Top 11 culinary specialities in Rouen

Normandy is a land of culinary tradition that Rouen, its capital, proudly shares with its visitors. Local produce is brought in in large quantities to create these emblematic specialities. In your plate, you’ll find a superb overview of Normandy produce, including Rouen’s specialities.

Crème fraîche, AOC cheeses and other dairy products are the highlights of a Rouen meal. During your stay, you’ll also be able to sample the Norman apple in all its guises, followed by a superb assortment of sweet specialities.

That’s right, the people of Rouen are bon vivants and never shy away from a bite to eat! The 3 colours of chocolate melt most of them and are a great accompaniment to a hot drink during a convivial break. Biscuits are also legion in Rouen, and form an important part of the local culinary heritage. Tarte Normande, Caramels d’Isigny and Mirliton are just some of the Rouen specialities that you’ll find in the historic centre of Rouen among the artisans on hand to whet your taste buds.

With such a promise, your exploration of the city will be punctuated by gourmet visits. From aperitifs to desserts, artisanal factories and local shop windows abound in all four corners of Rouen.

What to eat in Rouen Our selection of 11 Rouen specialities

The Normandy region is also famous for its apple-based drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Try them all and pick your favourite. Would you prefer apple juice, sweet or brut cider, pommeau or calvados? Pears are also occasionally used in the preparation of elixirs. Rouen and the Seine Valley are the perfect place to (re)discover the wide range of beverages produced by Normandy’s orchards.

1. Camembert cheese

Cheeses are all the rage in Normandy! This is reflected in the region’s capital and Rouen’s endless appetite for all kinds of cheeses. Normandy is France’s leading cheese-producing region. The stars of the show are the soft cheeses, enriched with cream. And in first place on the podium: the ultra-creamy (even runny) Camembert, which is easy to spot from a distance. Normandy Camembert is eaten in large wedges, often at the end of a meal, on a piece of fresh bread. We’re salivating in anticipation.

2. Caen-style tripe

This is another of Normandy’s gastronomic icons, and one that Rouen locals love. Caen-style tripe is a regional institution that local restaurateurs never tire of concocting. The original recipe was developed in the Middle Ages to limit beef waste. A monk of the time prepared the stomach and feet of the beef (to thicken the sauce), which he then seasoned with a symphony of herbs. “La tripière” or “tripe à la mode de Caen” was born! Since its creation, this tripe has become a staple of Rouen’s culinary heritage.

3. The Gros Horloge clock face

Bite into this chocolate confection and get a taste of Normandy. The people of Normandy love chocolate treats. Anything goes, and this speciality, in the shape of the famous Gros Horloge, is a perfect example. The Gros Horloge dial takes the form of a thick square, covered in chocolate. The packaging and decoration in the image of the clock face contain a generous amount of chocolate (dark or milk), an apple confit and a calvados flavour. Although the result is hard to imagine, its gourmet flavour puts everyone in agreement.

4. Duckling à la rouennaise

This Rouen speciality is also known as “cannette rouennaise” or “canard au sang”. It can be found at all the best traditional restaurants in Rouen. It is prepared in 3 stages: the duckling is mustarded for roasting, then grilled, before being topped with a Rouennaise sauce. This sauce is made from red wine and a generous amount of shallots. Traditionally, duckling is served with celery flan and a whole caramelised apple. Despite its unappetising names, this local dish is a real delight.

5. Normandy escalope

Another hot dish famous beyond the region’s borders! The escalope normande is a dish that needs no introduction. You’ll find them in most of Rouen’s restaurants, each more succulent than the last. The sweet aroma of turkey escalope, browned in local butter and deglazed with a dash of white wine, will instantly ring the dinner bell! Some will be more receptive to the smell of mushrooms infused in the crème fraîche that accompanies the white meat. This simply delicious combination is usually served with a portion of white rice.

6. Apple sugar

Here’s a delicacy with the great taste of Normandy apples! Rouen apple sugar takes the form of an orange stick about ten centimetres long. Made by hand, the sugar paste is made from apple juice, applesauce and, of course, sugar. After baking, the sticks are rolled by hand and then wrapped in white and gold paper, in the image of the city’s various monuments. For those with a sweet tooth, Christophe Cressent, Meilleur Ouvrier de France pastry chef, will be delighted with his delicacies.

7. Magdala shortbread biscuits

Magdala biscuits, the fruit of monastic know-how, are made by the sisters of the Benedictine monastery in Rouen. From this “signature” shortbread, the cooks have developed a wide range of pure Normandy butter biscuits. In this way, the nuns have found a way to earn their daily bread by pleasing the people of Rouen. They usually give them to children or enjoy them with their coffee. You too can succumb to these delightful biscuits with their subtle hint of lemon.

8. Joan of Arc’s tears

Rouen is a city of sweets. Here’s a sweet tribute to Joan of Arc, who lived out her final days at the stake in Rouen. This local creation is based on a Sicilian or Provençal almond, “roasted through” and lightly nougat-coated. After this tantalising step, the almond is coated in chocolate and dipped in 65% cocoa. The result in the mouth is both crunchy and generous. The slight hint of bitterness at the end rounds off the tasting experience in style.

9. Milk jam

Normandy is a major dairy producer. So it’s no surprise that milk jam is one of the region’s culinary specialities. Normandy milk jam is as creamy as you could wish for. The origins of this simplistic preparation are still rather unclear… Was it an unfortunate oversight during the Napoleonic era, when a pan of milk was left on the stove, or was it a chance discovery to preserve milk without a refrigerator? Even today, the mystery remains. What is certain is that the Normans have always been in the habit of reducing a pan of milk and sugar by the fire to obtain a milk jam with a good caramel flavour.

10. Cider

It’s impossible to stay in Rouen without enjoying a large glass of Norman cider. In fact, the region is France’s leading cider producer. Whether sweet or brut, cider is the result of the fermentation of apple juice. It is therefore an alcoholic beverage, varying between 2 and 8% alcohol. A perfect accompaniment to a crêpe party, Normandy cider will also enhance any dessert. If you’re passing through Rouen, you’ll have no trouble finding artisanal cider cellars or cider houses where you can discover the secrets of making this essential beverage and the different ways in which it can be enjoyed.

11. Calvados

A continuation of cider, calvados is the second most typical alcoholic drink in Normandy. In Rouen, this brandy is a regular feature at the end of meals and in typical recipes. Calvados is the fruit of the distillation of cider (or perry), which can be found under three names, depending on where it is produced. A glass of calvados will intensify the enjoyment of a good Normandy apple tart or any other savoury local speciality.