Beaune - hubby 40th - restaurants
Jan 22nd, 2007 | 04:53 AM
#22
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,725
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Ma Cuisine is a very interesting little restaurant. He has maybe a dozen tables. The food is inventive. The wine cellar is located outside the restaurant and it is not unusual to see the proprietor ducking out and returning with a few bottles. People in the know rave about he wines and the decent prices.
He refuses to compromise his place and marches by his own drummer in that rather than become less of a restaurant he closes for more days a week. A couple of years ago he was open only 4 days a week. So "No it doesn't surprise me".
I enclose my previous review of Ma Cuisine:
<<Ma Cuisine
Phillipe Escovier must be continuing to do well. Their tiny restaurant, down an almost hidden passage in Beaune is open only four days a week. The 'Restaurant Complet' sign hangs most nights so if it is on your list, phone well in advance. The night we were there one table did not show, Phillipe removed the 'full' sign at about 9 o'clock and within minutes, there were customers to fill the void.
Beaune is my kind of place. The emphasis is wine and food but you can fill the spaces between drinking and eating with forays into the beautiful countryside.
After our obligatory kir royales, I began with foie gras which though buttery was a tad coarser than what I had had in Paris which may well describe this restaurant. No tablecloths or fancy dressed waiters interfere with you dining experience. The amuse bouche is a jar of cornichons from which you help yourself. Sandra's choice was green asparagus with a lovely mousseline sauce which came in a separate dish - a nice touch allowing her to add sufficient.
Sandra's cote de veau rote avec champignons produced four large chops with mushrooms and roast potatoes. Done medium rare they were succulent. My ris a veau braise a la crème was a large helping of sweetbreads (and I ain't talking cinnamon bread here folks) with morels in an ultra rich cream sauce. You either like sweetbreads or not - the flavor is a slightly 'livery' tender morsel - most delicious but very rich.
Our choice of the cheese plate brought four cheeses from the region. We both loved the strongest a creamy eposses. Wow.
We trusted Phillipe's wine recommendation and he chose wisely - a reasonably priced white burgundy with sufficient strength to compliment the meat dishes.
A very interesting restaurant that comes with recommendations from several gourmet experts, it is a worthwhile experience.>>
I don't know if you have ruled out Remparts but it fits your criteria for a very special meal and yet it is walkable from your hotel.
He refuses to compromise his place and marches by his own drummer in that rather than become less of a restaurant he closes for more days a week. A couple of years ago he was open only 4 days a week. So "No it doesn't surprise me".
I enclose my previous review of Ma Cuisine:
<<Ma Cuisine
Phillipe Escovier must be continuing to do well. Their tiny restaurant, down an almost hidden passage in Beaune is open only four days a week. The 'Restaurant Complet' sign hangs most nights so if it is on your list, phone well in advance. The night we were there one table did not show, Phillipe removed the 'full' sign at about 9 o'clock and within minutes, there were customers to fill the void.
Beaune is my kind of place. The emphasis is wine and food but you can fill the spaces between drinking and eating with forays into the beautiful countryside.
After our obligatory kir royales, I began with foie gras which though buttery was a tad coarser than what I had had in Paris which may well describe this restaurant. No tablecloths or fancy dressed waiters interfere with you dining experience. The amuse bouche is a jar of cornichons from which you help yourself. Sandra's choice was green asparagus with a lovely mousseline sauce which came in a separate dish - a nice touch allowing her to add sufficient.
Sandra's cote de veau rote avec champignons produced four large chops with mushrooms and roast potatoes. Done medium rare they were succulent. My ris a veau braise a la crème was a large helping of sweetbreads (and I ain't talking cinnamon bread here folks) with morels in an ultra rich cream sauce. You either like sweetbreads or not - the flavor is a slightly 'livery' tender morsel - most delicious but very rich.
Our choice of the cheese plate brought four cheeses from the region. We both loved the strongest a creamy eposses. Wow.
We trusted Phillipe's wine recommendation and he chose wisely - a reasonably priced white burgundy with sufficient strength to compliment the meat dishes.
A very interesting restaurant that comes with recommendations from several gourmet experts, it is a worthwhile experience.>>
I don't know if you have ruled out Remparts but it fits your criteria for a very special meal and yet it is walkable from your hotel.
Jan 22nd, 2007 | 07:22 AM
#23
Original Poster
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 167
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Rob,
I am not sure why but I am shying away from Remparts...help me if I am wrong. But based on their website and some of the reviews, it may be a bit too stuffy for us. My husband, in particular, hates stuffy places where the emphasis is on presentation and unusual ingredients than on taste. We tend to enjoy more rustic dining places (courser as you say)...the ma cuisine sounds perfect, for example. Am I totally wrong about Les Remparts? How would you compare to Ma Cuisine or La Gourmadin, for example? Very much appreciate your input.
I am not sure why but I am shying away from Remparts...help me if I am wrong. But based on their website and some of the reviews, it may be a bit too stuffy for us. My husband, in particular, hates stuffy places where the emphasis is on presentation and unusual ingredients than on taste. We tend to enjoy more rustic dining places (courser as you say)...the ma cuisine sounds perfect, for example. Am I totally wrong about Les Remparts? How would you compare to Ma Cuisine or La Gourmadin, for example? Very much appreciate your input.
Jan 22nd, 2007 | 07:56 AM
#24
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,725
Likes: 0
We haven't eaten in La Gourmadin (we ran out of nights) but it is hard to recommend restaurants for people. One couple who went to Ma Cuisine on my recommendation hated it.
Ma Cuisine and Remparts are two very different places. Yes, I think you could say that Remparts is stuffy. Ma Cuisine certainly is not. But ofr a special meal, perhaps degustation, Remparts is fabulous. Don't think it isn't inventive. The night we were there the amuse bouche was a beet soup in a shot glass, the veg was beets done very nicely and the meal ended with a beet sorbet. Grapefruit was used with the fish course and it was delicious. But it is more formal.
Ma Cuisine is small, can be loud, tables closer together. The waiters won't bother you - service is attentive but not obsequious. Whatever you have there will be a different take, generous portions. I would suggest asking Phillipe to choose the wine. The cheese course was 4 cheeses that THEY chose and they had planned them to be served together.
We have strayed away from the formal French restaurant (Le Tour D'Argent is a classic example) to establishments frequented by locals. However in Beaune I don't think you will find that inside the city. We heard a lot of German the night we were in Ma Cuisine and the clients knew and enjoyed their food and wine. A lot of English in Remparts. (French worked at both places LOL).
I think it is lovely that you are putting so much time into finding the perfect place. And the walk back to your hotel through Beaune will be magical.
Ma Cuisine and Remparts are two very different places. Yes, I think you could say that Remparts is stuffy. Ma Cuisine certainly is not. But ofr a special meal, perhaps degustation, Remparts is fabulous. Don't think it isn't inventive. The night we were there the amuse bouche was a beet soup in a shot glass, the veg was beets done very nicely and the meal ended with a beet sorbet. Grapefruit was used with the fish course and it was delicious. But it is more formal.
Ma Cuisine is small, can be loud, tables closer together. The waiters won't bother you - service is attentive but not obsequious. Whatever you have there will be a different take, generous portions. I would suggest asking Phillipe to choose the wine. The cheese course was 4 cheeses that THEY chose and they had planned them to be served together.
We have strayed away from the formal French restaurant (Le Tour D'Argent is a classic example) to establishments frequented by locals. However in Beaune I don't think you will find that inside the city. We heard a lot of German the night we were in Ma Cuisine and the clients knew and enjoyed their food and wine. A lot of English in Remparts. (French worked at both places LOL).
I think it is lovely that you are putting so much time into finding the perfect place. And the walk back to your hotel through Beaune will be magical.
Jan 24th, 2007 | 11:39 AM
#27
Original Poster
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
Ok, I realize I am turning into a pest now...but...does anyone know who to contact to get a special bottle of wine commemorating my husband's 40th? somwhere, it was mentioned that a wine bottle could be specially labeled with the occasion and delivered to our hotel ..not sure where i saw or read this...I know, I am hopeless!! Anyone???
Feb 5th, 2007 | 10:53 AM
#29
Original Poster
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
Just wanted to thank everyone for their help...special thanks to Robjame for all your input!!! Surprised my husband on saturday morning..had his bag packed as well as kids and dog to drop them off!! Hotel Cep was outstanding...beautiful hotel, exceptional staff..they even ordered a special bottle of wine and had it engraved with my husbands' name, birthdate and a special message I selected....it was waiting for us when we arrived!! We ate dinner at La Gourmandin...at first, I was disappointed when I saw the menu as nothing grabbed my interest. I finally settled on the duck in a cassis wine sauce...and it was fantastic. my husband ordered a tapas menu....several small appetizers, several small main courses and several small desserts. I had mentioned when making reservations that it was my husband's bday and they presented his dessert with a sparkler thing on it...(fortunately, they didn't sing or he would have been mortified!!). Really fantastic, relaxing evening!!!! We spent Saturday afternoon just enjoying the town and, of course, wine tasting. On Sunday morning, we had a relaxing breakfast at the hotel (my only disapointment was the breakfast which was very basic for 20 Euros a piece..it was nice, but you often get for free in other hotels) Unfortunately, we only had the one evening...we returned to Geneva on Sunday afternoon...but we will definitely go back again!
Many, many thanks to all of you.
Many, many thanks to all of you.
