September 25th 2011
Two fêtes in one
France seems to have a festival being celebrated about each day of the year and for a Festivalphile like me (yes, I just made that up as there must be a term for it somehow..) I must attend!…… especially if it is all about food, gardening, photography…..Incidentally, the Salon de la Photo is happening next week and I already have free tickets for H and me, hurray!!!
Last Friday the 23rd, was the Fête de la Gastronomy, the next day or the whole weekend actually, was the Fête du Jardin. Unfortunately, I missed the former, but the latter I successfully attended and that will be my next post after this.
Now what happens when you get to ”experience” both gastronomy and garden all in one day, in one place and with H as company?
I call it Sublime with a capital “S”!
Why? Because it blissfully quenched our five senses: hearing of the birds singing, sight for the artistic way the food was served, the explosion of colourful flowers in the garden, touch of the semi-formal table setting set in rustic surroundings, smell of the floral and herbal scents wafting in the air and taste for the divine courses served one after the other … this is truly Gastronomie Française!
It all started in a fortified 17th century farmhouse turned restaurant in a little commune of Saint-Cyr-sous-Dourdan.
Thirty-nine kms southwest of Paris, we always drive past this medieval-looking stone structure with a brick red cone roof and a courtyard bedecked with flowers and antique displays. It has a restaurant with a façade so charming it reminds you of the covers of country home magazines.
We promised ourselves that we shall dine there one day …
That day came last Sunday. The patron (owner) met us at the entrance and were extended the warmest reception even shaking our hands as if we were his guests.
When he asked if we made a reservation, my heart stopped, I thought we would be turned away if we said no. But when he directed us to a table dressed up in dark burgundy, it’s like we won the lotto! It was a lucky day!
I like dining in classic restaurants but nothing excites me more than French dining in a rustic setting…
Old things combined with the earth’s natural bounty is like Art in three-dimension
While we got seated in the garden, others preferred the “grange” (barn).
This is the menu board which gets shifted from table to table. They give you enough time to think so not to worry…although it’s quite difficult to make a decision when there is so much to choose from!
The star of the show, the food.
This is H’s entrée: Terrine campagnarde maison (home-made country Pâté)
My own entrée: Croustillant de fromage de chevre et lard (crispy goat cheese and bacon)
The main dish where I would applaudingly give the title …….”To die for”
Agneau de 7H au thym et au romarin (Lamb of 7H, in thyme and rosemary)
7H means the meat is braised in the oven for seven hours until it becomes ultra-tender, moist and full of flavour. 
The green beans that accompanied the lamb, not only artistic but it tastes ephemeral!
And the dessert: Fondant chaud au caramel (hot fudge caramel, with ice cream)..I think I’m in heaven…..mmmhhhh
Despite the 49euros bill including the table wine, it is definitely worth every centime…. After all, money cannot buy the experience of dining like a King!
Dining experience over, it’s now time to enjoy the flowers..
