2017 – Two fine meals: La Route du Sel (Le Thoureil) + Vincent le Cuisinier (Ingrandes de Touraine)

 The Zéro version of Bouvet's Cuvée Tresor 

– blend of Chenin and Chardonnay: very good the Zéro dosage works well 

Made a good apéro

This is a post celebrating two excellent lunches: the first on Friday 10th February at La Route du Sel (Le Thoureil) and then on Tuesday 14th at Vincent le Cuisinier (Ingrandes de Touraine).   


La Route du Sel (Le Thoureil)
We had lunch with Juliette and Patrice Monmousseau of Bouvet Ladubay. Juliette's sister Marie is the owner and chef here.  

 Crab salad 

 

 One of the day's specials – langoustine à la plancha – delicious!

 Pigeon 

Sole

Two small taster puddings – 

chocolate above and cherry below

2014 Turonien, Alexandre Monmousseau, Vouvray

from Juliette's and Marie's cousin 

enjoyed with the crab and langoustine

Bouvet Trésor Rosé 

served with the dessert but really 

much better on its own 

Vincent le Cuisinier

Mise en bouche 

 

Very good wine list both of Loires and wines outside the fabled valley

2009 Chablis Premier Cru, Vaillons, Dauvissat – just lovely 

 

Vincent's version of ouef en meurette

The chef's paté

 

Tête et langue de veau

Generous cheeseboard for two

Olivia's dessert

Some views of Le Thoureil, Loire

 

 The Loire at Le Thoureil looking upstream

(above and below)

Last Friday we were invited to Le Thoureil, a small picturesque village on the west bank of the Loire in the section that swings up from Saumur to Angers. It is a famous beauty spot.

We were kindly invited by Patrice and Juliette Monmousseau to get an update on Bouvet-Ladubay now that it is back in family hands. (This will be subject of a separate post.) 

We met over lunch at La Route du Sel, which is run by Marie Monmousseau, Juliette's sister and Patrice's daughter, and her partner Daniel. We were very impressed with Marie's cooking and enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of the restaurant. (Details of the dishes and wines to follow with the Bouvet post.)

Patrice and Juliette Monmousseau

(Bouvet-Ladubay)

 

La Route du Sel Restaurant 

 

 The église in the winter sunshine

 

A couple of colourful shallow bottomed boats

 Looking downstream

 Birds on a sandbank in the middle of the river