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Get inspired by a multi-cultural organic restaurant in Cherbourg, France

Posted on by maryse

When he created his business, Laurent Porée did not want to open only a restaurant, but rather a place of discussion where everyone can feel like they’re home. The name “Canteen of Babel” which evokes large tables where you can discuss and share a meal, refers to the story of the Tower of Babel, a mythical tower renowned for being a place where everyone was warmly welcomed, which was very important for Laurent. 

Since its creation in 2017, La Cantine de Babel has strived to be environmentally friendly, promoting the local economy, being anti-waste. That’s why the chef only uses local produce from the Manche as well as from the Calvados, the neighboring region.  

Every week, you can discover a new, almost completely vegetarian menu. The chef prepares all his dishes with local and seasonal produce to offer you a gourmet and original meal. For example, you’ll find dishes based on bulgur, sweet potato or rhubarb.

Embark on a sailboat trip in Dunkirk and enjoy an ocean-inspired French apéritif

Posted on by maryse

Just steps away from Mercure Dunkerque, right on the marina, meet Christophe Patou, a native from the region and a sailor with 25 years of experience. He’ll be your guide on this experience to share his passion for the North Sea, its vibrant colors, captivating contrasts, and hidden treasures.

Prepare for a voyage filled with the sailor’s anecdotes, historical insights about the harbor of Dunkirk, and a lot of information about the city and all its enigmatic secrets. You’ll board the Snitch, his boat, and set sail for a journey of pleasures.

After your nautical exploration, immerse yourselves into a sea-infused apéritif, savoring locally caught fishes, seasonal products, while upholding eco-friendly practices. Throughout your journey, you’ll be fully immersed in the captivating atmosphere of Dunkirk.

Pick your own seaweed and learn how to cook it in French Atlantic Ocean town of La Baule

Posted on by maryse

There’s no one more passionate about the presqu’île de Guérande than Jean-Marie Pedron.  This is precisely why he established the Ferme Marine at Le Croisic on the site of the old family saltworks, which has been nourished by the sea for over 500 years. At the Ferme Marine, Jean-Marie and his wife Valérie raise and harvest edible algae, which they supply to renowned chefs across France.

During this experience, you’ll join Jean-Marie for a tour of the marine farm, and you will have the chance to harvest seaweed yourself.

Then you’ll join Valérie for a cooking workshop that focuses on local, natural and 100% wild algae products. You’ll make her favourite recipe, seaweed caviar, which mixes different raw algae to make a spread that bursts with sea flavors.

Visit an edible flowers farm in French town near the Atlantic Ocean coast

Posted on by maryse

Les Jardins de Pauline 85, located in Coëx, Vendée, is a human-scale agricultural endeavor dedicated to the cultivation of organic edible flowers and fresh herbs. Since its creation, the garden has gained recognition that extends beyond the borders of Vendée. Pauline and Nathalie work together to provide edible flowers to chefs and individuals all around the country.

Pauline and Nathalie will introduce you to the flavors of aromatic plants and edible flowers. Immerse your senses in the heart of some 40 carefully cultivated varieties of edible flowers and take this opportunity to discover these delicious blooms more specifically.

Pauline 85’s garden offers a range of activities, including visits, conferences, workshops, and other events to help you discover the world of fresh edible flowers, their unique flavors, and their fragrances. You’ll be enchanted by this garden, labeled “Bienvenue à la Ferme”. This label recognizes the high quality of the products and the warm welcome of the guests while highlighting an agriculture respectful of the environment.

Visit a French family brewery in Lille and taste some beers

Posted on by maryse

The Motte-Cordonnier name has been renowned in the North of France for 10 generations. Indeed, this family has always been involved in the region’s brewing scene. That’s why Henry recently got his family together to give new life to the Motte Cordonnier brewery.

And their first beer, René, was recently launched. Its name pays tribute to their great-grandfather, who built the Armentières, an ancient brewery that was destroyed during the First World War.     

Come and visit this family-run business, where every member is working to give their name a new meaning in the world of brewing. You’ll have the chance to discover their best-seller René, a gold medal-winning beer at the France-Bière challenge. You may also be lucky enough to discover their future beers – Emile, Camille and Fernand. 

Meet with a French Pyrenean sheperd and try his products

Posted on by maryse

Come and meet Alexis Jammes and experience transhumance – moving sheep from one pasture to another to provide better conditions for the flock depending on the season – as if you were a shepherd. At 27, Alexis lives in the mountains, always surrounded by his flock of sheep.

He settled in the Aure and Louron valley which are, for him, a real point of reference. He keeps a breed of meat sheep that are famous for their exceptional quality and better traceability thanks to the numerous Pyrenean farms.

With hiking sticks in hand, come and discover this traditional craft, guided by Alexis, who knows the valley better than anyone! Engage in a conversation with Alexis to discover his passion during an active hike amidst the breathtaking landscape.   You will be captivated by his daily routine and have the opportunity to savor a delicious traditional meal prepared with sheep-based products.

Try traditional French mirabelle plum in the heart of Metz

Posted on by maryse

Mélanie Demange is considered as “mother” of the Mirabelle Plum in the region. Mélanie became involved in the agricultural world at a very young age and, at 21, she crossed paths with Mr. Maucourt, who opened the doors for her to take over his family business.

Today, even though some ancient techniques have been replaced by machines, Mélanie remains deeply committed to traditional orchards and methods.

You are invited to explore La Distillerie de Mélanie, the flagship store located in the city of Metz. Visiting  the shop is a fascinating experience where you can learn a lot about the traditional Mirabelle Plum. A second shop is in Marieulles Vezon, where you can discover the process to create Mirabelle products. After all, what would be a stay in Lorraine if you didn’t get to try Melanie’s Mirabelle liquor?

Make your own cheese in the heart of Paris 

Posted on by maryse

For 5 years, Laiterie La Chapelle has been crafting cheeses from cow milk, along with other dairy products like yogurts, desserts, right in the heart of the 18th arrondissement of Paris. It’s the first and only Parisian dairy that processes milk from the region, sourced from a farm located just 35km from the dairy. Furthermore, it’s the first urban dairy to mature its cheeses in the heart of Paris.

Come and explore the art of cheese-making by crafting your own tommette cheese, a little Tomme, a traditional cheese from French mountains. Guided by a cheesemaker from Laiterie La Chapelle, and after a few minutes of training, you’ll get hands-on experience in creating your tommette.

You’ll work in an authentic cheese-making environment right in the dairy’s production room, and your cheeses will then join the cellar. After a necessary 3-month period for your tommette to develop all its flavors, the time will come for you to savor your own cheese.

Visit a cereal farm near Paris and make your own pasta with fresh semolina

Posted on by maryse

After a year of looking for ways to improve his business, in 2017 Martial Machaudon decided to transform the family wheat farm into an artisan dry pasta factory, aiming to rediscover the natural flavors of cereals in his products.

Through his 17 hectares of sustainable agriculture, Martial wants to work with respect for the environment. Clay-limestone soils and his expertise enable him to grow durum wheat and give his dry pasta a unique, flavorful taste. 

In this experience, you will embark on a tour of his fields, during which Martial will explain the harvesting process and share his knowledge about transforming wheat into semolina. Then, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in the workshop to cook your own pasta. After the workshop, a lunch will be organized at the farm where you can enjoy the pasta you’ve prepared. You can’t get more “farm-to-table” than that.

Taste local products at a French oyster farm in Rochefort, near the Atlantic Ocean

Posted on by maryse

Since 1990, Philippe and Julie Menadier have been oyster-farming in the Seudre swamps near Marennes and the Ile d’Oléron. In 2020, the Menadier family inaugurated a magnificent tasting hut at the heart of their farm, enabling them to share their passion for oyster-farming, which punctuates their daily routine.

The quality of their Label Rouge products and their way to do this job with passion have strengthened the reputation of these independent producers over the years.

Come and discover this tasting hut and enjoy Philippe and Julie’s oysters. The hut offers also shrimps and mussels, so you have a wide array of options to try fresh produce direct from the sea. It’s an excellent opportunity to enter Philippe and Julie’s world, rich in experience, who are always happy to share their anecdotes and their passion for this craft.

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FEEL LOCAL EVERYWHERE

Inspired by Mercury, the Roman god of travelers, Mercure hotels offer so much more than a place to find comfort and sleep – they are a portal to discovery, a springboard to exploration. 

Since its founding in 1973, Mercure has made it its mission to enlighten guests to the treasures of the location they are in. The network prides itself on offering high-quality standards with a true take on locality.

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