This blog post was written by our guest writer, Julie Falconer, who runs the award-winning travel and lifestyle blog, A Lady in London.
It’s a busy morning at the fish market in Le Havre. As I walk from stall to stall, my eyes take in scallop shells and my ears fill with the sounds of traders doing a brisk business. This market is a classic, and it’s not the only one.
The port city of Le Havre is better known for architecture than food, but the city has a wealth of culinary offerings that fly under the radar. Take the covered market in Place des Halles Centrales, for example. It’s another of the city’s famous foodie spots, and it’s easy to walk by without knowing what’s inside. But once within its walls, I find a space packed with mouth-watering produce in every colour, all of it looking fresh and ready to go into Normandy’s delicious cuisine.
And said cuisine can be found everywhere in Le Havre. The breakfast buffet at the Hôtel Vent d’Ouest has sinfully buttery croissants, fresh strawberry jam and juicy melon. As soon as I tuck in, I know I’m in for a journey of culinary treats during my time here.
My thoughts are confirmed over the course of several meals throughout the city. Lunch at Les Enfants Sages not only shows me how good sea bass with sauce vierge and mashed potatoes can be, but also how pleasant lunch in a leafy garden can make me feel.
Dinner at Le Grignot is classic French. This restaurant has wooden chairs, white tablecloths, and ceramic jugs lining the walls. Le Grignot specialises in fish and seafood dishes, and I tuck into a steaming bowl of moules-frites. I can’t help following it up with a giant helping of ice cream with fluffy Chantilly cream on top. By the end, I feel full and regret nothing.
There’s more to sample and savour in Le Havre, from regional cheeses to Normandy’s famous cider. But now that my stomach is satisfied, I’m going to do as the Impressionists did and head to the waterfront to admire the sky. Hopefully by the time I’m done I’ll be ready to try more of Le Havre’s culinary delights.
For more information on food and drink in Normandy, visit the Normandy Tourism website. You can also read Julie’s blog post on her trip to Le Havre here.
Text and photos (unless otherwise stated) © A Lady in London
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