Silver Spoon / Wappaz

It's a small shop (web link on the left side) in Amsterdam in the Runstraat in the city centre. They have almost every book you're looking for. Ask them for a book and they know about it. I couldn't resist today and expanded my range of books with :

Wappaz. A book that's written in a nice style. Very clear with simple dishes to make but with perfect taste and stunning to look at. The pictures are just so well taken, you'll get hungry looking at them. Next to good recipes it also makes you think about your own next creation .... nice book if you like small dishes but an awfull lot :-).
It's what you get with restaurants like ENVY in Amsterdam or LAMBERMONS in Haarlem...
The other book I bought is Silver Spoon. This italian book has been the best seller in Italy for over the last 50 years or so.
Silver Spoon is the book to have if you want to know about Italian cooking, so it was not yet in my collection and as of today it is. It's over 1200 pages, about 3 recipes per page ... I looked and every thing I could think of is in the book. Looking forward to make some great recipes.
Well I need to check the stove and fridge since my first items should be ready for testing ... have a nice weekend and of course a great diner,

Le Gindreau - Catus / France

Le Gindreau
46150 Saint Medard - Catus / France

Telephone +33 (0)5 65362227 / Telefax +33 (0)5 65362454

Cazals, October 6^th, 2006.

In our ‘quest’ to eat at highly recommended places in the neighborhood (star, or almost star level) we found Le Gindreau (1 star Michelin), recommended by a lot of locals from here this was the place to go to. The location was perfect, a very nice old building (former village school) overlooking a small valley. Saint Medard is a very small place and it’s fun to see that in these places restaurants like these appear.

We headed out for lunch, unfortunately there was only one other table taken so it was a bit quite. The entourage is a nice old building that’s renovated and there is a good mix of old and new. The ceiling holds an air conditioning that’s nicely covered up by a lowered ceiling. Also the huge open doors to the terrace are modern but it suits this building. Something else are the toilets which are in the old style, nice!

We started of with a Mise en Bouche (something like an appetizer) this small ‘bitterbal’ was perfect, a kind of cheese ‘bitterbal’ filled with foie … also a ‘cheese cracker’ also already served some bread, nut – red wine bread. Must be from the kitchen itself.

We went for the menu Gibier (€ 65) and the 5 course menu (€ 77). And started of as always with a Kir …

Started of with a Mise en Bouche again:

Veloute de potimarron, (a veloute from chestnuts)
Oignon des Cevennes au safran du Lot, (half of a small onion drenched in a dressing)
Longuet au sesame dore (salt galettes covered with sesame seeds)

Starter

Ravioli de queues de Langoustines au beurre de gingembre flan de Courgettes
(A ravioli filled with langoustines with a butter made with ginger and a ‘pate of vegetable marrows’)

In between

Escalope de foie gras de canard poelee, pane de grue jus corses au Xocopili, patate douce
(fresh foie with a special gravy)

Main dish

Carré d’agneau fermier du Quercy roti au four pomme au Rocamadour jus d’ail en chemise
(Lamb with a gravy of garlic)

Cheese

Three pieces of cheese from the trolley

Dessert

Croustillant à la crème citronnée fraises et brunoise de fruits safranés sorbet quatre fruits
(specialty of the region I think, these croustillants are served regularly)

Of course we ordered a wine from the region, unfortunately the sommelier didn’t had her day, and the wine was not longer available. She came up with a replacement, A Cahors of 2004 from Chateau Tour de Miraval. Perfect wine and very ‘smooth’ for a Cahors. Perfect wine for a more than perfect price (only € 31)

The restaurants all serve menu’s that saves a lot compared to order directly à la carte. And the portions are more than enough. Make sure you have a real appetite if you go out eating. Let’s say no problem for me … but make sure you don’t have a great lunch and than finish in this restaurant for diner.

Very well kitchen, staff could be a bit more friendly and genuine but the girl who served us most was perfect. If you like good food this is a place to go. Maybe go for diner because than there should be some more people. Only need reservations during the weekend.

Website : http://www.perso.orange.fr/le.gindreau/

Also Le Gindreau is member of Le Saissonier.

Au bon accueil – Cazals / France

Au bon accueil – Bar Hôtel Restaurant
46250 Cazals - France / Telephone +33 (0)5 65228117

Cazals, October 3^rd, 2006.

In Cazals near the town square on the corner there is a small place next to the road (D 663) with a big window overlooking the road. It’s an old place, the wallpaper is still from the sixties and the lamps on the ceiling are something you will find at a brocante. But that’s the atmosphere that suits this place.

The menu is simple, you’ll eat what they serve.

We started of with a kir and after that we started with the first course. Chicken soup, served directly from the terrine. Simple but nice. Followed by a small pâté stuffed with beef stuffing with a very nice dried piece of ham on the side. Strange combination but perfect from taste. As main course we were served chicken with a nice mashed potato. Very nice and full with garlic, lovely! Of course a cheese platter with four nice cheeses. As dessert we got tutti frutti or vanilla cream and finished of with coffee. Accompanied by a bottle of red wine.

It’s a family restaurant, with a lot of local people visiting daily. Especially the people working in the neighborhood. And the price … we needed to pay € 11,00 per person … Since my father is a regular guest, he eats there every Thursday with his 'work', we even got a discount, normally it’s around € 12,50 for a meal.

Where else can you eat for this kind of money …

If you just want a fine simple lunch, this is a nice place to go to, friendly people, good portions, good and honest food with nice taste go here for one of your lunches if you’re in the neighborhood.