Dining in is now allowed in France. Even though we’ve both had our two shots of Pfizer, we’re still being cautious. But we needed our restaurant “fix.” We chose an outdoor table.
We had driven by Auberge du Paradis on our way from Auxonne to St. Jean-de-Losne many times. It was always closed. We crossed our fingers that it would survive. Today, June 10, the second day that it was open, we had to stop. Even though we had never eaten there, we wanted to give it our business. We wanted it to survive.
As with every restaurant we have found passing through small towns on rural ‘D’ roads, we were not disappointed.
The ‘Menu.’ As you may recall from Chap. 104, the word menu does not mean the same thing as it does in North America. Menu in France means the Special of the Day. Today, there was a choice of two entrées (appetizers) and two plats (main courses). In addition, there was wine (a choice of red, white, or rosé), as much baguette as you could eat, a cheese course, and a choice of dessert – plus coffee. All that for €14 per person. (Which equals $15.00 Canadian plus tax and tip.). Here’s how it looked.
On the left, the beet salad. On the right, the duck terrine.
Then it was time for the plat. We both chose the cuisse de poulet (chicken) in a mustard sauce. Perhaps from the mustard seeds grown just down the road.
That was followed by the cheese course.
Lunch isn’t over yet. There’s still dessert. Jeannie had the tarte aux poire.
As you can see, a fork had already begun to grab a bite before I could take a shot. The tarte actually came in one piece – not two. I had the gateau aux chocolat. Yes, the whipped cream is real – not from an aerosol can.
We both enjoyed our outdoor lunch. From noon to 2pm. Of course – it’s France.
