Normandy: Love, Food and Drink

 

 

Neufchâtel is one of Normandy’s oldest cheeses and is often recognised by its distinctive heart shape. Tradition has it that during the many wars during the Middle Ages between France and England, young Norman girls would give English soldiers a special heart-shaped Neufchâtel cheese as a token of their affection. Why not continue this tradition this year on 14th February by giving your Valentine a special taste of Normandy?  Neufchâtel and many more Normandy Cheeses are available by mail order from The International Cheese Centre.

 

  

Normandy is also the home to delicious seafood and the local oysters are a must for your menu this Valentine’s Day. Along the Channel Coast round the Cotentin peninsula, Normandy’s oyster beds are world renowned. Why not treat yourself to this aphrodisiac delight for your special Valentine’s Day menu? Oysters from Normandy are wonderful served simply with a squeeze of lemon juice or shallots finely diced in a wine vinegar sauce.

 

And a special Valentine’s Day tipple? Do pop the cork on a bottle of local poiré, or perry made from the pears in Normandy’s orchards. This sparkling pear cider has a light and fruity taste and makes a refreshing, low alcoholic change. Serve chilled and with a sprinkling of fresh raspberries to decorate your flûte. Santé aux amoureux!

Romance in Normandy

 

The association between Normandy and romance crosses the centuries and art forms, from Victor Hugo, the father of French Romantic movement to Gustave Flaubert’s Madame Bovary with her tragic love story. Normandy also offers a unique backdrop for many cinema classics. The beach at Deauville in Claude Lelouch’s A Man and a Woman springs to mind. Every year, the nearby coastal town of Cabourg plays host to the Romantic Film Festival where cinema lovers can lose themselves in the romance of 70 international films over 5 days.