Blog
Dear Friends of La Garrigue
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Mes Amis Bonjour!
I suppose it is like training for a marathon. I am talking about the upcoming Edinburgh Festival; four weeks of madness in the kitchen and miles run daily; downstairs to the kitchen, back upstairs to the restaurant...how many times a day....it must be hundreds. So this month of July is just about getting ready; physically and mentally as well. Enjoyable to start with then very stressful toward the end of the month when arms and legs are giving up; especially at my age!
It is one of these times in the year you know will push you a bit; December and its Christmas parties, February and March with the Six Nations, August and the festival. I noticed some of my chefs are spending most afternoons at the gym; I started foraging for wild mushrooms, and trying to lose a few pounds; Morgan is having less cigarette breaks and is even talking about giving them up all together (the cigarettes!). La Garrigue is getting into shape!
During July we’ve held our “Bastille Day”, which was well received, and we have the Vegetarian evening planned for the 22nd of July in memory of L’Artichaut , my first and only vegetarian restaurant that I still miss. Still a few tables free...and here is the menu just announced.
Following a suggestion about our pastry, I have asked my good friend Olivier Nicod, a top class chocolatier /Patissier to spend some time with my chefs. I am thrilled with the results , the product is getting better by the day and the feedback is now very positive. It is also such a pleasure to spend the day with such a gentleman.
The downside for me this month was a couple of unpleasant reviews on Trip Advisor that I felt were unfair and exaggerated. Nevertheless those people were not pleased whether I like it or not, and the damage done to our rating was very upsetting. Do feel free to comment on your last visit. Your support and endorsement will be appreciated. Let’s put La Garrigue back on the spot it deserves.
As you may know , since the birth of Amelie–Rose, my Grand Daughter, I am keeping Sundays for the family, but when Sharon from Bites magazine asked me to take a stand at her food Show SAVOURS held at the Summerhall it was a difficult decision. I must say I had a good time and flew the flag for La Garrigue all afternoon. We managed to sell a few Soufflés and some cassoulets , meet some interesting people and possibly engaged with some new customers. Thanks must go to Mat, one of my chefs, who agreed to join me on the day and did most of the work...again!
Anyway , the menu for the summer is well in place with only a couple of changes planned on the dessert menu; a steak to replace the cassoulet; and the bouillabaisse is making a return. Some time this week I will finalise the Vegetarian menu for next Wednesday.
This will leave me to complete the schedule of my Wine Tour in Languedoc in September. Already the accommodation has been confirmed, vineyards have confirmed the days of the visits, a few restaurants have sent me their menus and wine list. The mini-bus is all ready and all bookings have been confirmed. A couple of new visits are planned as well as some old favourites and of course a day trip to Combret, my village in Aveyron, where Brigitte the chef and owner of L’Auberge is looking forward to the arrival of the La Garrigue Bus and the traditional dinner hosted by Claude, Monsieur Le Maire! I hope you will be able to join us one day for one of these tours. I had my first booking this morning for April 2016. The date will be from the 17th to the 24th. Tempted? Give me a call!
Time for me to go and do some work. I hope I will see you during the festival if not before . Maybe for the vegetarian evening? In any case have a great summer and keep in touch.
A bientot,
J-Michel
==========
Mes Amis Bonjour!
I suppose it is like training for a marathon. I am talking about the upcoming Edinburgh Festival; four weeks of madness in the kitchen and miles run daily; downstairs to the kitchen, back upstairs to the restaurant...how many times a day....it must be hundreds. So this month of July is just about getting ready; physically and mentally as well. Enjoyable to start with then very stressful toward the end of the month when arms and legs are giving up; especially at my age!
It is one of these times in the year you know will push you a bit; December and its Christmas parties, February and March with the Six Nations, August and the festival. I noticed some of my chefs are spending most afternoons at the gym; I started foraging for wild mushrooms, and trying to lose a few pounds; Morgan is having less cigarette breaks and is even talking about giving them up all together (the cigarettes!). La Garrigue is getting into shape!
During July we’ve held our “Bastille Day”, which was well received, and we have the Vegetarian evening planned for the 22nd of July in memory of L’Artichaut , my first and only vegetarian restaurant that I still miss. Still a few tables free...and here is the menu just announced.
Following a suggestion about our pastry, I have asked my good friend Olivier Nicod, a top class chocolatier /Patissier to spend some time with my chefs. I am thrilled with the results , the product is getting better by the day and the feedback is now very positive. It is also such a pleasure to spend the day with such a gentleman.
The downside for me this month was a couple of unpleasant reviews on Trip Advisor that I felt were unfair and exaggerated. Nevertheless those people were not pleased whether I like it or not, and the damage done to our rating was very upsetting. Do feel free to comment on your last visit. Your support and endorsement will be appreciated. Let’s put La Garrigue back on the spot it deserves.
As you may know , since the birth of Amelie–Rose, my Grand Daughter, I am keeping Sundays for the family, but when Sharon from Bites magazine asked me to take a stand at her food Show SAVOURS held at the Summerhall it was a difficult decision. I must say I had a good time and flew the flag for La Garrigue all afternoon. We managed to sell a few Soufflés and some cassoulets , meet some interesting people and possibly engaged with some new customers. Thanks must go to Mat, one of my chefs, who agreed to join me on the day and did most of the work...again!
Anyway , the menu for the summer is well in place with only a couple of changes planned on the dessert menu; a steak to replace the cassoulet; and the bouillabaisse is making a return. Some time this week I will finalise the Vegetarian menu for next Wednesday.
This will leave me to complete the schedule of my Wine Tour in Languedoc in September. Already the accommodation has been confirmed, vineyards have confirmed the days of the visits, a few restaurants have sent me their menus and wine list. The mini-bus is all ready and all bookings have been confirmed. A couple of new visits are planned as well as some old favourites and of course a day trip to Combret, my village in Aveyron, where Brigitte the chef and owner of L’Auberge is looking forward to the arrival of the La Garrigue Bus and the traditional dinner hosted by Claude, Monsieur Le Maire! I hope you will be able to join us one day for one of these tours. I had my first booking this morning for April 2016. The date will be from the 17th to the 24th. Tempted? Give me a call!
Time for me to go and do some work. I hope I will see you during the festival if not before . Maybe for the vegetarian evening? In any case have a great summer and keep in touch.
A bientot,
J-Michel