THERE ARE THOSE THAT ADORE FOOD AND OTHERS THAT ARE JUST CONTENT WITH CORNFLAKES FOR DINNER. PART OF THE REASON FOR MY FRENCH HOUSE PURCHASE WAS THAT GOOD FOOD WOULD BE AVAILABLE ON MY DOORSTEP.
HOW WRONG CAN ONE BE? PERHAPS THAT`S TRUE OF PARIS OR LYON BUT IN THE PROVINCES GOOD FOOD CAN BE ELUSIVE!
STRETCHING MY MEMORY BACK TO THE SIXTIES, WHEN I WAS A YOUNG MAN ABOUT TOWN AND WORE BESPOKE TONIC MOHAIR SUITS, I HAD A MEWS COTTAGE IN KEW AND DINED OUT FOUR OR FIVE NIGHTS A WEEK IN LONDON OR RICHMOND.
MY FAVOURITE LONDON RESTAURANTS WERE THE "GLORY CAFE" IN GOODGE STREET A GREEK CYPRIOT EATERY THAT LOOKED UNASSUMING BUT PRODUCED THE MOST TASTY PLAIN FOOD THAT I`VE EVER EATEN. ALAS THE OWNERS RETIRED BACK TO CYPRUS.
THE "GAYLORD" WAS AN INDIAN RESTAURANT IN MORTIMER STREET WITH ORIGINS IN BOMBAY. I WENT THERE THE FIRST WEEK IT OPENED, THE FOOD BLEW MY MIND, THE TASTE WAS A KALEIDOSCOPE OF EXOTIC FLAVOURS THAT MADE ALL MY PREVIOUS INDIAN MEALS SEEM LIKE PORRIDGE! EVEN TROUNCING "VEERASWAMYS" IN PICCADILLY FOR TASTE AND QUALITY.
ANOTHER FAVOURITE WAS "THE PIZZA HOUSE" IN GOODGE STREET, IT SERVED CORRECT ITALIAN FOOD BUT THE SPECIALITY WAS THICK BASE PIZZA THAT HAD THE CLASSIC TOPPINGS THE SAME AS THE ONES THAT I HAD TASTED IN NAPLES BACK IN THE LATE FIFTIES, NOT THOSE TOPPINGS THAT WE SEE NOWADAYS WHERE ANYTHING GOES.
ANOTHER OUTSTANDING ESTABLISHMENT WAS "THE KEW RENDEZVOUS" IN RICHMOND. THIS WAS A CHINESE RESTAURANT AND SO SO GOOD!
I`M AN UNASHAMED CARNIVORE AND A SUCKER FOR "STEAK FRITES", IN MY TRAVELS I`VE SOUGHT OUT THE RESTAURANTS THAT SERVE GOOD STEAKS, MORE OFTEN OR NOT WITH DISAPPOINTING RESULTS.
IN A FRENCH RESTAURANT THE STEAK IS USUALLY SERVED ALMOST RAW DESPITE ASKING FOR BIEN CUIT AND IT`S LIKE CHEWING ON A TASTELESS WET RAG. IF THE STEAK DID COME WELL DONE IT WOULD BE CHEWY AND ALMOST INEDIBLE BUT THERE WOULD BE NO POINT IN COMPLAINING AS THE FRENCH EXPECT WELL DONE TO BE INEDIBLE.
MY PERSONAL OPINION IS THAT IF THE QUALITY OF THE STEAK IS GOOD THEN IT WILL TASTE GOOD HOWEVER IT IS COOKED. MY PREFERENCE IS FOR ABERDEEN ANGUS STEAK HUNG FOR AT LEAST 28 DAYS OR LONGER. I USED TO BUY THIS FROM THE PRODUCERS WHEN I LIVED IN SCOTLAND OR IT COULD BE HAD IN "WILLIAM LOWE" SUPERMARKETS (NOW TESCO). UNFORTUNATELY THE "MAD COW" DISEASE PUT AN END TO ALL OF THIS. IT WAS AWFUL AT THE TIME, AS WHEN DRIVING UP THE M6 TO SCOTLAND THERE WOULD BE A COW FUNERAL PYRE EVERY FEW MILES WITH THE BURNT MEAT SMELL WAFTING OVER THE CAR AND INTERIOR
THERE WAS ONE RESTAURANT IN PARIS THAT WAS RECOMMENDED TO ME "LA COURONNE DE BOEUF", I USED TO EAT THERE ON MY FREQUENT TRIPS TO THE FRENCH CAPITAL, THE STEAKS WERE EXCELLENT.
SADLY, ONE DAY WE WENT TO EAT THERE AND THE RESTAURANT WAS EMPTY, USUALLY A WARNING SIGN, BUT WE ORDERED OUR STEAKS AND THEY WERE AWFUL, THE ESTABLISHMENT HAD CHANGED HANDS!
THIS HAS HAPPENED SO OFTEN IN MY QUEST FOR GOOD FOOD, A GOOD RESTAURANT IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE CHEF AND THE QUALITY OF THE MEAT AND IF ONE OF THOSE ITEMS IS CHANGED FOR THE WORSE, THE RESTAURANT WILL QUICKLY GO DOWNHILL.
WHEN I WORKED IN HOUSTON I WENT TO "THE OIL BARONS STEAKHOUSE" WHICH WAS VERY PLUSH AND I COULD IMAGINE JR EWING EATING THERE BUT AGAIN THIS WAS A DISAPPOINTMENT!
I COULD GO ON AND ON BUT NEED TO CONCENTRATE ON THE AREA AROUND MY FRENCH HOUSE.
THE FIRST TIME AND ON OTHER OCCASIONS THAT I VISITED THE FRENCH HOUSE I STAYED AT THE "BEAU RIVAGE" AT MANSLE I6 KM FROM RUFFEC. THIS HOTEL, ONE OF THE "LOGIS DE FRANCE", IS SITUATED BESIDE THE RIVER CHARENTE AND HAS A LOVELY TERRACE OVERLOOKING THE LAZY RIVER. THE FOOD IS REASONABLE AND OFFERS TRADITIONAL LOCAL CUISINE WHICH IS DUCK ORIENTATED BUT ALSO SERVES EDIBLE STEAKS. THEY OFFER A BUFFET ENTREE WHICH IS VERY GOOD BUT CAN SPOIL THE APPETITE IF INDULGED IN TOO MUCH. MICHELIN RECOMMENDED.
"AUBERGE DU CHEVAL BLANC" AT LUXE 14KM FROM RUFFEC. I HAVE EATEN THERE ONCE AND WAS PLEASED WITH THE FOOD BUT AS I NEVER BOOK I HAVE BEEN TURNED AWAY SEVERAL TIMES AS IT WAS FULL. THIS WAS AFTER IT HAD RECEIVED ITS MICHELIN STAR. I JUST LOOKED IT UP ON THE WEBSITE VIA MICHELIN AND SEE THAT IT HAS LOST ITS STAR BUT THE MENU LOOKS GOOD. I WILL HAVE TO GIVE IT A TRY AGAIN.
"LE COMPOSTELLE" A REASONABLE RESTAURANT IN THE HISTORIC VILLAGE OF TUSSON 12 KM FROM RUFFEC., AGAIN RECOMMENDED BY MICHELIN, I HAVE EATEN THERE AND HAVE NO COMPLAINTS.
THERE ARE OTHER MICHELIN RECOMMENDED RESTAURANTS IN ANGOULEME 33 KM FROM RUFFEC.
THERE IS A RESTAURANT IN THE VILLAGE SQUARE AT AIGRE 18 KM FROM RUFFEC THIS IS NOT MICHELIN RECOMMENDED BUT IS POPULAR WITH THE BRIT EX PATS THIS IS I BELIEVE "RESTAURANT LE SQUARE" AND SERVES GOOD HOMELY FOOD THE BAD NEWS IS THAT IT IS ALWAYS CROWDED.
IN RUFFEC ITSELF THERE ARE SEVERAL PLACES TO EAT BUT I NEVER SEEM TO GET AROUND TO GOING TO THEM PREFERRING TO COOK FOR MYSELF AFTER A HARD DAYS WORK ON THE HOUSE AND JUST RELAX WITH A DRINK ON THE LOVELY TERRACE. I WILL DO ANOTHER BLOG ABOUT AVAILABILITY OF FOOD AT A LATER DATE.
HOW WRONG CAN ONE BE? PERHAPS THAT`S TRUE OF PARIS OR LYON BUT IN THE PROVINCES GOOD FOOD CAN BE ELUSIVE!
STRETCHING MY MEMORY BACK TO THE SIXTIES, WHEN I WAS A YOUNG MAN ABOUT TOWN AND WORE BESPOKE TONIC MOHAIR SUITS, I HAD A MEWS COTTAGE IN KEW AND DINED OUT FOUR OR FIVE NIGHTS A WEEK IN LONDON OR RICHMOND.
MY FAVOURITE LONDON RESTAURANTS WERE THE "GLORY CAFE" IN GOODGE STREET A GREEK CYPRIOT EATERY THAT LOOKED UNASSUMING BUT PRODUCED THE MOST TASTY PLAIN FOOD THAT I`VE EVER EATEN. ALAS THE OWNERS RETIRED BACK TO CYPRUS.
THE "GAYLORD" WAS AN INDIAN RESTAURANT IN MORTIMER STREET WITH ORIGINS IN BOMBAY. I WENT THERE THE FIRST WEEK IT OPENED, THE FOOD BLEW MY MIND, THE TASTE WAS A KALEIDOSCOPE OF EXOTIC FLAVOURS THAT MADE ALL MY PREVIOUS INDIAN MEALS SEEM LIKE PORRIDGE! EVEN TROUNCING "VEERASWAMYS" IN PICCADILLY FOR TASTE AND QUALITY.
ANOTHER FAVOURITE WAS "THE PIZZA HOUSE" IN GOODGE STREET, IT SERVED CORRECT ITALIAN FOOD BUT THE SPECIALITY WAS THICK BASE PIZZA THAT HAD THE CLASSIC TOPPINGS THE SAME AS THE ONES THAT I HAD TASTED IN NAPLES BACK IN THE LATE FIFTIES, NOT THOSE TOPPINGS THAT WE SEE NOWADAYS WHERE ANYTHING GOES.
ANOTHER OUTSTANDING ESTABLISHMENT WAS "THE KEW RENDEZVOUS" IN RICHMOND. THIS WAS A CHINESE RESTAURANT AND SO SO GOOD!
I`M AN UNASHAMED CARNIVORE AND A SUCKER FOR "STEAK FRITES", IN MY TRAVELS I`VE SOUGHT OUT THE RESTAURANTS THAT SERVE GOOD STEAKS, MORE OFTEN OR NOT WITH DISAPPOINTING RESULTS.
IN A FRENCH RESTAURANT THE STEAK IS USUALLY SERVED ALMOST RAW DESPITE ASKING FOR BIEN CUIT AND IT`S LIKE CHEWING ON A TASTELESS WET RAG. IF THE STEAK DID COME WELL DONE IT WOULD BE CHEWY AND ALMOST INEDIBLE BUT THERE WOULD BE NO POINT IN COMPLAINING AS THE FRENCH EXPECT WELL DONE TO BE INEDIBLE.
MY PERSONAL OPINION IS THAT IF THE QUALITY OF THE STEAK IS GOOD THEN IT WILL TASTE GOOD HOWEVER IT IS COOKED. MY PREFERENCE IS FOR ABERDEEN ANGUS STEAK HUNG FOR AT LEAST 28 DAYS OR LONGER. I USED TO BUY THIS FROM THE PRODUCERS WHEN I LIVED IN SCOTLAND OR IT COULD BE HAD IN "WILLIAM LOWE" SUPERMARKETS (NOW TESCO). UNFORTUNATELY THE "MAD COW" DISEASE PUT AN END TO ALL OF THIS. IT WAS AWFUL AT THE TIME, AS WHEN DRIVING UP THE M6 TO SCOTLAND THERE WOULD BE A COW FUNERAL PYRE EVERY FEW MILES WITH THE BURNT MEAT SMELL WAFTING OVER THE CAR AND INTERIOR
THERE WAS ONE RESTAURANT IN PARIS THAT WAS RECOMMENDED TO ME "LA COURONNE DE BOEUF", I USED TO EAT THERE ON MY FREQUENT TRIPS TO THE FRENCH CAPITAL, THE STEAKS WERE EXCELLENT.
SADLY, ONE DAY WE WENT TO EAT THERE AND THE RESTAURANT WAS EMPTY, USUALLY A WARNING SIGN, BUT WE ORDERED OUR STEAKS AND THEY WERE AWFUL, THE ESTABLISHMENT HAD CHANGED HANDS!
THIS HAS HAPPENED SO OFTEN IN MY QUEST FOR GOOD FOOD, A GOOD RESTAURANT IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE CHEF AND THE QUALITY OF THE MEAT AND IF ONE OF THOSE ITEMS IS CHANGED FOR THE WORSE, THE RESTAURANT WILL QUICKLY GO DOWNHILL.
WHEN I WORKED IN HOUSTON I WENT TO "THE OIL BARONS STEAKHOUSE" WHICH WAS VERY PLUSH AND I COULD IMAGINE JR EWING EATING THERE BUT AGAIN THIS WAS A DISAPPOINTMENT!
I COULD GO ON AND ON BUT NEED TO CONCENTRATE ON THE AREA AROUND MY FRENCH HOUSE.
THE FIRST TIME AND ON OTHER OCCASIONS THAT I VISITED THE FRENCH HOUSE I STAYED AT THE "BEAU RIVAGE" AT MANSLE I6 KM FROM RUFFEC. THIS HOTEL, ONE OF THE "LOGIS DE FRANCE", IS SITUATED BESIDE THE RIVER CHARENTE AND HAS A LOVELY TERRACE OVERLOOKING THE LAZY RIVER. THE FOOD IS REASONABLE AND OFFERS TRADITIONAL LOCAL CUISINE WHICH IS DUCK ORIENTATED BUT ALSO SERVES EDIBLE STEAKS. THEY OFFER A BUFFET ENTREE WHICH IS VERY GOOD BUT CAN SPOIL THE APPETITE IF INDULGED IN TOO MUCH. MICHELIN RECOMMENDED.
"AUBERGE DU CHEVAL BLANC" AT LUXE 14KM FROM RUFFEC. I HAVE EATEN THERE ONCE AND WAS PLEASED WITH THE FOOD BUT AS I NEVER BOOK I HAVE BEEN TURNED AWAY SEVERAL TIMES AS IT WAS FULL. THIS WAS AFTER IT HAD RECEIVED ITS MICHELIN STAR. I JUST LOOKED IT UP ON THE WEBSITE VIA MICHELIN AND SEE THAT IT HAS LOST ITS STAR BUT THE MENU LOOKS GOOD. I WILL HAVE TO GIVE IT A TRY AGAIN.
"LE COMPOSTELLE" A REASONABLE RESTAURANT IN THE HISTORIC VILLAGE OF TUSSON 12 KM FROM RUFFEC., AGAIN RECOMMENDED BY MICHELIN, I HAVE EATEN THERE AND HAVE NO COMPLAINTS.
THERE ARE OTHER MICHELIN RECOMMENDED RESTAURANTS IN ANGOULEME 33 KM FROM RUFFEC.
THERE IS A RESTAURANT IN THE VILLAGE SQUARE AT AIGRE 18 KM FROM RUFFEC THIS IS NOT MICHELIN RECOMMENDED BUT IS POPULAR WITH THE BRIT EX PATS THIS IS I BELIEVE "RESTAURANT LE SQUARE" AND SERVES GOOD HOMELY FOOD THE BAD NEWS IS THAT IT IS ALWAYS CROWDED.
IN RUFFEC ITSELF THERE ARE SEVERAL PLACES TO EAT BUT I NEVER SEEM TO GET AROUND TO GOING TO THEM PREFERRING TO COOK FOR MYSELF AFTER A HARD DAYS WORK ON THE HOUSE AND JUST RELAX WITH A DRINK ON THE LOVELY TERRACE. I WILL DO ANOTHER BLOG ABOUT AVAILABILITY OF FOOD AT A LATER DATE.