LynFrance

Anyone have any favorite restaurants in the Deauville/Trouville area other than Les
Vapeurs.

Thank you.

LynFrance

kerouac

No, Les Vapeurs is really the only place worthy of mention, along with all of the other restaurants of the area.

Frankly, you should not overthink eating in those two towns -- just go with your budget.

Geonev

Another vote for Les Vapeurs, which is always fun (I've been there perhaps a half dozen times), fresh and delicious, with a nice esprit.

StuDudley

Less than 20 mins away by car

Auberge de l’Abayee in Beaumont en Auge, Normandy

Ellen & Stu: 35 Euro menu + 16E supplement for Stu for a second plat from the menu

Amuse Bouche:
Shots of gazpacho
Melon balls wrapped in proscuito
Puff Pastry Rectangle
Black Nicoise Olives
Ellen:
Salmon Marine garnished with small dice of marinated vegetables (carrots, zucchini) drizzled with olive oil
Daurade with ‘skin on’, marinated and cooked in “exotic spices” on a bed of ratatouille
Choice of plateau of Normandy cheeses or fromage blanc with fruit (did not do this course – too full)
Crepes with apples
Small plate of bite-size desserts

Stu:
Cold asparagus soup with small pearls of vegetables
Fried sweetbreads in a celery cream sauce
Whole quail quartered, on a bed of sautéed mushrooms with game sauce and 2 straw-cut potato pancakes
Same cheese course as Ellen’s
Pomme tiede tarte with vanilla ice cream

We headed out on a warm afternoon to choose a Monday night restaurant – one of the few nights on this trip where we had not reserved well in advance based on Internet reading. Imagine as we drove into the small centre ville the pleasant surprise of a compact town center almost completely comprised of half-timbered buildings – in multi-colors, almost glowing in the afternoon sun – and all dominated by a very large building (the abbey) adjacent to the church in the square. We parked easily (always a ‘plus’ from my point of view in any town); Stu got out to do his (usual) menu review and I leaped out to do my (usual) photo taking. This town was paydirt for photos – every building boasting timber patterns in a variety of bold and soft colors. Stu declared the menus to be winners for us both (which I confirmed) and, after a short walk-about (and more pictures!), we called and reserved for the following night. The restaurant interior too easily passed muster: cozy, on a corner with light and views and altogether a refined and inviting décor. Monday evening arrived and the day had been very warm (90+) but the restaurant was welcoming – with open windows facing to the street, framed by window boxes of geraniums. The room was so inviting – timbering everywhere inside, deep red walls, a dominating old chimney (clearly not in use tonight) and the décor was calming after a very hot day. It surely would have been equally inviting on a winter day. Table settings were just as we’d come to expect: simple elegance, crisp white cloths, beautiful glassware – a studied elegant simplicity without gimmicks or overdone touches. Just the kind of place where you feel relaxed and well attended to without hovering service. A true jewel, just of the sort you imagine in your mind as the typical small, perfect, little village spot. The backdrop of the church, abbey and half timbered buildings rounded out the ambiance perfectly.

Stu Dudley

StuDudley

Both above & below dinners were in 2011 - from my wife's "notes"

Le Dauphin in La Breuil en Auge, Normandy

Ellen: 38 Euro Menu
Stu: 47 Euro Menu

Amuse Bouche:
Croque Monsieur
Cherry Tomato stuffed with Fromage Blanc
Emmental in pastry (tart)

Entrée (Ellen and Stu)
Langoustine Raviolis with lobster sauce (very thin pasta)

Fish
Ellen and Stu:
Daurade roti in cider reduction with caramelized endives (Ellen: larger portion with 3 endives; Stu: 2 endives and smaller daurade portion because he also had a meat course)

Meat/Viande
Stu: Coins of rabbit loin stuffed with pig’s feet in game sauce. Thin potato gallette round topping a bed of potatoes ecrasees.

Cheese: Norman Cheese Chariot

Dessert:
Ellen: Warm apple tart with cinnamon ice cream
Stu: Warm chocolate tart with vanilla ice cream

After-Dessert: Tuille, small lemon tarts

The Restaurant:
A smallish restaurant in a smallish town. Nonetheless an attractive town replete with an assortment of half-timbered buildings which always add to the ‘charm factor’. We sat at a smallish table tucked into a corner – a spot I particularly like because it’s cozy and usually somewhat private-feeling. The décor was elegantly understated, with attentive, but not hovering, service. When Stu ordered rabbit stuffed with pigs feet, the waiter asked if Stu knew what he was ordering – in fact, he asked twice, each in a slightly different way to make absolutely sure that he understood what the possibly-offending ingredient was! Likewise, he asked me if I were OK with the cinnamon ingredient in the ice cream dessert. That question caught me by surprise, but I was pleased to even understand what I thought was an odd question. Another interesting observation centered around “portion management”. Although we both had a fish course (daurade) with caramelized endives, my fish serving was larger than Stu’s and was accompanied by 3 endives versus 2 for Stu – a wise portion adjustment since Stu’s larger menu also included a meat and cheese course.

Stu Dudley

kerouac

And that, better than anything, underlines the importance of saying what your meal budget is when you want recommendations.

Geonev

Forgot to mention that, in Trouville, I have read/heard about good things about Les Voiles, which is just adjacent to Les Vapeurs. However, have not eaten at Les Voiles.

LynFrance

Many thanks everyone for the information.
We haven't been to Normandy since 2010 and I hoped there might be
someplace new and exciting!!

Kerouac, we don't really have a "meal budget". When we're in France it's not one of the things we worry about, especially now with the dollar so much stronger than it has been for the past several years.