Gourmet products local specialties and wines Calvados

"It's a beautiful novel, it's a beautiful story". La Biscuiterie was born in Caen in 1850, and almost disappeared. And now, since 2017, it's been labeled a "Living Heritage Company". Les Jeannette are nationally renowned, a fine renaissance and recognition! Madeleines are traditionally made in Colombelles, using fresh, preservative-free ingredients. From the original taste of Isigny PDO butter to the more exotic organic version, the madeleine has undoubtedly made a place for itself in the Normandy sun!

Since September 2022, Annelyse and Maxime, greengrocers for 10 years, have taken over the reins of this pretty grocery store. If we liked the old-fashioned side of the old decoration, we are not against a little modernism and then the stalls are always so appetizing! Favoring short circuits, seasonal fruits and vegetables are yours! A new feature is the delicatessen section with tapenades, soups... all homemade. But also personalized baskets, dried fruits in bulk. The icing on the cake, you can even order online!

Here's an address with a taste of home! A wine merchant for over thirty-five years, Yves Dondel and his wife Anne will guide you according to your palate, the dishes you're planning, your desires and, of course, your wallet. A knowledgeable and passionate wine connoisseur, Yves will advise you on your choice of vintage. There's also a fine selection of spirits, champagnes and... calvados (yes!)! And as pleasure never comes alone, gourmet delicatessen products await you! What's more, it's open on Sunday mornings!

You're bound to be familiar with Maison Jort cheeses, among the oldest traditional cheesemakers in the Pays d'Auge. Winner of the 2015 Gold Medal at the Concours Général Agricole, the Jort brand has been setting the standard since 1888. Passion, know-how and tradition are the ingredients of its "Camembert de Normandie" PDO. Every day, milk is collected from local producers who share the same commitment to making this raw-milk, ladle-molded Camembert. Tasting recommended at the Saint-Pierre-en-Auge boutique!

Well hidden, like all good addresses, the Julien Marée fish market is run with a master's hand by a true enthusiast ready to share his know-how. The ideal place for lovers of good fishing and seafood platters. The artisanal put forward, to you the shellfish and the fish of our coasts: freshness and quality above all and for all the budgets! Tasting at any time of the day, because you can't order whelks!

Les Mets Chai, before it was a drinking restaurant, it was a dining cellar! Jean-Charles has separated the two concepts to keep us happy! Here, you'll discover excellent vintages, natural wines, meaning organic, good and clean! Look at the walls full of bottles with labels and appellations that stand out (Va te faire boire or Gamay du matin). Evening presentations and tastings are organized (book in advance!) in the presence of the winemakers. There's something for every palate, and your favorite vineyards will no longer hold any secrets for you!

Isabelle and Sylvain Mugnaini, owners of the emblematic Trattoria, have created a fine delicatessen. In the kitchen, you'll find Roberta, a true Italian who has been with the restaurant since it opened. Rodolphe is in charge of sales. And that's when the show begins: pasta galore, Italian wines, antipasti, cold cuts, cheeses - and no, still no pizzas! Want to know their secret? Cooking classes and tastings are organized. Lovers of REAL Italian cuisine? This grocery store is for you!

It's possible to make your own gin during a workshop, because in Normandy, we also distill. Head for Colombelles, where English-born David and sommelier Julie have set up shop to make this spirit. From classic to fruit-infused gin, cold brew (coffee liqueur) and their vodka, tasty and original choices made in Normandy. In 2019, 2020 and 2023, this artisan distillery won the World Gin Awards for France's best gin! Drop by the showroom for a tasting and a stroll through their botanical garden.

Fancy a taste of authentic charcuterie? Then meet Bryan and Mélina. In Normandy, they have chosen to perpetuate the traditional know-how of salting using ancestral recipes. To achieve this, the salting couple drew on their various experiences in Savoie, Ardèche and Corsica. As a result, they now offer delicious products straight from their drying and maturing cellars. We loved their plain and garlic sausages, as well as the Bourvil! We're still salivating!

The nearly 3-hectare park is fully secure and home to a wide variety of animals including alpacas, donkeys, dwarf goats, Vietnamese pigs, rabbits, chickens, guinea pigs, geese, ducks and sheep. Visitors can wander freely around the farm and observe the animals in their enclosures, while learning from the educational posters. Guided tours are also offered, during which participants can feed the animals and enjoy cuddles and snuggles.

Our friendly wine merchant has a passion for wine - wines - and also for beers, calvados, ciders, pommeau... Jean-Philippe loves good things. A pleasure that he shares with his customers for a tasting. He will know how to scare whisky lovers with his references from all over the world and seduce the unconditional fans of home brewed beer. His little touch: he doesn't pack the bottles in a box, but in a "bourriche"! That's a nice touch! Moral, if you come across a crate...

In Caen, there is no lack of markets, follow the guide! On Tuesdays, go to rue de Bayeux and Grâce de Dieu, place du Commerce. On Wednesday, boulevard Leroy (we have a soft spot for this old-fashioned taste), rue de la Défense-Passive, or avenue Charlemagne. Thursday, La Guérinière and Chemin Vert. Friday, towards Place Saint-Sauveur, Rue Pémagnie, and Fossés-Saint-Julien. Saturday, Dr-Henri-Buot and Champlain squares. Sunday, place Courtonne and especially quai Vendeuvre, it is the huge market of Caen. It's your choice!

Foie gras, camembert, teurgoule, tomato-basil, cucumber... La Ferme de la Haizerie revolutionises the flavours of ice cream and sorbets! Don't worry, there is also sweetness: chestnut, gingerbread, violet, speculoos, rum-raisin, chocolate... Alain, pastry chef, also creates sorbets for diabetics, gluten-free sorbets and tailor-made ice creams. Guaranteed without colouring or preservatives, made from fresh fruit and good milk from the farm, his ice creams are on the menu of the best tables in the region. The farm is also open to visitors!

Quentin Rambaud, a young 24 year old pastry chef, has opened this tempting store. Here, it's a return to simplicity, no more fuss and too many ingredients. No more than three flavors in his cakes and it's perfect. We like the Paris-Caen, which made the success of the address, a gourmet alliance between the macaroon and the famous Paris-Brest. The Pavlova and the Madagascar vanilla flan are sweets to be tested urgently! We also like the fast execution of orders and the idea that in the nice days the ice creams will be part of the party!

In a pretty cobbled lane, one of the oldest in Lisieux, a ^15th-century building houses Chocolaterie Mérimée, which celebrates its 14th anniversary in 2024. The exterior is just as magnificent as the interior. Gourmets will find what they're looking for. After a spell at Lenôtre, Emmanuel made his dream come true and opened his own chocolate factory, much to our delight. Here, everything melts! You can also enjoy an old-fashioned hot chocolate in the tearoom. An address we can't recommend highly enough.

Since the summer of 2021, the couple Aurélie and Mickaël are the happy owners of this small corner of paradise 100% Norman. Everything in this charming store smells of the land. It exhales milk and cream. It smells of camembert, pont-l'évêque, livarot and neufchâtel. It smells of Caen-style tripe, and andouille de Vire from Asselot, mixed with the scent of apples straight from the stills. When one pushes the door of the grocery store of Cambremer, no doubt: we are well and truly in Normandy. And we leave with our arms full!

Here's the perfect address for cocoa lovers! After leaving her native Auvergne, Hélène set up shop not far from the station (not even afraid of the building work and the neighborhood!) to open this chocolate shop-tea room. Here, everything is homemade, from the logo to the decor and, of course, the chocolate! Gourmet squares, bars, candies and even spreads. If the portions are smaller than average, it's so you can enjoy them in one bite! Courageous and passionate, Hélène also sells her raw materials. The idea of the returnable box and bag is also brilliant.

In eastern Caen, in the "leavening sun", Pain Vivant is making its mark on the bread-making landscape. Here, Diego passionately blends boldness and tradition. Boldness, in his determination to work almost exclusively with short-distance suppliers, and in his choice of long fermentation. Tradition, for his wood-fired oven and his own mill, but also for the use of home-made natural sourdough. Our breads, brioches and viennoiseries have a taste for authenticity. Don't miss the vanilla flan or the New York rolls!

In the heart of Bessin, three kilometres from Omaha-Beach, Ferme du Lavoir is a gourmet stop on the tour of the d-day beaches. Miryam and Guillaume Capelle took over this cider-producing exploitation of thirteen acres orchards, four years ago, in 2010, turning to a resolutely organic agriculture. All products come from apples of orchards leads in respect of the fauna and flora surrounding, combining traditional methods and modern techniques with the same concern of relaxing all the flavours of apple. The range is made consists of a semi-dry cider (assembly of eight sweet, bittersweet and acid varieties), typical of the region of Bessin, marked by freshness and the fruity touch unusual and raw cider (assembly of sweet, bittersweet and bitter varieties), marked by a more pronounced bitterness. Thanks to a cellar, natural plugs foam are particularly well controlled. A know-how noticeable every year with the competition the Saint-Jean of the Ciders organised by the Maison Cidricole de Normandie where Ferme du Lavoir was awarded a silver medals in 2011, 2012 and 2013, especially for its semi-dry cider with the delicate mousse and very fine effervescence.

Don't be surprised if you come across people with chocolate moustaches or whipped cream on the tip of their noses! They are definitely coming from the Rue de la Mer! Even if it has changed name and owners (now Jérémy and Kelly), this gourmet meeting place, founded in 1910, remains very popular. The recipe for melting pancakes and crispy waffles remains the same as at Simard's. The trend is also towards bubble tea and homemade milkshakes. The season promises to be beautiful and tasty. Smart tip: collectable tickets for a free pancake or waffle.

Along the way, don't miss La Sapinière. A visit to the estate, from the orchards to the cellars, is a fascinating immersion in the heart of a family history lovingly perpetuated for six generations. Regularly awarded laurels at regional competitions, the estate's production includes four nectars: cider, the flagship product, pommeau, calvados and apple juice. There's a cider for every palate, available in four cuvées: demi-sec, brut, "Verger du littoral" and, at the top of the bill, the special "Rivage du Bessin" cuvée, star of La Sapinière.

In front of the village church you can supply yourself with brasillés. Do not hesitate to freeze to get back to your loved ones, if you are not at the corner: it's always good! Of course, the bakery also sells all kinds of breads and pastries, and the reception that is found there adds to its status as an essential one. Furthermore, it is possible to provide it in teurgoule, on pre-order.

The Helix of this breed breed for one purpose: land on your plate! In short-bouillon, à or forest, large-grey and small-grey are sold directly on the farm, itself present on the local markets.

At the same time as the weekly market and under the halles. Farmers and artisans offer regional produce or vegetables.

What's even better than brunch? Brunch in your pajamas without leaving your house! Just peace and quiet and a good time. Sounds good, doesn't it? Well, that's the concept behind Petit Brunch. Fresh, seasonal, home-made products, all presented in a pretty box delivered at home or at a collection point (a rock-paper-scissors to designate who will pick it up?). Ingrid and Sophia have also thought about children, with a box just for them. And of course, they also thought about the aperitif with the Saturday night box!

Eric Ribot settled on the family farm of Garnetot, in the middle of the Auge region, in 1989. He produces there, in particular, an ice cream made with whole milk from the pasture and an artisanal milk jam, eminently greedy, declined in eleven natural flavours. Often rewarded and labelled Saveurs de Normandie, quality is always at the rendezvous, for products (jams, spreads, sorbets with fresh fruit 60% ...) to be found in all good grocery stores, bakeries and shops in the region, in direct sale or from its e-boutique.

At the head of this boutique are two real sisters, Sarah and Julia! On the one hand, you'll find fresh produce and delicatessen products, while on the other, you'll be able to prepare beautiful platters for your aperitif or brunch. We went for the raclette: in a pretty returnable tray, cheeses (including one with truffles!) and charcuterie whet your appetite. And for those of you with a craving that doesn't last long, there are tray dispensers available 24/7!

Vincent, master of the premises and a member of the Federation of Independent Wine Cellars, welcomes you to the vaulted basement of the Lieutenancy. An excellent wine merchant, he offers a range of wines that he has found, tasted and selected through his discoveries in the vineyards. Because this cellar is filled with bottles that are as many encounters. You will also find a collection of great malts, rums, as well as a fine selection of calvados, ranging from classics from the region's great estates to small local farm products.

Here, you'd be forgiven for thinking you were at Fauchon or Hédiard, whose products are also distributed here. With its sober tones, subdued lighting, impeccably arranged shelves and olive tree in the middle of the space, this store is so imposing that you hardly dare enter or touch it once you've passed through the door. So you look around, your eyes shining, your senses alert, and you soon realize that when it comes to delicatessen, we're right up there with the best, and that there's nothing missing to turn a good meal into an exceptional feast.

Stepping through the door of this family-run bakery for the first time is almost a guarantee of a return visit, and not just for the warm, friendly welcome. Indeed, the breads, pastries and viennoiseries are well worth a trip away from the town center. In the bakery, artisanal production is not an empty word. No frozen foods here! If we had to choose just a few of their little marvels, we'd have to mention their lemon meringue pie, their melt-in-the-mouth cookies or their large caponière.

Opened on the initiative of the APAEI (Association des Parents et Amis de Personnes Handicapées Mentales) in Caen, the store is run by disabled workers and sells products made in ESATs and CATs. Fine chocolates, cookies, coffees, jams, honey, caramels, fruit juices, beers, wines and even organic soaps and cosmetics share the space. You'll also find a range of baskets to choose from. This is a place where beautiful things happen, where you learn a lesson in life: enjoy yourself while opening your mind to others.

What a reputation and what quality! We're crazy about this great Normandy house, founded by a family of chocolate makers from Granville in 1946. 70 years later, they had the bright idea of opening another store in Caen! Three generations of craftsmanship and a genuine passion for chocolate from father to son. Cédric has taken up the torch and is bringing a fresh approach with original, innovative recipes. Ganaches, pralines and specialties such as Rocs de Granville and Normandises are yours for the taking. Let yourself be tempted!

Véronique and Christophe opened their bookstore-café concept in 2019, in the heart of Dover-la-Délivrande. They have thus fulfilled their dream by creating this place of life and encounters, and by offering 4,500 references of new books. Local authors, children's books, novels, foreign press... you are bound to find what you are looking for. For the decoration, the couple bought local books at Emmaüs and at flea markets in Saint-Contest and Luc-sur-Mer. Some items are also on sale. As for coffee, you will also find local sweets and roasted coffee in Caen.

Shopping is a pain! Online shopping is better, but you can go even further and opt for a zero waste service. Go to La Fourmilière, a drive where products are packaged in returnable, reusable or biodegradable containers! Do your shopping online (more than 1,400 products) and pick it up. The containers you bring back are washed and then put back into the circuit and credited to your account in the form of a credit note for the next order! The super-good plan: products to save with short dates and low prices!

For a foretaste or to prolong the pleasures of their table, Franck Gilbert and Caroline Perrier have opened this shop, a stone's throw from their restaurant Les Halles. Aperitif dinner, buffet, reception, there is a choice for all gourmet meetings. Petits fours, ready-made meals, desserts: everything is homemade and home-made. Every day, a suggestion (white butter skate, duck parmentier...) is offered to vary the pleasures, at an affordable price. We treat ourselves in advance.

At La Moissonnière, we reserve for you the fervaques, the latest of the cheeses that will be a sign of growing success. Its recipe with raw whole milk has been refined by Carole and Olivier. The couple, installed since 2011, also keeps the Pont-l'évêque AOC-AOP (produced since 1946) and the Pavé d'Auge from their predecessors. The visit is an opportunity to discover some manufacturing secrets. A life-size lesson where you can see the milk being transformed into cheese from the cow's udder to the cheese mat where, washed with water and roucou, the fervaques take on their orange colour.

Emblematic, sometimes tainted with a traditional image, cider today reveals all its characteristics and aromas thanks to a new generation of producers. Like Antoine Marois, a native of the Pays d'Auge, whose winemaking approach to cider reveals the richness of the terroir and gives birth to exceptional ciders. Like the vine, there are great cider terroirs. Passionate and innovative, this cider maker opens the doors of his estate, nestled at the top of a hill overlooking Cambremer, by appointment. Cider deserves to be celebrated!

The estate of La Ferme de Billy was shaped by Jacques de Billy in 1651. Five generations have since succeeded one another. At its head, the Vauvrecy family: Henri, the patriarch, and his sons, Guillaume and Olivier. The visit is captivating, in the heart of the orchards and cellars, without forgetting a small detour to the Ortial chapel, a jewel of the 13th century. The most eagerly awaited moment is the tasting. In the shop, the temptations are great between cider, ice cider, pommeau, apple juice, calvados, Spirit of Billy cocktail. The talent of the Vauvrecy is recognized in high places.

This winery plays the natural game, and we like it! With over 300 references, the cellar gives pride of place to organic, biodynamic, and natural wines. It's a real choice, as is the one to highlight French spirits! François also offers wine-tasting evenings and afterworks so you can enjoy his selection of wines on the spot. You can even take advantage of his surprising terrace nestled at the foot of the Abbaye aux Hommes to enjoy a fine vintage and seasonal tapas. You can even privatize it for family events or an evening out with friends.

Are you a whisky connoisseur? This is the address for you! At Julien Lemaître's, no fewer than 600 references of spirits, including 400 whiskies, are on display, with the possibility of tasting in a lounge as cosy as an Irish pub. In addition to the precious nectars from France and Navarre, Scotland, Ireland and Japan, this enthusiast has also succeeded in differentiating himself from classic wine merchants with his tasting formulas, a moment of sharing and discovery. Give him a call beforehand to be sure of a toast!

Getting together with friends over a good beer, yes, but bringing to life the good beer you'd like to drink, that's even better! That's the story of Brasserie Baya. Two friends get together and brew one, then two, then five beers. Blonde, Tripple, IPA, Ambrée and Blanche. To this range was added Luc and "La Ruse", an organic beer. 2 ranges, here, brewed with Proximity, Conviviality, and Quality. Want to find out more? Franck, Thierry and Luc welcome you by appointment to discover the secrets of Baya brewing.

The address moves the gourmets. David, a specialist in "chocolate-pastry-macaroons", makes us melt with pleasure. "Here it's for the chocolate freaks! And here, everything, but absolutely everything, is homemade, with specialties such as apple with calvados coated with candy sugar, chocolate from the Pays d'Auge (Tatin-style apple ganache), ice creams, verrines, fruit jellies (wrongly left out, our grandmothers' sweets come back with reassuring naturalness), spreads... We can't resist. So to your tablets! Chocolate bars, of course.

Cécile, a great mom of 2, had this equally great idea: to open a grocery store on the outskirts of Caen. Sensitive to the heritage of Normandy and responsible consumption, she naturally decided to open a zero-waste store. Short distribution channels and reduced packaging: the DNA of Mes Bo'cal. Cécile even takes the concept a step further: here, products are presented in jars, not in bulk. Dry groceries (cereals, oilseeds, cookies, starches), drinks, fruit and vegetables, hygiene products. We've got what you need, in an eco-responsible format.

La Cave des Tontons is a winning double: a lunchtime restaurant and a wine and spirits boutique. You won't find that nameless apple and beet potion ("y' en a!") that a certain Polish lady used to drink for breakfast... but you will be spoilt for choice with a wide selection of wines, rums, whiskies, champagnes, cognacs, armagnacs, calvados, gins and beers from all over the world. And because there's nothing better than getting to know the product, La Cave des Tontons also organizes wine tasting sessions.

The Domaine de la Flaguerie is certainly the one where you will be told the most beautiful stories. Stories of apples, of course, because they are cultivated here with love over decades We will talk to you, also, about organic farming: since 1998 - already 20 years! -that is the one that we are putting forward. The visit of Ducy Vergers, created in 1835, is exciting and playful at a time, illustrated with a video-video regularly updated. Will you guess the number of kilos of apples needed to make a liter of cider? Or what material are the cider tanks made of? All of these questions will be answered with the greatest of passions. At the end of the visit, rich of new knowledge and great respect for the profession, we press in the shop for a tasting, first and then shopping. Cider, apple juice, of course, but also calvados aged in oak barrels, pommeau, marmalade, frozen and vinegar and the famous "44" based on calvados, orange liqueur and coffee beans, fragrant of five cloves. It's hard to take everything. You will need to come back or order online!

Vincent and Pamela have brilliantly breathed new life into the store. The experience of this man (more than 10 years) offers recipes that will make our taste buds go wild. Traditional charcuteries elaborated in the French artisanal know-how, taste urgently its speciality, the pâté with andouille and pommeau or its smoked and caramelized white ham. It's also an excellent savory caterer... and sweet! Bonus: you can bring your own boxes to reduce packaging!