There is something special about having a trained chef in the family. Whilst it can mean having lots of washing up to do after a session when their creative juices (and therefore the culinary juices) flowed, it also means excellent home cooked meals (even if only as an occasional treat) and superb expertise in restaurants. Not only in explaining the menu (and making suggestions to suit our tastes), but also in guiding us to the best restaurant. I admit I can only describe the notion from a non-chef perspective, I appreciate that it could be potentially irritating to be the culinary guru at times. But then, if they didn’t love food and catering, why train as a chef?
This is especially true to for special events. For the second of my 40 at 40 events was a family meal. And where better to do so than in France?!
So it was that four of us sat down at Bistro Racines, in the shadow (or more accurately the illumination) of Chartres cathedral.
Starting with a glass of lovely bubbly, we had a thoroughly lovely evening. Sitting here now, thinking about what we talked about for the nearly 3 hours I’m at a blank – which says something either about the mundane-ness of the conversation, or my memory for such things. Or perhaps the two bottles of wine we shared between us during the course of the evening had something to do with it? But regardless of the lack of memorability of the conversation, we had a great time. In good company, with good food, it isn’t really much of a wonder.
On arriving, I attempted to practice my French, to say we had a reservation, only to find myself speaking to a clearly English bar man. But he understood both my French and English, and pointed us to our table, beneath the fairy-light strewn canopy outside. After an incredibly hot day, there was a refreshing breeze, and lingering in the cooling evening air was very welcome.
I’m not much of a food blogger – I enjoy food, love eating it (hence my current attempt at a diet to get myself back under control!), but wouldn’t really know where to start to review/ analyse/ critique. Neither am I much of a food photographer when out and about enjoying myself. Why pause to let the food get cold? So I’m afraid you’ll have to make do with my attempted description here – or perhaps take a trip to La Bistro Racines in Chartres yourself (which I recommend).
I opted to go for the set ‘heritage’ menu of local or traditional foods which proved to be a simple, rustic main course and starter, and quite spectacular dessert. All full of flavour, and the perfect size for a filling meal. The pate-en-croute was divine, the rabbit stew (apologies, I failed to note the actual French description in my journal) luscious (don’t tell my pets) and the Floating Island stunning. Accompanied by two local – though different – white wines (a Vouvray Renaissance, and a second which I again failed to note) it was a fantastic way to mark my birthday.
The floating island desert (l’île flottante aux pralines roses servie “àlalouche” & crème anglaise – so the internet tells me) was a generous helping of a soft-cooked meringue served on a bed of custard, with a sprinkling of praline and dried fruits served at the table. It was spectacular, and for someone such as me with a sweet tooth, absolute heaven.
As it turned out, meeting the English barman on arrival proved to be fortuitous as I ordered a mint tea to finish the evening only to find that we had to dash off to catch the land train for a tour of the illuminations. Rushing inside, I asked the barman – as only an English person could understand another drunk English person – for a take-away cup which he was thankfully able to provide, even if it came without a lid, making me hurry carefully onwards.
And so it was that the beautiful, relaxed, family meal ended in a rush of gathering bags, hot cups of tea and hasty farewells.
But despite the ending, it was another very successful 40 at 40 event complete.
