For our last night in the Loire we decided to spend the day in Tours (shopping and sightseeing) and then stay in for dinner before heading back to our troglodyte rock room!
We got LE TURON from our hotel concierge and it was a BIG HIT.
Amuses of focaccia with anchovy and a yummy pea velouté came first and we ordered a bottle of AOC Saint Nicholas de Bourgueil Cabernet Franc "L'Expression" from Domeiane Joel Taluau 2024 which may have been young but was superb and smooth.
A tiny bistro of cozy with close simple wooden tables and very comfy chairs--maybe 30-35 people and it was full by 745pm! The menu is simple as well with some chalkboard wines and specials, but we were immediately drawn to the TARTARE de BOEUF CHAROLAIS which was a main, but we split as a starter. It came with frites with parmesan and a truffle mayo dip. Pickled cauliflower and onion garnished the plate with a fabulous balsamic, shaved parmesan and crunchy shallots. I told them all: "C'est vraiment un des meilleurs tartares du monde!"
Mains were a superb POUPLE & GAMBAS Grille for Sam which he said was the best octopus he ever had. It came with ratatouille, spelt & creme de chorizo. My Ballotine de Pintade was a stuffed breast of guinea fowl(hen) with mousse, Cajun spices, mushroom risotto, and morel sauce with haricots verts. I loved it all, but the portion was huge!
We were very full and dessert did not even become a consideration, but what a great ending to our week in Charentes & the Loire.
