It was a tough call. Omicron had us worried. Do we stay locked inside Aleau – or do we try to continue our lives while mitigating the risk as best we can? We’ve had our three shots. We wear the best masks we can find – even outdoors. Knowing that everyone else inside would also have had their three shots, we decided to have lunch in a restaurant in Beaune – a charming city we had been to once before. (See Chapter 92.)
Jeannie checked out the reviews online and made reservations. We have found that reservations are always necessary – even for lunch in the middle of the week. She got us the last two seats at Caves Madeleine. And I’m glad she did.
Two menus were posted outside – the ‘Carte’ and the ‘Menu.’ As you probably recall, the Menu in France is the opposite of the long list of choices we’d be given in Canada. It often has one or sometimes no choice.
We didn’t even read the “à la Carte” and chose the “Menu.” This time there was a choice – for each of the three courses.
For her entrée, Jeannie chose the “Salade.”
Damn… I guess I didn’t read the second line in the description of her salade, “oeuf croustillant.” When I saw the egg inside… Well, too late, I had already ordered the “Fumet de poisson…” It was a delicious soup. I shouldn’t have had any second thoughts. If we go back, I know what I’ll choose as my entrée. But then, in France, what’s on the menu can change every day. It all depends on what’s available at the market that morning.
Of course, even before our entrées, there was an “amuse bouche” and the obligatory (at least for me) glass of Crémant. Jeannie chose red wine. After all, we were in the heart of one of France’s most famous wine regions – Burgundy.
For the main course, the poorly named “plat,” we both chose the “Quenelle de carpe.” It is an ugly-looking fish – but turned out to be quite delicious.
It may look small on the large plate – but it was all we needed. Alongside, a bowl of mashed potatoes.
For dessert, “Feuille à feuille de chocolat noir.” How could anyone say no to that?
Time for a walk. Beaune is a shopper’s paradise.
Especially if shopping for wine.
The sandwich boards outside restaurants list wines as well as (and sometimes instead of) the Menu du Jour.
Earlier I mentioned how what’s on the Menu depends on what’s available at the market that morning. At “L’Ecrit Vin,” the Menu gets smaller and smaller as the lunch-hour progresses.
You can see one choice has already been erased and the hand at the bottom left is about to make another disappear. Fortunately for us, we had already had our lunch at Caves Madeleine. We arrived at noon on the dot so everything was still available.
It was a joy to walk around Beaune and take in the sights. This hotel has been in the city for ages.
Although it’s now a bistro – and L’Hôtel de Beaune has expanded to larger quarters next door.
Not all of Beaune is stores, restaurants, and hotels. There were also quiet streets that invited exploring.
Which we did on our way back to Peugey – and on our way home.
