who are looking for the best pastry and chocolate maker when you arrive in a city, then Roussel's is the place to be. Roussel, formerly Radiguet, as the store's sign still emphasizes. There, you will discover pistachio tarts, chocolate shortbread, unpublished galettes des Rois, and swooning marrons glacés. And all this has been served for over 20 years with a smile and the delicacy of yesteryear. To take away or to taste on the spot, Roussel also makes tea room. Don't miss the strawberry tart or the Robinson with chestnut cream, speciality on demand! So yes, if you're a gourmet, Roussel's is the place to go.

A modern, airy bakery: the store really makes you want to come in, and you are always well received, especially by the emblematic Odile. You especially want to taste everything. The bread, the pastries, the pastries, the salads, the pies, the sandwiches, the nibbles, the little dishes in jars (hum, the duck parmentier !)... Here, the hardest thing is to choose. The little extra, Marcel is open on Sundays. Thanks to its success, a second shop has opened on the Place Fontette, opposite the old court.

On Wednesday morning, rue Saint-Jean is the "small market". The city's great traditional market takes place on Saturday morning, St. Patrick's Square. There are the Cochon pig fans and local specialities: fruits and vegetables, eggs, cider, calvas, jams… But also lovers of beautiful plants and flowers to repiquer, lovers of lace, patchwork and fanfreluches of all kinds and children, coming caresser a dwarf rabbit, pressed or biquette…

Let's skip the introductions, it's been a veritable institution since 1964! What's new? You haven't heard of us yet? At Marcel's, you're in the holy of holies, in a kingdom where merguez is king! From generation to generation, the establishment has preserved its recipe for success and expanded its range for even greater delights: maturing cellar, veal and beef sausage specialties... Elegant and discreet, the boutique, ready to treat you early in the morning, is excellence itself. Can't make it? We'll deliver to your door. Clever, isn't it?

For nearly 20 years, this pick-your-own has allowed you to harvest a variety of fruits and vegetables in accordance with the seasons. And the respect does not stop there: seaweed cream, biodegradable tarpaulins, and useful insects offer a natural protection to the market garden products. The Philippe family lends you wheelbarrows and baskets, and off you go for a little tour of the fields. No waste, choice, freshness at a very fair price! Picking begins in late February and ends in mid-December.

A great address for meat lovers. Sabot is three generations of family know-how, a warm welcome and, in short, one of the best places to eat in Caen! And if you're a fan of tripe, you'll be delighted to know that their mouth-watering recipe has won a number of prestigious awards. Their love of the trade is also reflected in the quality of their meats and butchery specialties, prepared in the purest French tradition. Don't miss their award-winning homemade terrines and Sylvie's signature dishes!

In their workshop on Rue de la Résistance, Jean-Marc Ledot and Olivier Devant practice the trade of saurisseur. Here, the finest fish is filleted, salted, smoked with string, and sliced by hand. The flagship of the house is the Flacky salmon pavé: a Label Rouge Scottish salmon which, once trimmed and skinned, is cooked and smoked simultaneously. A pure delight. Le Saumonier's expertise can also be enjoyed in downtown Bayeux, thanks to the opening of a new boutique on Rue Saint-Patrice.

A wine merchant who seduces by his kindness, his love of wine and his... bottle! Head sommelier of the Drouant restaurant for 20 years, member of the Association des Sommeliers de Paris, Nicolas Loubère is a great oenologist. In his sober and elegant wine cellar - where a few autographed photos of his Parisian past are displayed - he advises with his great experience, while charging low prices. Nicolas favours independent winemakers. Great classics, great vintages, great finds, Drouant champagne (exclusive), spirits and tasting evenings!

L'Olivérade delights our taste buds. The shop is charming and tempting, with its stalls of homemade pasta, cold meats, preserves, bottles of wine (from the small "vino della casa" to the finest vintages) and olive oils from all the regions of the Botte. The grocery store also offers a fresh section with antipasti, pesto, homemade tapenades, cooked dishes, sweet treats... And as the house doubles as a restaurant, you can opt for the lunch formula in the heart of the shop or on the terrace in the summer.

Gourmets share the address to each other. Because Jacky Lefranc collects awards. Master craftsman, every year, the brotherhood of the fine Goustiers du Pré-Bocage, honours the Bayeusain butcher for his excellence. He then leaves with his arms full of national awards. Among others, we mention the pork liver pâté, traditional and creative country terrines and the honorary prize for its poultry galantine. A know-how that he has been sharing with his team for years. Come on, we're revealing a few secrets: the recipe for creative pâté, for example, made with apples, andouille and calvados. Not as simple as it may seem, because Jacky's skill and know-how is still the essential ingredient. Come on, now to the table! More time to waste to introduce your friends and guests to all these delicious delicatessen products that our dear ancestors, lovers of good food, knew how to enjoy on special occasions. And, nowadays, all opportunities are beautiful and good. And since Jacky is a caterer and can even deliver to you, you have no more excuses!

This tea room is seductive just by its name. Our senses are awakened as soon as we walk through the door. The pastries make your head spin and the madeleines, the shop's flagship product - especially in Cabourg - keep their promise. An emblematic house on the Norman coast, this Dupont "avec un thé" is well established in several cities on the coast, Cabourg, Deauville, Trouville and Dives-sur-Mer, with an undeniable success. In 1990, Jean-Pierre Etienvre, meilleur ouvrier de France, refined the brand and made it a must for all the sweet tooth. The creations are bold, fine and delicious. Certainly, a hot chocolate or a pastry at four o'clock at Dupont's, in the small room on the ground floor, or in the largest one on the first floor, is not cheap. So, each time, we say to ourselves: "It's good for once", while off-loading a few euros off our wallet. Despite the crowds, the staff is charming and bend over backwards to please. How can you resist? Besides, you only have one life with a big "L", right?

Restaurant, tea room, coffee shop, coffee roaster, delicatessen... For more than 30 years, Café Inn has been a unique address, ideal for a break in the city centre. Sweet or savoury, at any time of the day, from breakfast to afternoon tea. It's also a store where you can fill up on aromas with excellent teas, infusions and coffees. You will find your black gold in all its variations, roasted on site, in beans, ground and in capsules. A wide range of precious teas and other delicacies are also available in the middle of service items.

A real must in Trouville, and always ready to help out! A local grocery store that sells (almost) everything, and is open (almost) all hours of the day and night, which we must defend, as it plays a fundamental role in the liveliness of the neighbourhood. But also, and above all, because its owner, Ahmed, is an exceptional shopkeeper who has been on the job six or even seven days a week, with a smile, for over fifteen years. Everyone knows Ahmed on Rue des Bains! Come and meet him at his place, where you can catch up on old times and do a bit of shopping!

Between the fruits she chooses from all over the world and the milk, always from Normandy, Martine Lambert has been working for more than 40 years on her 50 fragrances with the same precision. Rum-raisin, lemon untreated with ginger, Mara des bois strawberry, Madagascar vanilla, chocolate sorbet... You never get tired of testing a new fragrance or seeing what new creation of the month she has just invented! Whether as a cone to go, an individual jar or an iced dessert for 8 people, Martine Lambert's chic boutique has such expertise that it is a hit in winter and summer alike.

When you enter this boutique, a benchmark established in 1978, you're greeted by the sweet smell of yesteryear... All the pastries and confectionery you can imagine. On the shelves, nothing but goodness and quality. A well-known and recognised pastry and chocolate shop, where the Easter and Christmas transitions are brilliantly staged. We also love the candy aisle, where you can rediscover candy canes. Don't leave without the famous Houlgatais (large or small), the house speciality, a perfect blend of meringue and old-fashioned praline. It's all we can say!

Created in 1910 in the heart of the Auge region, with the emblematic Livarot cheese as its flagship product, this cheese factory has remained a family business for a long time. Eugène, Bernard, Thierry, three generations of Graindorge and a name inseparable from the AOC. In 2016, the group was sold to Lactalis, which maintained the identity and value of the company. The Cheese Village invites you to an audio-guided tour (recommended in the morning) of the cheese factory and its workshops through a corridor of glass galleries with tasting.

An essential producer on the Cider Route! It is impossible to pass through Cambremer without visiting one of the most beautiful and ancient cider cellars in Normandy, founded in 1865 by François Huet. The techniques have evolved, the installations too, but the recipe remains the same, rich in know-how and ancestral transmission. If you want to know more about cider and calvados, this is the place to be! Then head for the shop, where precious beverages (AOC-AOP Pays d'Auge cider, AOC Pays d'Auge calvados...) are waiting for you.

A nice little shop, right next to the Initiative Union, where Corinne welcomes you all smiles. On the one hand, wines and the other, greedy products. A woman merchant, it's rare enough to deserve to be interested! His selection is well felt: all regions are represented, mainly with relatively affordable tariffs. Side cheese, than good! From the local (the main Norman actors are present) and at least local (goat, feta, mozzarella, roquefort, Cantal…). A nice collection of sausages from Spain and sausage, just next to the Cidricoles products (Clos d'Orval). To complete the table, the paint jelly, the (original) jams, the gingerbread bread, the farmers'eggs… are what to fill your basket and even make it profitable for your return. You can even order, Corinne sends you the package by copying (in this case, forget the eggs!).

Luxurious, the boutique flatters eyes like papillae. The keyword is here 'quality' and necessarily, it has a price… Products are sorted on the component: teas of Kusmi Tea or Dammann Frères, preserved of fish La Belle Iloise, olive oils of the Baux de Provence, Dolfin and Cluizel chocolates, caviar Kaspia, products based on algae. In short, the top of the basket of French gastronomy (and elsewhere), together for fine palaces (and well-filled wallet!). A word on the cellar, which we don't see right now but which is immense and worth its weight of bottles. It is a separate world, where all regions of France are represented. It is possible to find pearls, especially in Languedoc wines or to offer a Vosne-Romanée, in piosing in his piggyback… Added to this is a whiskies radius and a beautiful Norman selection where the vintage calvados occupy a privileged place.

At the Petit Futé, we like this bakery: artisanal production, organic bread with natural leaven, Olivier Gestin knows how to delight our taste buds with tasty recipes. From the traditional to the corn baguette and the country loaf, it's not easy to decide. Come in and you'll surely succumb! Even for a lunch, the choice will be difficult! And we are delighted to see it open on Saturday mornings, perfect for the little munchies when you get out of the pool!

French breakfast means: baguette, croissant and pain au chocolat. And that's where Yan and Pauline come in, since they took over the bakery 2 years ago, "the cherry on top of the breakfast cake": the chocolate praline bread! To try it is to adopt it. Viennese pastries, pastries, especially the Grand-Mère flan, the old-fashioned way with cream and wooden circle. The bread will also delight you: red label flour, natural yeast. Last but not least: the burger buns that will ensure a round of applause at home during the meal.

What strikes when returning: the hot bread and other pastries that license the taste buds! It's a direct appetite! At some hours you can easily reach the street to find a grignette (the choice is impressive!), a foccacia, apricot-pistachio pie or a rhubarb-strawberry decay. Here we are from father to son and we must say that the Woodcutter is a must. You buy it by weight! An address to savour, for all the gourmets!

Welcome to grignette heaven! This miniature bread speciality, savoury or sweet, is as its name suggests, for nibbling at any time of day. Try the brasillé recipe, you won't be able to do without it! A loyalty card is available for the bread: once full, you get a free Tradition! In both the bakery and the patisserie, everything is fresh and tasty; the Courchevel, for example, is to die for. You'll also find a wide selection of sandwiches, quiches and drinks for lunch on the go.

Located rue Saint-Jean, as indicated by its name (please note, don't mistake it, it's the last right by going to the bridge), this pastry bakery actually reserves some delights, as its name also indicates. Start with bread: if you like cereals, the norlander is to test absolutely (it looks like vollkornbrot, but less tassé). Chopsticks, cereals or simple versions are also excellent: It would be a wish! Another wonder: the macaroons (certainly in the head tiercé of the best in Caen!). On the side of the pastry side, even if you don't play the card of refinement with regard to aspects, it's tasty and the little side of the "home made has its charm". If quiches and other pizzas also suffer from an unlikely aspect, you can make an option on sandwiches. A good plan for a small break, including at lunchtime, because there are high tables. If you are bored, you can always watch passers-by and other car drivers Rue Saint-Jean…

Le Grand Bleu is the drop-off point for fish from the La Persévérance trawler operating in the English Channel. Short circuit guaranteed! On their stall: mackerel, sole, turbot, brill, sea bass, monkfish or scallops. These are local or red label products (yes, because we don't fish pink shrimp from Madagascar in the Channel yet!) that were taken out of the sea no more than 48 hours ago! You can also order (online or on site) a seafood platter, dishes prepared by a chef, or a discovery box featuring seasonal fish.