I thought it was time for me to give you some news as the festival is approaching fast, and I hope to be too busy then, to have the time or the energy to get in touch. The last few weeks have been very eventful I don’t really know where to start.

For the first time since La Garrigue opened we had a special evening for “Bastille day”. The support has been fantastic and we all had a great evening, even without the accordion player, who failed to turn up!!! He must have been recovering from his week-end at “T in the Park”.

Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Henderson who were the lucky winners of our Bastille Day quiz; please get in touch to book your prize of a lunch for 2. ( sorry Elisabeth, next time!!) This was the last of our planned events, and I soon will send you the programme of events for this Autumn.

I was also reminded that the 14th of July is La Garrigue’s anniversary…..8 years already… and we have not changed a bit!!!

I had a bad surprise last Monday morning. After opening the restaurant I discovered that I had some un-invited guests during the week-end. Two legged rats who help themselves to bits and pieces and the safe… After breaking the back door…nevertheless I would like to thank them for their professionalism as, except for the door, they did not make any mess and left the place neat and tidy…..respect….!!

It is never a good time for things like this to happen, but specially these days, as we just manage to keep our head above the water! It does hurt and I must admit I was rather down and feeling sorry for myself. Just as well, I have some good support from friends, family and staff; thanks to all of you!   Let’s turn this page!

Don’t mention it to anyone, but this year the mushrooms season has started a few weeks earlier and Daniel, my “foraging friend”, and I have been quite lucky so far as we managed to collect a few kilos of chanterelles to the pleasure of La Garrigue clients who took advantage of this early crop; I hope we are going to have a little bit more rain as the forests are too dry, and if this happens we may have a “Wild Mushrooms Festival “ this year at La Garrigue and possibly at L’Artichaut ????

Oh, silly me, I forgot to mention it to you, I am in the process of purchasing a new restaurant.

If all goes to plan, L’Artichaut will open in the second half of August in the old premises of the Edinburgh Institution that was “Duck’s at The Marche Noir” in Eire Place. L’Artichaut is to be Edinburgh newest vegetarian restaurant, and Belinda; the L’Artichaut head chef, and I have been working very hard lately to create some really exciting new dishes, which we hope will appeal to both vegetarian and traditional “carnivores” diners.

As I am writing to you, Maggy Stead and her team of “Wood Carvers” are busy making the tables and chairs for the new restaurant, and Gray potteries are putting the last touches to the new crockery; the painters/decorators should start on Monday, and within the next few days I will have to order the kitchen equipment and interview the candidates for the last positions available within the restaurant and kitchen brigade….. eventually it will all come together, and form - then …go…go…go.!

I promise to keep you posted as things develop; in the meantime I am off to watch the Tour de France.

A bientot,
J-Michel







Previous diaries -

March 2009
January 2009
July 2008
May 2008
February 2008
January 2008