a la carte: le 21 juin

As Bubble Devere says.. "Champagne darling. Champagne for everyone!"

Time for an apero...

At Le Grappa, a small bar run by friends of Philippe. We (Philippe, Jacques, Didier and myself) had a drink or two and a saucisson au Canard. (5 euro, a really great deal actually!) Basically they plunk a cutting board and knife on your table and give you the saucisson and you cut it and serve yourselves. I can tell you this, it tasted blood good with my Biere Lancelot...

And then for supper, we went to Restaurant Creperie des Portes Mordelaises, with Philippe and his friends Gael and Jacques.

Mr had the andouille* (yeech) ad I had the escargots (yum) ...



For dessert, Mister had Caramel and Apple and I had the Chocolate / Grand Marnier flambée...

- - - - -

* I don't think I can impress upon you just how foul andouille both smells and tastes... Really... it makes you wonder about the whole of french cuisine...

a la carte édition spéciale: le 20 juin

After our walk along the port, but before we left, we were in dire need of an ice cream, and so we stopped at La Fraiseraie.

Oh La La!

a la carte: le 20 juin

Lunch at the seaside.

Resto Coeur et Creme, Pornic.

Toasting with a Ricard...

Mama and Papa Buisine had the Mussels, Didier had grilled shrimp, and Shawn had the salade Gourmand... Smoked Salmon, Foie Gras and Magret de Canard. YUM.

Main Course. Les Buisine had roast lamb, Didier had Petit Curry des Mers, and Shawn had Brochette de coquilles Saint Jacques. Oh, so good.



And them came dessert... for all the Buisine Nougat Glacés and for Shawn... le dessert gourmand... Café, Creme Brulée, Baba au Rhum, et Mousse au Chocolat...

a la carte: le 19 juin

What's the first thing any proper, self respecting Frenchman offers his guests.. why Champagne of course!

We were not at Didier's Parents place more than 5 minutes before we were asked whether we would prefer white or rose Champagne... of COURSE I said "Rose!" before the question was even finished! I do love me some Rose!

(l-r) Shawn, Didier, Eliane and Christian.

Then an appetizer was served... Langoustines, with incredible bread, home-made mayonaise and what seemed like a pound of the most delicious butter (yea I swear even THAT tasted better in France!)

And as if the couple of pounds of Langoustines were not enough, the main dish... Poisson au beurre blanc. So delicious I swear I am craving it right now!

a la carte: le louvre

Before going to Le Louvre, Didier and I met Anne for lunch. We had a wonderfully delicious Choucroute at "Le Bretzel"

Mid-Afternoon snack.
Lemon Torte with Chocolate...
Café Le Louvre.



Apero on le Passerelle des Arts.
Macarons et Champagne...





There were many other groups of people having a late day picnic on the bridge...

a la carte - Café des Deux Moulins

Shawn: Salade Niçoise
Didier: Magret de Canard