We decided to drive to Gray – 40 kilometres north of us on the Saône. We stayed there two summers ago. Friends who are now back in Auxonne told us how they had to flee because of the rising waters. We wanted to see how bad it was. Since the Saône flows south, if it’s bad there, it will get worse here. If the levels are dropping there, it will get better here.
On our way to Gray, we had to pass through the charming town of Pesmes. (Rhymes with “them.”)
We stopped at a lovely, roadside restaurant, Les Jardins Gourmands.
Amazingly, while the inside of the restaurant was packed, the best table in the place was still available.
Jeannie is smiling because that table was on our own private balcony.
The food was as good as the view. We both chose fish. For Jeannie, ‘Filet de sandre rôti, son crumble aux noix, sauce au ratafia de Moutherot.’ I had ‘Filets de perche au beurre, déglacés au Marc du Jura.’ While they looked similar, the taste was entirely different. I preferred Jeannie’s. (The fish is always tastier on the other side of the table.)
Dessert was even better. ‘Le Noir de Bourgogne. Fruits rouges en gelée au cassis sur fond d’entremet vanille et chocolat, coulis et boule de glace cassis.’ (It took longer to type it than it did to eat it.)
Looks are deceiving. Under that top layer was hidden a delicious combination of cassis and fruits.
Back home in Canada, this is when we would have been presented with the check. Not so in France. The table is ours for as long as we would like. Instead, our server came onto the balcony and gave us complimentary glasses of Champagne. An invitation not to rush.
The view from the balcony was lovely – but it masked an unfortunate reality that was occurring in many parts of Europe.
Beneath our lovely restaurant was a campground. Most of it was under water. Normally, RVs would be plugged into those bornes. First, they were kept away by COVID. Now, by a flood.