B&B HOTEL Ouistreham

The name of this restaurant may refer to the close bond between the chef and the sommelière (who are partners in life), or the association of food and wine – the couple’s respective passions, or to the two set menus served in two separate dining spaces. The first is a “tasting bar”, which rolls out dishes to share that tap into influences from far and wide (ceviche of croaker, ceviche juice and guacamole); the second is dedicated to fine dining with two tasting menus (and a third more concise score at lunchtime). The chef, who finds his inspiration in Normandy’s first-class fare and culinary h

This old building in the centre of the village has been treated to a tasteful contemporary makeover to showcase the talents of Clémence Goupil and Alex Néel. Both are fountains of knowledge about their profession and its history and their establishment’s name refers to the inventor of the modern restaurant concept, Mathurin Roze de Chantoiseau. Your hosts sing an ode to fresh seasonal produce with touching sincerity teamed with bold flourishes: a seafood-tinged tartare of veal, ponzu seasoning and smoked John Dory; poultry breast poached in tarragon butter, green pea cream and black garlic.

Purebred Normandy chef Ivan Vautier has been honing his talents for over thirty years in this property, done up in tasteful contemporary vein outside the town centre. Fiercely proud of his region, the chef aims to showcase the very best of Normandy’s ingredients in soul-warming recipes: green asparagus from Bellengreville; wild morels from a local picker; double cream from Isigny Sainte Mère; Normandy raised pork etc, without forgetting the local catch. Those with a sweet tooth will be entranced by the vision of a millefeuille “as high as a skyscraper”!

On a side street of an iconic picturesque village of the Côte Fleurie, the establishment of the Tougard couple, open since the early 2000s, is fronted by a discreet facade. In a snug stylish interior, the chef crafts a score that cleverly slaloms between tradition and modernity. If we were to cite a single example, it would be his talented new take on calf’s head. Flavours and aromas that hit the spot every time. Not to be missed!

Treat yourself to a gourmet country getaway a stone's throw from Caen, in Stéphane Carbone's ruddy terracotta-coloured establishment. The chef, something of a local celebrity, rustles up traditional dishes with a modern twist. A case in point: lightly seared scallops, veg, a spicy cracker and a beetroot and ginger emulsion. Each table commands a fine view of the canal.

Just a stone's throw from the marina, in the bustling hub of Caen life, chef Stéphane Carbone explores France's terroirs, from Normandy and the Lyonnais to Bresse (where he grew up and learned to cook) to his parents' and grandparents' native Calabria. Using the freshest ingredients, he serves modern cuisine with a dash of creativity, proceeding according to the mood on any given day. Signature dishes are available à la carte, including the heart sweetbread cooked in a sauté pan or the Caribbean chocolate shell with a hot chocolate velouté… To be enjoyed in the contemporary dining area, from w

Anthony Caillot's waterfront restaurant on the Presqu’île of Caen, overlooking the Bassin Saint-Pierre marina, is depicted by a stylish, trendy decor. The chef signs a several-course set menu starring Normandy produce courtesy of inventive, bold recipes: raviole of duck foie gras in a strawberry-spiked stock; red mullet with a crispy skin, cauliflower mousseline and yuzu-laced sabayon; barbecued lamb, carrots in orange blossom water and a spicy seasoning.