Day 15: Rest, relaxation, an amazing sight and a wonderful meal

Thursday, April 25 was a day for us to rest and catch our breath. We had been busy and it felt good to just take it easy. We went for a walk to the bank and heard a big noise from a truck. We turned around and saw this amazing sight. A huge catamaran coming down the street. It wasn’t just coming straight ahead but tipping sideways to avoid cars, street signs and trees. Then down again when there was room. It was truly a sight to see. They don’t want these boats on the major freeways so they send them through the small towns on their way to Bordeaux to launch into the Atlantic Ocean.

We went into Langon for dinner at restaurant Claude Darroze, a Michelin Guide restaurant. We walked around Langon and saw some beautiful Plain trees. Plain trees can live up to 400 years old. Napoleon ordered the lining of roads with Plane trees (and other tall trees like Ash, Elms and Chestnuts) to provide ample shade for his marching troops. These trees have a dappled trunk and provide a canopy of shade in the summer.

These Plain trees in the garden of the restaurant are over 200 years old.

Before dinner we had an aperitif of a gin and tonic.
Have you ever heard of Indian Tonic??

Above is the three course tasing menu that we had. Scott had one option and I had the other. However, you just don’t get the three courses, you get an amuse bouche and a mini dessert too! The meal was absolutely delicious, so creative and fun.

Amuse bouche of sea bream carpaccio
Amuse bouche of bean soup with a mint foam
Green asparagus salad and asparagus froth
Amazing: shredded asparagus and pine nuts with an asian sauce
Duck foie gras with an apple chutney in a cocoa biscuit
Monk fish and pissaladiere (pie crust filled with onions and olives)
Lamb, egg roll filled with vegetables and a ratatouille like topping over a biscuit filled with celery root
Another view of the lamb
Grand Marnier scuffle with a blood orange sorbet
Strawberry and raspberry biscuit with lemon grass froth, hibiscus & red fruits sorbet, citrus & Sarawak pepper sorbet.
Inside view
The Final: Cannele, chocolate tarte, apple tarte, cookie with a candy topping