Good Wine and Good Food

September 2nd

We took the day off the bikes today but still had a full and busy day.  Saturday is Market Day in Beaune so we wound our way through the locals and managed to purchase some good fruits, quiche and a baguette for our breakfasts and lunches. There was a fun band playing in the Place Carnot in the center of town so we stopped for a quick listen and to take a photo.

In the afternoon we took a stroll around town and found some interesting doors, windows and a house for rent just a few steps down the street from us.  I looked it up and here is what I found. The mansion is listed as La Demeure du Baron de Joursanvault.  The Baron who lived here described himself as an artist, a collector an a patron of the arts.  He supported painters who are exhibited in the museums in Dijon and Nancy as well as the Louvre. He was a patron of the sculptor Claude Ramey whose works are in various gardens, most notably the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris. The 18th century mansion is now looked over by his ancestors and is furnished for 6 occupants and rents for 5000 Euros per week.

The Mansion

For the evening we made a reservation at Le Cellier de la Cabiote for wine tasting in their cellar.  We learned a lot about the difference between the wines since the reds are all Pinot Noir and whites Chardonnay.  The owner Emmanuel was very informative and kind to give us a private tour and tasting since we were the only ones signed up for the last tasting at 6pm.  He told us the wines differ because of the soil not necessarily because of the process.  He also said they only use cork and that it would be sacrilege to use plastic or a screw top.  You can imagine him scrunching up his nose as he told us this fact.  We tasted 2 whites and 2 reds and decided we liked the more bold and older Chardonnay the best.  He said we could store it for up to 15 years...what?  

On our way to dinner we spotted a hot air balloon flying by which always seems a little magical to me.  We decided we needed to try a new restaurant and as we were passing by Le Bistrot Bourguignon the other day we stopped and checked out the menu and it looked ok.  It seemed like a little hole in the wall from the front but inside is quite nice.  The food however was in fact the best we've had in France this year!  The service was superb, wine delicious and the decor was lovely.  We will be revisiting this restaurant for sure...maybe tomorrow. 😏

The art was fun and colorful

The scrumptious tomato tart

Jay's lamb and my chicken main courses