The maximum temperature here today is 28⁰C, minimum 18⁰C. Dry but there is a slight chance we may get a shower. Wind 17km/h North-Westerly winds with gusts up to 41 km/h.
This visit was at the end of July to Restaurant L'intemporel. I had only been here many years ago, but it has recently changed hands, been improved and has excellent references, so as we are now allowed to eat out we thought this was a chance to try it. Sadly it was rainy and we could not eat in the garden, but in fact, eating in the conservatory was probably even better.
We were right next to the Tardoire river and the Pont dit du Château de La Rochefoucauld. Listed as a Historic Monument since 1935, this 15th century freestone work of art links the castle to the city.
La Rochefoucald Chateau.
Part of the view from our table...
as above, plus a glass of wine had arrived by the time I took this 😉
and just in front of the bridge we had company.
The menu changes every day so we just had the standard menu. The starter was Fois gras, something we do not eat out of choice as we do not like the way it is obtained, but I have to say it was delicious. Served of course with sliced French pain (bread).
Main course was duck breast with a few vegetables - melt in the mouth.
Dessert was apricots with ice cream - (possibly raspberry flavour but we were not sure) served in a melon sauce.
Coffee followed and we went home very satisfied without feeling like we had eaten too much.
They do a tasting menu of five courses on weeknights and weekends so we plan to try that out for our 40th wedding anniversary on the 28th of August.
Meanwhile in the garden life goes on.....
The Star Gazer Lily was flowering well. A gift from our French neighbour for my birthday about 12 or so years ago. It has done so well.
Cosmos with an unknown bee, it was carrying so much pollen its body was out of sight.
Calendula with yet another bee, possibly Colletes succinctus, but I am happy to be corrected.
Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus).
and with a bee, unidentified.
Beating the birds to the raspberries.
and a Black Cap juvenile (Sylvia atricapilla) getting there first!
Another unknown bee pollinating the pumpkins
The white-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lucorum) in the lavender.
A close up of the stamens of the Star Gazer Lily.
Hoverfly (Sphaerophoria scripta) on the agapanthus.
Finally, we have de-stoned over 1000 plums, they have been dehydrated ready for use during the year until next years batch arrives hopefully. I use them in cooking and chopped they go into our homemade muesli breakfast cereal.
Note: We are now allowed to eat out, but by law, we have to present our ID and our certificate of a double vaccination.
Take care everybody, keep well and stay safe.
My local list of wildflowers. (91 Species 20/06/2021).
See also my
Hi Diane. That restuarant looks wonderful, with such a fabulous location and what would seem to be excellent fare, even if it does give a little discomfort to one's sensibilities.I'm so pleased that you are able to visit restaurants once more. Congatulations, in advance, for your special day on 28th. I hope that the tasting menu lives up to, or exceeds, your expectations.
ReplyDeleteYour garden, as always, is shown as an absolute paradise with amazing colours and mouth-watering produce. No wonder you need an industrial-strength dehydrator!
Best wishes to you both - - - Richard
Thanks Richard, it seems like a very quick 40 years!
DeleteI would never cope with a small dehydrator. This years crop of plums was small compared to last year. This years apples though look like we have far more than ever before, that also goes for the quince and the figs. Sadly the cherries all split with so much rain 😣
Keep safe now everyone is on the loose. Best wishes to you and the family, Diane
What a delight view you had to gaze at while having such a nice meal. The Château de La Rochefoucauld is stunning.
ReplyDeleteHi Karen, eating out with a view cannot get much better than this I must say. A great meal as well.
DeleteHope all is well, Diane
Wonderful to be able to dine out again. It looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteThe raspberries look like I could reach through and pick them.
It is so nice to have a break from the kitchen, I have really enjoyed taking a cooking rest.
Deletekeep well, Diane
Hi Diane - that is making my mouth water ... and yes I'd like to be in France for your food and amazing dining situation - beautiful photos - looks so delicious ... but so happy to see you were out and about and enjoying yourselves after the 'home-work' of lots of home grown veg and fruits ... thanks for the update - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteHilary we are enjoying being able to get out a bit more and we are happy that some restrictions are still in place. Holiday season is always a problem, people from everywhere descending on our small towns. Still lots of work to be done with fruit and kitchen, but we reap the benefits for the rest of the year so it is worth it.
DeleteKeep safe and you also enjoy the extra freedom. Cheers Diane
Ah the pleasures of dining away from home, Diane. The joy denied us for so long must seem especially sweet, and that kind of nosh would seal the deal for sure. Your garden is producing a great yield it seems, and I am sad that I don't live close by so that I could come around and shamelessly mooch! I will look forward to more news of foraging and frolicking in France! Bonne semaine. David.
ReplyDeleteDavid it is so nice to have a meal that I have not had to cook myself or do the washing up - we do not have a dish washer! The garden is doing well, but not up to last years standard - too much rain this year even for the garden. We are not going short though!.
DeleteBest wishes to you both, Diane
Beautiful raspberries. Would love to taste fresh raspberries. Delicious food. We are allowed to dine-in for those fully vaccinated but most eateries are not willing to allow dine-in because of the high number of cases. Many rather buy take away to dine in the safety of their homes.
ReplyDeleteAll of our restaurants are pretty much eat outside. This one was in the conservatory because it was raining, but all the windows were still open as it was not cold. Takeaways are a hassle for us. Nothing that close, and getting the car out of the barn and putting it away again all gives time for the food to get cold. I do not like heating food up again unless it is my home cooked food. Keep well Diane
DeleteHi Diane, yay, back to the lovely "La Rochefoucald Chateau.". How fabulous for you, and a delicious meal too. I think it was a good idea to sit in the conservatory... A lovely day out. Xx
ReplyDeleteHi Anne so good to hear from you and I hope this brought back some good memories for you. It was an excellent meal and the conservatory with windows open was perfect. Keep safe, hugs from us both xx
DeleteHi Diane. Brought back many wonderful memories of my trip with you and Nigel. Sounds perfect in the conservatory. Thhe French know how to do these lunches. Xx hugs.
DeleteThanks Anne. It is good to be able to get out! xx
DeleteAwesome post
ReplyDeleteThnaks very much, glad you enjoyed it. Keep well Diane
DeleteOh my goodness, gorgeous post with fabulous photos. Always thoroughly enjoyed! Thanks Diane and I hope your week is a great one :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Denise, it was a good day out and where else could you enjoy a view like that? Stunning town. keep safe, Diane
DeleteThat is a great idea making it law to show proof of vaccination. The restaurant and meal looks wonderful. Oh for French cooking...envy envy. Garden photos super as usual. Sitting viewing the castle must be like sitting in a history book. Glad you can get out to eat again. We can in Queensland but not in NSW or Victoria. Where our kids are .
ReplyDeleteMany people complain but I think it is a good idea and I feel happier going somewhere when I know that people have been vaccinated. Keep safe, t'other Diane
DeleteOh my gosh that is what I call a view Diane, we are definitely lacking castle views here in Oz 😉 The dessert part of your meal was the most appealing but to be fair I think that of most meals when we are out :) Superb series of macros for us to enjoy, merci beaucoup 💜 I hope you get a summer shower or two for the garden 🌹 Such a good idea re the proof of vaccination, I think that will become the norm everywhere soon. Take care 💜
ReplyDeleteThanks Grace, sorry I am not keeping up at the moment, just too much going on. Keep well Diane
DeleteOh thank you for leaving me the comment about the history of your home area. I love it that your house must have so much history. Is it haunted?
ReplyDeleteIt was a pleasure, glad you enjoyed the post. keep safe Diane
DeleteThis post is so beautiful with all your lovely well done photographs. Your scrumptious dinner reminds me of ones we used to have on special days.
ReplyDeleteI had almost forgotten what it was like to go out for a meal thanks to COVID, hopefully we will get more chances to celebrate. Thanks for the comment, hope all is well, Diane
DeleteDinner looks wonderful along with the view. Nice to go out. Your garden is marvelous and live your macro shots.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gaelyn, I am really struggling to keep up with the blog at the moment, so much going on in the garden. I have lots of photos but no time to process them!! Hugs, Diane
DeleteMind blowing post
ReplyDeleteThanks very much, Diane
DeleteIt is amazing how exciting it is to "eat out" again -- something we used to take for granted.
ReplyDeleteI could not agree more, I had forgotten how much we missed by being in lockdown for so long. It is not over yet though, stay safe. Diane
DeleteWhat a gorgeous space to sit with those lovely window walls.
ReplyDeleteThanks, it is a brilliant place and the conservatory makes it very special. Have a great week Diane
Delete