Monday, August 30, 2021

28/08/2021 Celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary.

The maximum temperature here today is 23⁰C, minimum 12⁰C. Dry. Wind 21km/h icy North-Easterly winds with gusts up to 50 km/h!

We decided to celebrate on Saturday with an evening meal! Due to the French COVID restrictions over the last 16 or so months, I cannot remember the last time we went out for anything other than outdoor lunches (and those only when the restaurants recently reopened, that is!). We returned to L'intemporel in La Rochefoucauld, as we so enjoyed the last visit there (see the previous post),   We picked the 5 course tasting menu, so it was all rather exotic cuisine and very different from our normal meals out.

Sitting relaxed at the table looking at the fabulous view of La Rochefoucauld chateau....

and the Tardoire river, which flows under the 15th-century stone bridge (see the last post).

This is the menu that we chose.

The amuse-bouches, a delightful choice....

followed by yet another amuse-bouche of ham on creamed pea, with a piece of pea stem and grated black truffle for decoration.

First course - Seared foie gras, Thai juice, shitakes and Nori seaweed.

Second course - Tuna with tartare of strawberry and fennel, very unusual, and wow it hit the taste buds.

Third and main course - local French beef, creamed carrots, sliced vegetables with peppered meat gravy.  Cooked to perfection (very rare or "bleu" in French) and it melted in the mouth!
 
Spoiling ourselves after 40 years with a bottle of champagne. Because of driving home afterwards, they were kind enough to give us a cork to enjoy the rest back home!

Cheers!!

Fourth course - Sorry, I slipped up here with the cheese course and had a couple of mouthfuls before I remembered the camera! This of course was served with French bread, which we had on the table for every course - we wiped our plates clean!

Last, but not least, was dessert, described as douceur de cerise au chocolat and a special slice of orange cake in a separate dish with a candle because it was our anniversary. They discovered this because we asked for the photo. Such a lovely thought and obviously a last-minute idea of theirs!

Finally, as the evening light faded and the lights came on - here we are in the reflection!

Apologies for the slow blogs at present, but time just seems to disappear with gardening and the kitchen.  As autumn approaches, I hope to have more time to go through the many photos which I have taken over the last couple of months.


Take care everybody, keep well and stay safe.
My local list of wildflowers. (91 Species 20/06/2021).

See also my


Joining up with My Corner of the World. 






34 comments:

  1. Wonderful meal to celebrate a very special day x

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    1. Thanks Gaynor, wish you could have celebrated as well. Maybe we should plan a foursome celebration for 45 years.
      Hope that all is going well and that Tim will soon be up and running around.
      Take care, Diane

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  2. Oh Diane and Nigel - how delicious that all looks ... so many congratulations and I have loved that you put the photos up for us to drool over - and they are excellent too! Brilliant news ... enjoy the autumn and those fruits and veg you've been nurturing. Happy week too ... cheers Hilary

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    1. Thanks so much Hilary, I feel bad that I am not keeping up with blogs but I just do not have the time at present. Will get there when the garden cools down. It was a fab meal and we both so enjoyed it. Keep well, Diane

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  3. A very special meal, artistically presented to commemorate an equally special relationship. Congratulations Diane and Nigel. Miriam joins me in wishing you the very best. Now, if only the powers that be could install high speed internet as a special gift that would really make the day perfect!

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    1. Thanks to you both, it was a special day and one that will not be forgotten. Yes if only we could get even better internet then 0.5 I would be happy. Take care, Diane

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  4. Congratulations on your 40th anniversary Diane, oh la what a wonderful repas du soir 💙 I can quite understand how busy you are in the garden, from tomorrow it is officially spring here in Australia and I have just had a huge new flower bed prepared for planting, so looking forward to it, planning lots of new roses 🌼🌸🌹 Take care ✨

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    1. Thanks Grace it was a lovely evening. When we get back I have two tree loads of figs to dry and a very loaded quince tree to sort out. I am not looking forward to winter as we have only had a few odd days of summer here this year. Keep well Diane

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  5. Belated anniversary greetings. Well done, you two.

    How wonderful you could finally enjoy an evening meal out after such a long and strict lockdown. Enjoy the garden while summer into autumn lasts!

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    1. Thanks Marie. Eating out has so much more meaning than it used to!!! Keep well Diane

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  6. Looks more than perfect and absolutely delicious! Happy Anniversary! Hugs to you both.

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    1. Thanks Gaelyn, a fabulous evening, great food and excellent service. Hugs from us both as well D & N

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  7. A belated congratulations on your fortieth, Diane and Nigel! That looks like an absolutely superb meal in a wonderful location too. I can see that you had a splendid evening. I'm sure that, like me, many of your readers will be jealous of such delicious fare!

    Take care and stay safe - - - Richard

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    1. Thanks so much Richard, a very special meal, and day for that matter. One we will not forget.

      Hope that all is well with you both, take care Diane

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  8. Happy 40th wedding anniversary. A wonderful dinner. It is good to be able to dine out after so many months of lockdown.

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    1. Thanks Nancy, we are so enjoying being able to get out. Keep well Diane

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  9. Wow, that's some fantastic looking dishes! Happy anniversary!

    Thanks for sharing your link at My Corner of the World this week!

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    1. Thanks very much it was a special day. Cheers Diane

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  10. Congratulations on your40th anniversary. Wow what a splendid meal. Very exotic. One of the benefits of living in France.

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    1. Thanks you, yes not many places where you will get a view like this sitting in a restaurant 😉
      Hope all it well. T'other Diane

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  11. What a beautiful and glamorous evening out! An absolutely perfect anniversary treat .

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    1. Thanks Sallie, a special day, a special place and a special meal. Keep well Diane

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  12. Fabulous place Diane! The food is beautifully presented. Lovely to see you and Nigel also, a super photo! Happy 40th Wedding Anniversary to you both!

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    1. Thanks Denise it was an amazing meal. Hope all is well Diane

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  13. What a fine dining experience! Everything looks wonderful.

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    1. It is certainly a place we will return to. Thanks for the comment. Cheers Diane

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  14. Looks fantastic! The things we took for granted.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. You are so right. We have missed going out for so long and this was very special. Cheers Diane

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  15. Oh my love this, Happy anniversary and you looks wonderful, lovely place and food indeed, Love champagne!
    hugs xo

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    1. Thanks Gloria, a very special day. Hope all is well, Diane

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  16. What a dreamy restaurant. I love the glass walls and how the food is plated so beautifully.

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    1. It was amazing evening and the meal was fabulous, certainly a night to remember. Cheers Diane

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