Visiting Normandy, France with AmaWaterways
The weather of Normandy is similar to the Pacific Northwest of the United States and the countryside reminds me of the farmlands of Pennsylvania. Unlike the South of France, known for its wine and Mediterranean foods, Normandy is too cold and lacks enough sunny days to produce quality grapes, but that doesn’t mean it lacks outstanding food and drink.

The clouds and sky in Normandy were breathtaking at times

Farmland in Normandy

Fields of rapeseed
Normandy is known for its simple, but rich food, that marries local ingredients with the bounty of the sea. Its lush pastures are nurtured by the frequent rains and overcast skies. These pastures are home to some of the most beautiful and productive farm animals in the world. The local cows, Normand cows, produce up to seven gallons of milk per day with butterfat reaching 6% by volume. It’s no surprise that when a recipe or dish contains the word “Normande,” it usually means with cream.

One of our many stops at local boulangeries

Farmers’ Market in Vernon
With so much rich dairy, it’s only natural that Normandy has become known for desserts, cheese (Camembert, Pont l’Eveque, and Boursin), and the most delicious creamery butter.

A tasting of Normandy cheeses and specialties on board the AmaLegro

Daily cheese selections on board the ship
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Gwen Pratesi
Gwen Pratesi is a James Beard Foundation Award Finalist in Journalism and award-winning travel writer. She is the author and owner of PratesiLiving.com with her husband, coauthor of Southern Heat, and co-owner of On the Road Culinary Adventures, a culinary travel business. She is a contributor to the Travel section of U.S. News & World Report and freelances for other publications including The Points Guy, USA TODAY, Cruise Critic, Travel + Leisure, Garden & Gun, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Reader's Digest, Forbes Travel Guide, Smarter Travel, TripAdvisor, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Magazine and World Travel Magazine. Her work has also been featured on MSN, Yahoo!, Business Insider, and SheKnows.
Gwen chronicles her love of international travel and experience as a professional home cook on PratesiLiving.com, where she shares the stories of some of the world's most sought-after destinations and cruise lines, highly regarded chefs, restaurateurs, farmers, wine and spirits producers and culinary artisans.
She and her husband traded in big city life in Atlanta for shorts and flip-flops on Fernandina Beach, Florida. They are enjoying the coastal lifestyle with their Tibetan Terrier, Rhythm.