The story
Le Botaniste, set within the grounds of Château La Chenevière near Bayeux, is a Michelin-recommended address that puts vegetables at the heart of its Modern Cuisine. The restaurant’s “Influence Végétale” menu—a three-course offering at €65—showcases this philosophy: an egg cooked at low temperature with mint, broad beans, zucchini and black garlic, followed by sliced kohlrabi and new potatoes with dill, and a strawberry, mint and verbena vacherin to finish.
The seasonal menu changes with the harvest and can be taken as a three-course set or à la carte. Starters include smoked salmon with sorrel and radishes, or a smoked squab fillet with lovage, turnip and rhubarb. Main courses range from John Dory with tarragon, broad beans and cherries to Normandy veal with sage, artichoke and chard. A vegetarian option runs alongside, and a cheese trolley from local affineurs—Inès Haelewyn of Fromagerie Deux'main, Nicolas Mauger of Ferme du Bajocasse, and others—adds a €19 supplement.
For those who prefer the sea, a four-course shellfish tasting menu (€80 per person) begins with oysters with lovage and kohlrabi, then a crab cake with lemon balm and celeriac, followed by clams and whelks gyoza with verbena, peas and seaweed. A Trou Normand of Calvados with seaweed and lemon, apple sorbet, bridges the courses, and dessert is a yuzu and amaretto baba.
The restaurant’s name hints at its botanical leanings, and the menu reflects a respect for producers and permaculture—a page on the website is dedicated to suppliers and permaculture practices. The dining room is open for lunch and dinner, with outdoor seating in season, and the space is wheelchair accessible. Booking is required, and the setting at Château La Chenevière offers a calm, refined backdrop for a meal that balances elegance with a clear sense of place.
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