Suisse Normand: Calvados and home cooking.

Calvados is the best known of the world’s apple spirits and comes from Brittany and Normandy. During out recent visit to Suisse Normand, Mr and Mrs Wine Tipster met Calvados producer and owner Claude Courvallet (see pic). Claude is based just north of Pont d’Ouilly and producers an impressive Calvados Le Vergers de Planville 6 ans, 26 Euros, which has an immediately appealing style, whilst the Le Vergers de Planville 10 ans, 40 Euros, delivers more elegance, purity of fruit and a very long finish. Another interesting point, (well to me anyway) is that Claude’s son practices horse dentistry!
Twenty minutes drive from Claude’s place, in the village of Menil Hermei, we found an excellent B&B owned by a charming English couple Jenny and Lew Barber. They have immaculately and tastefully refurbished their property, in which the kitchen used to be home for a cider press. We had pre-booked dinner for both nights and I suggest you do the same for a relaxing visit. Jenny is a proper chef, and we enjoyed an array of delicious dishes. One piece of advice, try Jenny’s fruity, non gooey and balanced toffee apple crumble.
The total cost for two nights including dinner was 188 Euros. Details: Jenny and Lew Barber, L’Ancien Pressoir, Menil Hermei, Suisse Normande. Tel: 0033 233 12 54 27 or email: menilhermei@hotmail.com
Claude Courvallet, Les Vergers de Plainville, 14690 Pierrefitte En Cinglais, Suisse Normande. Tel: 0033 231 40 70 81 or email: vergersplainville@wanadoo.fr