Le Jardin des Plumes

A half-timbered Norman house a short walk from Monet's garden, which sets the bar for scenery rather unfairly. Inside, the chef turns out creative French tasting menus, Michelin-starred, with the kind of flavor combinations that sound odd on paper and make sense on the plate. Normandy ingredients anchor the cooking, Mont-Saint-Michel mussels among them. A pretty art-dotted garden adds to the general feeling that you accidentally wandered into someone's very good life.

One honor, in evidence: