Happy 2014 to all my followers and anyone else who happens to find themselves reading this blog, by mistake or otherwise!! We had an early night last night and did not see the New Year in, but we did celebrate in style with a New Year luncheon. We revisited the restaurant La Grange aux Oies (The goose barn) at the Nieuil Chateau, having booked last November. The place had been packed on both of our previous visits and on this special occasion, we felt it was unlikely to be any different! It wasn't! The food was up to its usual impeccable standard, service was brilliant, no rush, and two and a half hours later we left, feeling very well fed. You can visit the restaurant website HERE .
Entering the gateway to the château.
Nieuil chateau. It appears that the château was originally a hunting lodge of Francis 1st of France in the 15th century. In 1937, it was one of the first châteaux of France to be converted into a hotel.
The first client of 2014 crosses the threshold into the restaurant. This building, just opposite the château, was originally the stables of the hunting lodge; you will note on the photo below that the hay racks still remain as decoration.
On arrival....
and a few minutes later, all seats were taken.
The menu
Champagne to start, cheers...
Table decoration and the rose was real.
Amuse-bouches - or what was left of them when I remembered the camera!
Different wine with almost every course.
Foie gras de canard with nutty bread. Generally this is something neither of us will eat on principle but when it is part of the standard menu....
Scallops and oysters.
Red wine with the main course, but I must have moved the camera and the picture was blurred, so you will have to believe me when I say that the chicken with chestnut stuffing was very good!
The cheese course,
and the delightful dessert.
Café noir finished off a beautiful meal, (2 cups), with petit fours which also suffered from camera shake. Too many glasses of wine I suspect :-))
What more can anyone want to see in 2014; we certainly enjoyed every minute of this amazing experience.
