We’ve had a couple of cracking days on the beach at Marseillan, with a lot of hot sunny weather and some great surf, which doesn’t half warm the water up. As always, we have spent less time at the beach than we would ideally have wanted, so we have crammed in as much into the last few days as possible.
Tuesday night, we dined at the delightful Les Goutailles restaurant in Neffies, which is owned and run by Karene and Didier Pernet. Karene hails from Lyon and Didier is from Alsace, though having spent several years in Nottingham (of all places!) Karene could easily pass as English, such is her perfect accent! The food was remarkably good, the highlight for me being a fantastic magret de canard with black cherry sauce, served with a beautiful selection of vegetables, including carrot purée, curried celery, crispy beetroot and breaded potato. The lavender-infused crème brulée wasn’t half bad, too. For anyone holidaying in the area, I would thoroughly recommend this hidden gem of a restaurant. They have a website, too – see http://www.goutailles.com/
Tuesday night, we dined at the delightful Les Goutailles restaurant in Neffies, which is owned and run by Karene and Didier Pernet. Karene hails from Lyon and Didier is from Alsace, though having spent several years in Nottingham (of all places!) Karene could easily pass as English, such is her perfect accent! The food was remarkably good, the highlight for me being a fantastic magret de canard with black cherry sauce, served with a beautiful selection of vegetables, including carrot purée, curried celery, crispy beetroot and breaded potato. The lavender-infused crème brulée wasn’t half bad, too. For anyone holidaying in the area, I would thoroughly recommend this hidden gem of a restaurant. They have a website, too – see http://www.goutailles.com/
Les Goutailles restaurant in Neffies
Last night (Thursday) we dined with my friends Anne Sutra de Germa and Corinne Pastourel and their families at Domaine Monplezy. It was a lovely, balmy evening, with the touch of altitude just taking the edge off the heat we have felt for much of the week, lower down in Neffies. Anne served a selection of her beautiful wines, with the 2006 vintage of Felicité being a real stunner. I currently stock the 2005, but the 2006 is definitely one to add to my list as soon as possible – it really is a fantastic wine.
Last night (Thursday) we dined with my friends Anne Sutra de Germa and Corinne Pastourel and their families at Domaine Monplezy. It was a lovely, balmy evening, with the touch of altitude just taking the edge off the heat we have felt for much of the week, lower down in Neffies. Anne served a selection of her beautiful wines, with the 2006 vintage of Felicité being a real stunner. I currently stock the 2005, but the 2006 is definitely one to add to my list as soon as possible – it really is a fantastic wine.
Anne Sutra de Germa and husband Christian Gil
Today, I drove Alex and his girlfriend to Carcassonne airport, for their return flight, followed by a quick visit to my old friend and inspiration, Guy Vanlancker, at Domaine La Combe Blanche in La Liviniere.
Vines around La Liviniere, with the Black Mountain in the distance
We now have to pack and grab an evening meal, so I’ll post more on these visits in a day or two, when we will be back in sunny England (where I see the weather is decidedly iffy, at present).
A bientot!
Today, I drove Alex and his girlfriend to Carcassonne airport, for their return flight, followed by a quick visit to my old friend and inspiration, Guy Vanlancker, at Domaine La Combe Blanche in La Liviniere.
Vines around La Liviniere, with the Black Mountain in the distance
We now have to pack and grab an evening meal, so I’ll post more on these visits in a day or two, when we will be back in sunny England (where I see the weather is decidedly iffy, at present).
A bientot!
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