About Us

Pauline Schockert Aparicio

Founder of Voyage Normandy

Bonjour, je m’appelle Pauline!

I’m a French foodie from Normandy, living in New York. My grandparents, two Normans devoted to French gastronomy, worked in the culinary scene in Los Angeles in the 1950’s before opening their own restaurant back home in Normandy. From them, I inherited my love for gastronomy and "Art de Vivre". I’m a cheese lover who also enjoys disco and Latin music, fragrances, meeting new people, and organizing trips.

If you’re planning your most beautiful trip to France with Voyage Normandy, you certainly want to know more about your personal trip planner… So here you go!

Our Story

100% made in Normandy

I was born in Giverny, so I basically grew up in the gardens of Claude Monet! I also lived in Le Perche, a beautiful regional park in the South of Normandy, and in Rouen, the capital of Normandy.

However, I have been living in New York since 2018. From the apples of Normandy to the big apple! This is where I started Voyage Normandy, in 2020. Yes, I know what you’re thinking… 2020, during the pandemic, when European borders were closed to Americans… But you’ll see, I’m very optimistic!

Telling the world about Normandy

After studying in Versailles, Toulouse, and Barcelona, I graduated with a Masters’s degree in Marketing specialized in luxury. After 5 years in the luxury industry in France, I moved to New York to learn digital marketing and web design in the tech industry.

In the different countries and cities I lived in, I have always been very proud to tell people I was from Normandy, and even more excited to invite my friends to visit my beautiful region. The more I traveled, the more I understood how much of Normandy was known to the world, and especially to the United States. Americans have a deep connection with Normandy not only from history, but also from art, fashion, and gastronomy. Did you know that the impressionist painters like Monet, all the way to modern designers like Christian Dior or Coco Chanel, all started their journeys in Normandy?!

Gastronomy, a family tradition

Growing up in a French family, with grandparents who were restaurant owners, I learned about not only food, but also the “Art de recevoir” (Art of Receiving). Inviting friends or family for dinner has always been one of my favorite things to do. It’s not only about cooking a good meal, it is about opening your home, making it warm and cozy, lighting candles, letting the smell from the kitchen hang around the house, offering a moment, an experience. This is exactly what Voyage Normandy is about.

I have discovered so many hidden treasures, restaurants, streets, experiences, people in Normandy over the years with their own stories, their own little piece of Normandy to offer. This is what I want to share with you through Voyage Normandy. Discovering a region to me starts by discovering its culinary traditions.

Our Mission

Our mission is to be ambassadors for this region on the other side of the Atlantic and strengthen the relationship that Americans have with Normandy. How? By showing you our favorite hidden gems, owned by locals.

History, Gastronomy, Nature, Hospitality, Art, Culture, Art de Vivre, everything is deeply rooted in our tradition. We have a very rich culture and a deep connection with Americans. We want to strengthen this Franco-American friendship through meaningful tourism. We want to share our passion in the United States to invite Americans to our home, so they discover our region, but also a piece of their story.

We want you to discover our beloved region through your passions. Be it gastronomy, sport, history, art, people, you name it. We are passionate about our region, in all its diverse facets. And we would love to share our passion for gastronomy with you.

Our Values

Respect

We care about anyone interested in visiting our region, discovering our traditions, or tasting our cuisine. We respect our region, its nature, landscape, and traditions. But we also respect cultural differences. We have at heart to take into account Americans’ expectations so they feel comfortable at their home away from home. We know French and American standards, so we make sure to let both parties know what to expect so the voyage is a beautiful experience for everybody. We have lots of respect for our local partners, their hard work, and savoir-faire, and we make sure our visitors consider this as well.

Trust

Our goal is for you to travel with 100% trust in us, in the process, the people you will meet, and the activities we suggest for you. We test and approve every single recommendation we give you, we trust the people we connect you with. We want to make sure you feel good and at ease during your trip. This is why we offer this free introductory interview. We want to get to know you, to design your customized itinerary, but we also want you to see if you like and trust us. We want you to discover who is behind the service before purchasing it.

Generosity

Voyage Normandy is all about sharing. Sharing our love for Normandy, educating ourselves, learning from local experts, sharing a meal, a moment, and building memories together. It is also about you, sharing your experience upon returning home, so you continue to spread the word about Normandy, to help us be the ambassadors this region deserves. Our mission is to represent and speak about Normandy in the world. Once you have shared this experience, you become part of the Voyage Normandy community, and we are looking forward to staying connected with you, through sharing recipes, stories, and memories with you.

Family

Family is very important to us. Our culture, our values, our love from Normandy come from our family. A family of Normans devoted to French Gastronomy. I learned how to cook with my grandparents, how to dress a table and host with my mom, and how to taste wine with my dad.

But Family doesn’t have to be related by blood. It is also a group of people sharing the same values, common interests, and attitudes. This is the community we want to build, this is how we want to welcome you to Normandy, like family.

voyage_normandy

Dive into a perfect French bistrot vibe combined w

Farm to table, Normandy version 🥬🥕🌽 #nor

It’s that season again! At Voyage Normandy we ar

Slow morning in Normandy by @steph_since_1979 🤍

A perfect Sunday lunch at the Bar du Soleil @lenor

This weekend I made a beautiful discovery: @maison