Ma Cuisine

We had another sleep-in this morning and a small, leisurely breakfast before driving into Beaune armed with some of the souvenirs we have collected so far on this trip with the aim of posting them home.  We are so comfortable in Beaune now and have no problems parking inside the city walls or finding our way around.

While the post office was closed between 10am and 1pm, everything else was open and we popped in and out of little boutiques and shops on the way to the famous Beaune restaurant called Ma Cuisine located in a gorgeous little cobbled street.  The main part of the restaurant on the ground floor is very small and unpretentious and there is another section upstairs - but we were lucky enough to have a table for 2 downstairs where we were served by the delightful owners - a husband and wife team (though we believe that they are no longer married to each other).

The food is very Burgundian, using beautiful produce, classically prepared without any pomp and ceremony, and they have an excellent wine list.  So for entree Brian had Rabbit and Tarragon Terrine and I had Pate de Foie Gras.  For mains Brian had Roast Pigeon and I had Entrecote.  And the wine - a half bottle of 2009 Pommery.  Everything was served with simple but interesting accompaniments, and there was a large basket of fresh bread and little containers of mustard, cornichons and olive oil on every table.  


By the time we left, the restaurant was absolutely packed and apart from us and the German couple at the next table, everyone appeared to be French.  It really was a fabulous lunch - not too heavy, the food was great and the ambiance just perfect - and sooo French. 

Then a walk to the tiny post office and around the corner to Krys the optician to collect my 2 new pairs of glasses.  We received a lovely welcome from the miniature schnauzer whom we thought was called Krys - because that's what we thought the optician, who speaks almost no english, told us last time.  But the optician's wife, who has very good english, told us that the dog's name is Liniaxe - though they usually just call her L'axe! 

And having sent back all of those souvenirs, on the way back to the car, I managed to find about 5 more that we'll have to send home from Italy.  

We drove home in the rain (it started soon after we arrived in Beaune), lit the fire, and sat with another glass of wine and the backgammon set. And tonight for dinner - the  left-over coq au vin with fresh bread and salad.  It really is delicious - looks more like beef than chicken.  I wish we could get this Burgundian produce in Perth. 

Another lovely day Burgundy.