Savoring Norman Hospitality to the Last Drop

Drinking on the job, I’m finishing up a great day in Normandy. My co-author Steve Smith and I spent the day double-teaming the D-Day beaches and then reviewing our favorite restaurants in Bayeux. Our end-of-the-day treat? Dropping by the most enticing restaurant and enjoying the edible and drinkable hospitality that’s so abundant in Normandy. Here’s a big tip: If you’re going to splurge on a nice dinner in France and want the very best value — do it in a small town rather than in Paris. In this video, you’ll see that the food’s gone, the bottle’s empty, but our little party keeps on going.

Here’s how we write up this place in our guidebook: La Rapière is a lovely wood-beamed eatery — calm and romantic — ideal for a refined meal and a rare-these-days cheese platter for your finale. Reservations are wise (€29-52 menus, closed Sun, 53 Rue St. Jean, tel. 03 31 21 05 45, www.larapiere.net, charming Linda).

This is Day 37 of my 100 Days in Europe series. As I research my guidebooks and make new TV shows, I’m reporting on my experiences and lessons learned in Portugal, Spain, Italy, France, Bulgaria, Romania, and beyond. Find more at blog.ricksteves.com.