> Classifieds > Trip Planning, France > Cooking Classes and Tours

Oldways

Trip Planning, France, Cooking Classes and Tours

Normandy: Camembert and Calvados

Location: Honfleur and Bayeaux, Normandy, France

Oldways and Susan Herrmann Loomis invite you to join them on the next Oldways Culinaria.

In springtime, Normandy openly flaunts its tastes, flavors, and cuisine to tease all our senses, promising glorious meals to come. Blossoming apple orchards foretell the promises of Tarte Normande and Calvados. In the richly verdant pastures, traditional Norman cows, marked by their distinctive black eyepatches, hint that crème fraîche and a lush trio of AOC cheeses (Livarot, Camembert, and Pont l’Evêque) are in the offing. Broad sandy beaches, rocky inlets, and a briny sea breeze herald that oysters, mussels, and scallops are never far away. In the shadow of Mont St. Michel, lambs munch on saltgrass on their way to becoming agneaux de prés salés, a favored spring delicacy at excellent Parisian restaurants.

Feast your eyes—and your tastebuds—when you join Oldways this spring (April 25 to May 2, 2010) for an unforgettable tour of the culinary and historic delights of lower Normandy. We’ll visit fish and vegetable markets, bakeries and local producers, and enjoy lively cooking demonstrations as we gain an appreciation for the customs, traditions, and personalities that combine to create extraordinary local specialties.

You’ll be guided by Oldways, the Boston-based non-profit known worldwide for its expertise in culinary traditions, and Susan Herrmann Loomis, award-winning international cookbook author, recognized food expert, and long-term proprietor of her own cooking school in the heart of Normandy. Nearly two decades in France have given Susan a deep knowledge and appreciation of the rich traditions of French cuisine overall, and Norman food in particular. She'll share this knowledge with us during our trip, explaining the different ways food is grown, harvested, prepared – and appreciated – in Normandy.

This is your chance to learn how oysters are farmed, why Calvados must be distilled twice, what makes bread “traditional,” and how the Norman cows were brought back from the brink of extinction. We’ll explore Normandy’s rich political history too, including a visit to the extraordinary Bayeux Tapestry, a beautiful 230-foot-long embroidered saga that details the rise of Norman King William the Conquerer. You’ll also have the opportunity to pay homage to and remember the sacrifices of the “greatest generation” at the moving, yet understated, D-Day invasion beaches and cemeteries.

All this, in a fairy-tale landscape of old stone churches and half-timbered houses!

Bon Voyage & Bon Appétit!

Oldways’ “Culinarias” are extraordinary culinary tours, planned with our firm belief that the heart of any culture can be illuminated by exploring its food, wine, and culinary traditions. Due to Oldways’ respected place in the culinary world, and our long-standing relationships with international chefs, restaurateurs, and food and wine producers, we’re able to create one-of-a-kind travel itineraries of unprecedented reach and depth that embrace traditional food and wine customs, educational programs, and elegant culinary activities.

Contact Information

Company: Oldways

Name: Cynthia Harriman

Street: 266 Beacon Street

City: Boston

State/Province: MA

Country: USA

Zip/Postal Code: 02116

Phone: 617-421-5500

Fax: 617-421-5511

Website: tinyurl.com/yl9gcjq

E-mail: Click here to send an e-mail inquiry

Listing #3922, on Slow Travel since 10/14/2009
Alert Administrator (for problems with this listing)