The food was exquisite, beautiful flavours and the sommeliar definitely knew what he was doing and recommended a very young but flavourful Gamay 2007 from the Loire.
The experience was interesting and my taste buds were delightfully tickled by the artichoke puree on a parmesan biscuit, spiced choux and rock melon sorbet. The aperitif and pre dinner munch definitely amused my bouche.
The slow cooked poitrine de porc fermiere laquee aux epices douces cuite 16 heurs a basse temperature was divine, and the pork was well flavoured and it melted on my tongue. The jeunes pousses de salades a lhuile de pepins de courge was a little disappointing as it tasted a little less than a sad little tawgay salad. Mr Mo had a fantastic presse de foie gras de canard a la poire tapee confite au vouvray that was very well complemented by pain grille a la noisette et au raisin :). the wine jelly on the foie gras, ahhh..heaven
I've forgotten the name of the main course but it was a lovely grilled canard with skewered vegetables (courgettes, tomatoes) on a bed of shitake risotto. This was absolutely sublime. Mr Mo had a fish of the day which was a very flavourful wild salmon on a bed of summer veges with a shrimp sauce.
We wrapped up the night with a nougat de tours servi tiède, lait glacé au kirsch
Médaille d´or 2009 and a tendre macaron parfumé au poivre de Tasmanie,
and a fantabulous Marmelade de mangue et son sorbet aérien. I don't quite understand why desserts in a restaurant such as this has to have such sweet and heavy desserts though. It was a little bit of a rain in the final touch on an otherwise perfect parade. We had the same issue when we were in L'Hedoniste the last time.
Verdict for the evening - wonderful food and would recommend it to anyone who visits Tours. However I am just not a nouvelle cuisine person, give me a good cut of beef or street food any day. :)
Rive Gauche
23, rue du commerce - 37000 Tours
