Special Meals

An unexpected pleasure of this extended stay in France has been the number of very good meals Andrew and I have been fortunate to enjoy.  Coming away with the children and no babysitter, we had modest expectations for being able to go out for anything more than a casual dinner.  However, a number of the friends and family who have visited us in Uzès have offered their child minding services, and we have gratefully accepted, and taken the opportunity to enjoy some very fine meals.

La Table Julien 2 – 14th May (Child minding courtesy of Kate)

Andrew organised this as a late celebration of our wedding anniversary, having spent the actual day in Venice and finishing the day with a pretty casual dinner with the kids.

The restaurant is located in the small village of Montaren, which is a 10min drive west of Uzès.  Driving in at night, there were very little signs of life in the main street of the village, and the modest entrance to the restaurant (picture below) belies what lies behind.

The restaurant was quite small (perhaps 8-10 tables), but it was still somewhat surprising when this ‘out of the way’ place became almost full on mid-week evening.

Andrew took a photo of his entrée below (Panacotta petits pois de pays), because although very simple, he rated it one of the best he had ever eaten.  It epitomised the style of La Table Julien 2, and several of the other nice restaurants discussed below, in that it simplistically paid homage to very fresh local seasonal ingredients.

 We ordered different beef dishes for main course, and both were delicious.

Elle’s desert (Crumble cacao, mousse chocolat …) was a masterpiece, and the petit fours were a gorgeous conclusion to a great evening.

Comptoir – 16th May (child minding courtesy of Andrew)

Shortly before Kate left Uzès, Pippi and Helen arrived.  So there was a small window for a family dinner, and Andrew volunteered to mind the kids, so that Elle, Kate, Pippi and Helen could have a night out in Uzès, on Elle’s birthday.  They chose Comptoir, a restaurant on the ‘ring road’, and a simple walk from both our apartment, and the small hotel where Pippi and Helen stayed.

La Table d'Uzès - 21 May (Child minding courtesy of Pippi and Helen)

On the 21^st May, Andrew took Elle out for a delayed birthday dinner.  The photo below was taken by Grace inside our apartment, just before we made the short 5min walk to La Table d’Uzès, a highly recommended restaurant with a young chef with experience in a two star Michelin restaurant.

The restaurant is attached to a boutique hotel in a completely restored historic mansion.

The menu we chose was called ‘emotion’, and listed 7 courses, however we believe it was 9 or 10, with 2-3 extras put on, including a gorgeous starting platter.

Entrees and main courses were magnificent, and the sweets divine, however the bonus cheese platter (middle photo below) caused problems for Andrew.  In short he decided to try Roquefort for the first time, liked the taste and over-consumed.  That basically meant he didn’t really enjoy his dessert and he felt bloated for the next 12 hours, including while trying to sleep.  This prompted his otherwise very positive Tripadvisor review to be titled ‘Go easy on the cheese’.

La Ferme de la Huppe - 27th May

During the week that Neil, Gee, Theo and Isabella stayed in Uzès, we had two nice meals. The first was lunch with all four of them on Neil’s birthday at La Ferme de la Huppe in the Luberon Valley below the majestic hillside village of Gordes.  We had Xavier with us, but Grace and William were at school.

The restaurant was attached to a very small boutique hotel, and had been identified and booked by Gee several days prior to their arrival in Uzès.

The food was very good, across the board.  The entrée below (not sure whose) highlights the some of the fresh local produce used.

Importantly Neil very much enjoyed his birthday treat …

.... and Xavier was very indulged with a schnitzel and homemade sauce whipped up 'off-menu'.

Elle’s dessert took the presentation award honours, and tasted lovely too.

L'Artemise - 30th May (Child minding courtesy of Theo and Isabella)

With Theo and Isabella minding GWX, we were able to go out again for another evening meal, this time with Neil and Gee.  After reading rave reviews, we were very pleased to be able to secure a booking at L’Artemise, a restaurant on the northern side of Uzès (a 20min walk from our apartment).

The food here was absolutely superb (possibly the pick of all the special meals), with beautiful flavour combinations wonderfully presented.

Accompanied by nice wines and conversation, it was a special night.

La Table de Sorgues - 17th June

The last of our special meals occurred via a lucky break while visiting Châteauneuf-du-Pape with Terry and Tanya (while Grace, Will, Zoe and Poppy were at school).  After our postive experience with Neil and Gee, we again visited Guy at St Charles Cave to enjoy another guided wine experience.  We enjoyed the experience as much as the first time, and Terry and Andrew purchased a dozen Châteauneuf-du-Pape Lucien Barrot Rouge (their pick of the tasting) to be sent back to Melbourne.  Upon conclusion (post purchases!).  Upon departure we asked Guy for a lunch recommendations in the village, but he instead highly recommended we drive to nearby Sorgues, and try La Table de Sorgues.  He even phoned ahead to book us in.

The town of Sorgues lies about half way between Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Avignon, and is quite plain. La Table de Sorgues on the other hand was anything but plain.  Selecting a table under a market garden umbrella in the courtyard, we proceeded to have an unexpectedly special lunch.

Yet another fantastic cheese trolley was wheeled out, but this time Andrew had learned his lesson and did not over-indulge.

Desserts were once again magnificent ...

... and Xavier exhibited very good behaviour, helped by Terry amusing him with his hat.