Les Bacchanales - Vence / France

Le Vendredi le 23 Juillet 2010

Les Bacchanales
247 av. de Provence
06140 Vence.
Tel ; + 33 4 93 24 19 19

www.lesbacchanales.com

A beautiful setting in the Provence. An old colonial building transformed into a restaurant on the first floor with a big terrace and a lovely 'patio' on the front.

Entering the restaurant there's a 'boombox' with Ipod and pretty good music. You automatically are guided to take the stairs up. A lot of comtemporary art on the way up.

Staff, young, a lot and a lot part time to develop their Franch, their restaurant (waiting or cooking) skills. But above all knowledgeable, know what they do and speak all french and englisch and another language aside. We made a reservation in advance and we know why. We were 'early' about 20 and about 21 it was full.

The chef / owner himself explained the menu (in french, English as option), even noted down what you wanted and went to the next table. Very relaxed, short pants, leather necklace and most of all passionate about food ...

Cooking at high level with a most relaxing atmosphere. C'est geniale :-)



Amuse

Breadsticks - presentation and taste 10 out of 10

Crab, strawberry, capers, menthe
Basil sorbet, menthe, orange flower, croutons, gazpacho (with strawberry) la fleur de soucis (orange leave)


The Menu 


Vitello tonato noisette et capre

On 'facon Christophe' :-) a very good way to start



Saint Pierre et lisette de Mediterranee marinade de tomate et melon estranvinee

Perfect combination with well selected different tastes ...



Loup de mediterranee de Jean Louis fenouilette de Tony et amandes fraiches

formidable !



Boeuf du Piemont cuisine a le feuille de cassis gateau croustillant de pomme de terre

The 'boeuf' is from the region, tender, very well of taste and even the potatoes are perfectly done.



Fromage frais de chevre de Bruno des courmettes enfume et condiments de pasteque

local farmer brings in the cheese on daily base ! It's lightly smoked as they serve it while still smoking ... wonderfull ! And a taste so smooth.



Tous les fruits rouges du moment de Seraphon et Lydia a la verveine



the menu is so detailed in writing that it doesn't need anymore explanation.


65 euro

Minardises
foam of Sesame seeds, sesame seads en strawberry compote
Ganache with lollipop

only day three ... :-)

and we had a perfect hotel, let say a room with a view ... :-)

Bistrot 7 par Anne Sophie Pic - Valence / France

Bistrot “7 par Anne Sophie Pic"

Restaurant *** - Hotel *****
Place SEPT, 285 avenue Victor Hugo, 26000 Valence - Drome
Tel. +33 4 75 44 15 32 - Fax +33 4 75 40 96 03 -

We confirm the following reservation

- Party size 2
- date Thursday 22/7/2010
- Time 8:30 pm
- Note: pas de special demandes, merci.

Madame Anne Sophie Pic,

(Third generation, 3 stars michelin) but it didn't stay with the restaurant. There is a brasserie (where we ate since the restaurant was completely full with a menu set at 200 - 320 euro ....) And also a very luxurious hotel (5 star). And even a cookery shop near by and she teaches kids how to cook.



The brasserie is called 7. The A7 and N7 roads are just next to the restaurants. But the details of a road were shown at the details of the brasserie. A black floor with light in it like you see what separates two lanes where you may overtake. But also (especially in France) the roads have darker pieces it's not an even black color. Very nice detail. The menu is a roadmap from starter to dessert, very nice idea, little bit complicated at first. The tables are all for 2, smart !!! the setup is so well done that a 16 person table is made without any problem. The kitchen is completely open and what an equipment, state of the art. Even with table for 1 to look into the kitchen, looks almost a chefs table. And the bill is presented in a kind of ash tray made from the rubber of a car tire. Talking about details ...

The Menu ...

Terrine de foie gras maison au naturel compotee de rhubarbe - 26 euro

I know second time. Although now in terrine and not sauted. Presentation perfect. 2 slices cut in sandwich style, put straight on the plate. A small glass with the compote and 4 long (like a wooden beam shape) pieces of bread (looked like normal bread but with a taste of 'wentelteefjes') accompanied by three colors of sweet 'bread' crumbs on a black thin roof tile a more than welcome start of this dinner.


Le cabillaud en cuisson douce, cereales liees au beurre sauce emulsionnee aux coquillages - 20 euro

Writing this I see twice foie and twice cabillaud, how's that for coincidence. This cuisson was perfect and the cereales looked like couscous with fresh herbs, an excellent taste. And a sauce to die for. And also quite a piece of fish.


Le macaron violette framboise, sorbet the fruite - 7 euro

What can I say, i'm the macaron man  ;-)  not often i'm surprised by the taste of a macaron. No taste, too dry, it's so difficult. But the color of this one, the filling and the taste, to die for, as well ...

accompanied by ;

Sancerre 2008 chateau de sancerre


we stayed at

Hotel de France .... Perfect as well - price compared to location, service and room is absolutely incredible. Looking for a hotel in Valance, take this one. And you can walk to Madame Pic her restaurant - 10 minutes max ! :-)

Hôtel de France | 16 bd Général de Gaulle | 26000 Valence

Tél ; + 33 (0) 4 75 43 00 87 | info@hotel-valance.com

Day 2 of the vacation .... what a way to start it ... :-)

La Bouzerotte - Bouze les Beaune

Mercredi le 21 Juillet 2010

La Bouzerotte - Bouze les Beaune / Olivier ROBERT
21200 Bouze-les-Beaune
France

www.labouzerotte.com


A small restaurant in a small town just before Beaune. (Bouze les Beaune) Just along the main street. A big modern sign next to the road not quite one that fit these kind of towns.

The restaurant wasn't that modern, more like a cosy living. All different kind of tables. Living room furniture in the restaurant.


A menu that ended with 32 euro for 4 courses. And a small selection of a la carte. Very good service and a passion for food. Fresh ingredients throughout the menu and the salad had a dressing ...  :-)  with a little camarque seasalt added ... Perfect.

We took the 32 euro menu and added a small dish that we split  from the a la carte menu to start ...



Foie gras poele sur croutons de pain, gros sel et poivre du moulin

Very good, and not one plate but nice and evenly divided over 2 plates. Very well made, exactly perfect and a smooth piece of foie. The salad with dressing and little bit seasalt was a perfect company.

Tartare de tomates et rillettes de cabillaud petits croutons a l huile

Presented in a round shape. The tartare in combination with the cabillaud was perfect. Good fresh starter of the menu.




Tournedos de canard plancha risotto a l orange

The risotto was perfect, the hint of orange was very well flavoured not too much fortunately, we always say ... no fruit in your menu  :-)  the canard was perfectly cooked and tender, a nice piece of meat.


Fromage

From the trolly over 20 choices ... Epoise, and 2 local cheeses. Just good !


Dessert


Chocolade ....

a good ending of the first day of this vacation ...