7 Day Discover Normandy

Day 1

• Late afternoon/early evening arrival at La Blonderie. Time to relax a little and explore your surroundings.
• A first taste of Normandy follows for Sunday night supper in the form of a cheeseboard with salad, crusty bread, pastries, and wine or some locally produced organic cider. While you enjoy your food, you'll also meet with your fellow cooks - a perfect introduction to the course.

Day 2 - Monday

• 8am Continental breakfast of croissants, bread, cakes, homemade jams and jellies, artisanal apple juice, cereals, fruit, and yoghurt.
• 8:45am Off to Bricquebec, a beautiful medieval town, for the weekly market where you'll absorb the ambience, pick up some fresh produce for your lunch and sample whatever you're offered before your first cookery session.
• 10:45am Cookery class #1
• 1:30pm After-class tasting lunch at La Blonderie
• 3:30pm Visit to Le Père Mahieu Ciderie where the best of Normandy's organic apples are transformed into the most delicious drinks in the forms of cider, pommeau, calvados and apple juice. After a guided tour of the distillery, you will sample the various ciders, calvados, pommeau, and apple juice.
• Afterwards, you may fancy a walk to the orchards via the Norman hedgerows.
• Evening free. Restaurant recommendations and reservations are made for you where necessary.

Day 3

• 9am Continental breakfast
• Discover the best of Normandy with its rugged coastlines, historical sites, museums, gardens, beaches, villages, and much more. Sinéad will share her extensive knowledge of the area ensuring that your trip to Normandy is a truly memorable one. Explore at your ease, armed with maps, ideas, and restaurant reservations.

Day 4

• 9am Continental breakfast
• 10am Food preparation. Serious food preparation is required for the final cookery (and history) class - a serious and unique treat for lovers of food, terroir, history and tradition. Vegetables will be prepared, pork loin may be prepared into Orloff, starters discussed and decided upon and whatever else is necessary for the wonderful foodie adventure which follows.
• 12:15pm to 2pm Lunch in local restaurant (formule du midi)
• 2pm Back to La Blonderie where together a full meal is prepared and cooked in an authentic post-revolution (1789) boulangerie oven (bread oven) located on the grounds of La Blonderie.
• While waiting for the bread to rise and the food to cook, Sinéad will give a talk on the history of the boulangerie and provide lots of anecdotes for a fun-filled, educational afternoon over a glass of his homemade apple juice or cider.

Day 5

• Same as day three, you may decide to chill out or explore the area. Whatever the case Sinéad will certainly help you make the most of your stay in Lower Normandy.

Day 6

• 8am Continental breakfast
• 9am Trip to the local farmers market in Les Pieux where you'll stock up on fresh produce for your morning cookery class
• 10:30 Cookery class #3
• After-class lunch
• Afternoon - No cookery course would be complete without a trip to La Maison du Biscuit - fine grocery store - and 'a Disneyland for foodies' as described by one guest. Some last-minute gifts and souvenirs may be purchased well as spices and ingredients used during the week.

Day 7

• Continental breakfast and goodbyes.

Market visit in medieval town of Bricquebec

Trip to the local farmers' market in Les Pieux

Authentic post-revolution boulangerie experience

Visit to Le Pere Mahieu Ciderie, an organic cider farm

Shopping trip to La Maison du Biscuit

Explore the magic of Normandy, with its rolling green countryside, sandy beaches, historical monuments and museums and renowned gastronomy. A visit to Normandy is an experience that one never forgets. Luminous greens dominate the countrys breathtaking landscapes, while magnificent sites and monuments abound. Mild winters and warm summers define the climate here, which generally experiences a lack of temperature extremes.

There truly is something for everyone, ranging from historic monuments and museums, vibrant towns, beautiful chteaux, spectacular gardens and lots of activities. Make Benoistville your base and stay in Wilde Kitchen's apartment, perfect for groups of 4, the studio apartment on the grounds of the 18th century farmhouse, or in one of the stylish guest rooms (B&B) and explore this hidden treasure of France's beautiful north west.

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Normandy cuisine sample menu

La Blonderie (day 1)

• Pommeau Apritif
• Roasted Goat's Cheese with Vegetable Escabche
• Normandy Seafood Stew
• Apricot Tart
• Tea/coffee

Boulangerie Day

• Kir Normand
• Homemade Black Pudding Terrine and Onion Jam served with freshly-baked bread
• Pork Orloff Normandy-style
• Teurgoule (Normandy Rice Pudding)

Combine cooking with history. Only 44 kilometers from Sainte Mre Eglise, immortalized in the movie "The Longest Day", 90 kilometers from Omaha Beach and the US Cemetery, and 13 kilometers from Pegasus Bridge, Wilde Kitchen is perfectly located for exploring Normandy with its World War II museums, beaches, monuments and much more.

Le Mont Saint Michel, the second most visited tourist spot in France, (the Eiffel Tower is the first) is a mere 146 kilometers from your bed and breakfast inn, along the spectacular coastal road, known locally as "la touristique." While Bayeux, famous for its almost 1000-year old, world-famous tapestry, depicting the defeat of England by William at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, is 99 kilometers away - all potential day-trips. You also visit La Maison du Biscuit, epicerie fine where some gifts and souvenirs may be purchased.

• 3 hands-on cookery classes with afterclass tasting meals, beverages included
• 6 nights accommodation on bed & breakfast basis
• Arrival supper of Normandy cheese platter with salad, dessert and drinks
• All excursions - market visits, organic cider farm, fine grocery store
• Recipes

• Transport
• Personal expenses

• A reservation requires a deposit of 20% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid 21 days before arrival.