On the plain to the south of us, are vineyards given the appellation of the Plan de Dieu. Most would argue that the wines from this region are less then stellar, due to, as usual, the terroir. It's a flood plain for the Rhone River and owes its terroir to previously having been at the bottom of a much larger Rhone River. In any case, there are many vintners on this plain who do the best they can with the land they have. Nick Thonpson at L'Ameillaud would claim he is one of them. Xavier Henry, where we went today for lunch, likely feels the same. Going for a meal at Auberge la Tuilerie, is probably as close to eating in a Rhone farmhouse as you can come. Although the farmhouse is now part winery, they have a lovely patio, deemed too cool to eat on today and have added on a sunroom/dining room for indoor dining.
Their meal is 6 courses and an apperatif plus a bottle of their wine comes with it for 28E. There is no choice on the menu. Each course that arrives is simply a pleasant surprise. Today the restaurant was undersubscribed, with only 8 patrons - tough to make a living. We started with an amuse bouche of new olives and foie gras, then followed with a red lentil veloute (soup). Following that we had a fricasse of cepe mushrooms served over puff pastry and then a main course of stewed veal, scalloped potatoes and creamed carrots. Then there was a cheese course with a variety of four cheeses and finally dessert, a pear chocolate tarte with caramel ice cream. The wine served was their Grand-Pere Jules Cotes du Rhone red. All the while you stare out over the Plan de Dieu towards the Dentelles de Montmirail - not too shabby.
Of course, the French weren't celebrating Thanksgiving today. I don't believe that's a celebration they have although the end of harvest or perhaps the first taste of the new vintage would be the closest equivalent. But, despite being on our own, we did have a nice day with more chez Pigeon terrace time at the end of it.
Their meal is 6 courses and an apperatif plus a bottle of their wine comes with it for 28E. There is no choice on the menu. Each course that arrives is simply a pleasant surprise. Today the restaurant was undersubscribed, with only 8 patrons - tough to make a living. We started with an amuse bouche of new olives and foie gras, then followed with a red lentil veloute (soup). Following that we had a fricasse of cepe mushrooms served over puff pastry and then a main course of stewed veal, scalloped potatoes and creamed carrots. Then there was a cheese course with a variety of four cheeses and finally dessert, a pear chocolate tarte with caramel ice cream. The wine served was their Grand-Pere Jules Cotes du Rhone red. All the while you stare out over the Plan de Dieu towards the Dentelles de Montmirail - not too shabby.
Of course, the French weren't celebrating Thanksgiving today. I don't believe that's a celebration they have although the end of harvest or perhaps the first taste of the new vintage would be the closest equivalent. But, despite being on our own, we did have a nice day with more chez Pigeon terrace time at the end of it.
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