A visitor to our region cannot help but notice the multitude of small farms, each with an apple orchard or two, as they drive along the country lanes.
You can often call in and buy home made cider from the owners, sometimes you might also find Normandy's famous apple based brandy, Calvados, or the apple based apéritif, Pommeau, for sale.
Last Sunday we visited the small town of Trévières for the Fete de la Pomme where we wandered around the exhibition of apples staged by "la corporation Saint Fiacre de Bayeux" (gardening club of Bayeux).
We stood for a while and watched the ancient apple press being put through it's paces, over 1 ton of apples were crushed during the day.
Trévières is twinned with Stokeinteignhead,
We bought two small apple crumbles and a bowl of Teurgoule, which is very similar to an English rice pudding, for our dessert that evening.
Joining The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday # 73
with this glimpse of life in rural Normandy.
This would have been a fascinating place to wander through. We lived in the Okanagan in BC for nine years and had many variety of apples to choose from. There are so many new varieties these days but we always like our old favorites. It seems strange to live in a province where all the apples are brought in from other places in Canada and the US.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness- what a lovely time of year for that visit- I love apple festivals--- the food looks absolutely tempting!! The apple crusher is an amazing thing! You certainly had a wonderful day-!
ReplyDeleteVicki
that must have been such a lovely visit, I love all your photo's and I loved the ancient applepress.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice weekend.
Thanks so much for bringing us another facet of Freanch life.
ReplyDeleteI love all the fetes of France they are so much fun.
I think that I what I miss most about living in Europe is the access to wonderful food festivals. I'd have been sorely tempted by those apple treats! Do you make any of the rich chicken and calvados dishes?
ReplyDeleteI found your site through a comment you made on another with the nursery rhyme Little Bo Peep. I loved the reminder.
ReplyDeleteHi Maggie,I am back from my travels and am now busily trying to catch up with all my favourite bloggers, who have all been so busy in my absence. You certainly had some interesting posts for me to browse through this evening, I enjoyed them all. A belated Happy Wedding Anniversary to you both.
ReplyDeleteHi Maggie,
ReplyDeleteThis table of apples looks so colorful and Fallish. I love to drive by apple orchards in the fall. It looks like you had a great outing that day, and those assorted pastries and desserts in the last picture look wonderful!
This might be a dumb question, but you mentioned the Bayeaux Garden Club. Would that be in the same region as the famous Bayeaux Tapestries?
Happy Seasonal Sunday!
Denise
Hi Maggie, I've never seen an ancient apple press. Its interesting to see and think about the fabulous Calvados being made. On our drive through the country
ReplyDeletelanes of Normandy we enjoyed several stops at apple orchards to taste and buy Calvados. Thanks for the memories.
~Emily
The French Hutch
Look at all those kinds of apples. So wonderful. They are the best fruit, so versatile.
ReplyDeleteI've never tried Calvados - it sounds very tempting.
What an interesting day devoted to apples. I am sure that you got a lot of good ideas as to how to serve apples. Frankly, I them right off of the tree. Wonderful photos.
ReplyDeleteThe apple baked goods look heavenly! Looks like a wonderful afternoon!
ReplyDeleteHere from seasonal Sunday.
Have a great week,M
Sarah has been very quiet. I hope all is well.
Maggie, this looks like such fun. I wish I were back there! xo Jenny
ReplyDeleteIt was snowing when we arrived in Baltimore so we enjoyed hot apple cider while sitting by a cozy fire. Nice welcome for a Texan. ;-)
ReplyDeleteLooks like this was a great time.