Dinner at l'Epicerie, in Amboise (Loire)

Living in the city is great but we lack fresh air! So the Loire Valley tour was the perfect occasion for an outside picnic. We stopped at a local market, bought a baguette, some "charcuterie" (cold cuts), some cheese, a bottle of Badoit (mineral water), and searched for the right spot. When we saw this windmill, we knew we had found it!
I thank the reader who pointed out that the area of Beauce, where this picture was taken, is a windy area which explains why there are quite a number of windmills. This is Le moulin-pivot de Oucques-la-Joyeuse and was built in the 17 C (though it was seriously damaged and and refixed). For more about the windmills in this area check ou lovely pictures here

The day before we had had dinner at L'Epicerie, 46, Place M.Debré, Amboise. Reservations are recommended, so if you're in the area, make sure you call: 02 47 57 08 94. Every time we take friends to the Loire, we make sure we have dinner here. It's an excellent quality:price ratio.

I had the 26 Euros menu and started with a light quiche served with a fresh salad and some vegetables. My entree was "quenelles de brochet", a cylinder shaped mixture of creamed fish combined with flour and a light egg binding. They are poached and then baked with a light sauce. They were served with a garnish of mushrooms. Then came an abundant cheese platter, with many local cheeses but also with some "classics" such as brie or blue cheese (here, fourme d'Ambert). Cheeses are served with raisins macerated in Calvados, a real treat.I had not had "riz au lait" (or rice pudding) in a long time, and I was not disappointed by what I was served!

I ordered a red Touraine which was enjoyed equally by the three of us!

Bon appetit!