From Caen Normandy Gourmet Culinary Tour private

Pick up at your accommodation in Caen

This morning, we will come and pick you up at your accommodation in Caen or the surrounding area. Meet your English speaking driver/guide who will go over the program and itinerary of the day with you. Then, board your comfortable, air conditioned, Mercedes minivan and begin to make your way to the Normandy countryside on this private small group gourmet full day tour.

Begin your Normandy Gourmet Tour

Cheese and cider are two of the most loved culinary specialties coming from Normandy. Camembert is one of those Normandy cheeses and is one of the most eaten in France. It is soft, moist, creamy and truly delicious in our opinion. It was created in the 18th century and is made from unpasteurized cow’s milk. Today, however, production has mostly industrialized and manufacturers have preferred to switch to pasteurized milk for food safety reasons, as well as to be compliant for export.

This tour takes you away from the crowded Normandy tourist sites and into the true traditions of the Normandy region. Our Normandy Gourmet tour will first take you to a cheese making facility. Located in the heart of Normandy, in the Pays d’Auge bocage countryside, the area has both an ideal climate and perfect agricultural conditions to make Protected Designation of Origin cheese from Normandy. 

Normandy cows have white coatings with brown marks. They live in the grassy pastures for one half of the year and indoors in the barn during winter. They only feed on grass and fodder enriched with some natural food supplements. Raw milk coming from Norman cows guarantees the best taste and pleasure, and is completely safe.

The milk is deemed “raw” when it is not subjected to heat treatment during processing. This is milk in its purest form, like in the farms of yesteryear. It exposes all the flavors of the land or as we say terroir. This is why the cheese may taste differently depending on the season.

Tour a Cheese making facility and taste local cheeses

This is a unique concept allowing visitors to discover cheese workshops through a corridor of glass-protected galleries, from where visitors may understand all the different stages of cheese production from the time the milk arrives until the cheese is packaged (films, information panel boards and games). 

After the visit, enjoy a cheese tasting session: individual platters (portions of Livarot, Pont l’Evêque, Normandy Camembert and Neufchâtel), bread and cider. There is also a small shop if ever you would like to bring back some local delicacies. Cheese is best eaten on site however!

Then reach one of the most beautiful villages of France

Rated as one of the most beautiful villages of France (plus beaux villages de France), this village can be considered as a picture perfect postcard of a traditional Normand Village. Stronghold of the d’Harcourt family, on the Cider and Calvados trails, its half timbered houses, old covered market and surrounding manor houses make it a treat to discover. Here you will have some time to stroll through the village on your own for personal discovery. 

Experience a Gourmet lunch at a Michelin Restaurant (not included in price - can be purchased as an extra during booking process)

As this is a gourmet tour, where better to have lunch than in one of the most famous restaurants of the area. Taste delicious food at the Pavé d'Auge restaurant. This One Star Michelin establishment, located in the center of the village of Beuvron en Auge, welcomes you in an authentic dining room that has retained all the charm and magic of the venue. After lunch and some free time for a stroll in the village it will be time to drive to our final destination.

End the day with a commented tasting of Apple Brandy

Finally, reach a local Calvados distillery located in the heart of the Pays d’Auge. This family owned estate produces some of the most famous Cider, Calvados and Pommeau of Normandy. Here, more than 25 varieties of apples are grown on the 30 hectares of orchards composed of either standard trees or cordons trees. After more than a century of production, the family has gained recognition worldwide for the subtle and delicate art of blends.

After a short introduction to the different products that are distilled here, you will participate in a commented tasting of the local spirits – tasting fees are not included. After the tasting, it will be time to return to your accommodation in or near Caen and that will be the end of this thrilling day trip.