Celebration

25 years ago we made our first visit to a local French bistro. We liked it so much we have been back many times in the intervening years.

This weekend, the restaurant celebrated 30 years of operation under the same (French) owners, and they invited their regular customers for a special celebratory menu, including a rather fine champagne cocktail to start.

The food is not particularly fancy, just good traditional French country style meals well prepared and presented in a cosy, friendly atmosphere and served by young French staff working here to improve their English.

Tonight's menu included starters such as French Onion Soup, Mussels in white wine and cream sauce, and warm goat's cheese salad. Mains included Boeuf Bourguignon, roast lamb (which the waiter explained would be served "rosé"), duck, etc. accompanied by a decent bottle of Bordeaux. Finally we were served a selection of sweets, including fresh pineapple, a light chocolate mousse topped cake and a lovely crème brûlée, washed down with coffee. A great evening.

However, I forgot to pick up my camera when we left home, so I was left trying to take pictures in the dim restaurant light using my phone (very noisy) or my wife's compact, which is good, but lacking the control of my own camera. This is the best of a poor bunch, showing an accordian decorating the top of one of the wine racks. There was a live accordionist providing an appropriate atmosphere in the restaurant.