Blog
Dear Friends of La Garrigue and Languedoc Wine Tour
I only been back for a week from my last wine Tour in Languedoc and already the enquiries are plentiful…..the word is spreading, so I am afraid that if you haven’t booked your space for the rest of 2016 then you will have to wait until next spring now but do not worry, I will publish the dates for 2017within the next few weeks so keep an eye open for my next letter.
Once again judging by the feed back received this last tour was a great success . Of course it is the time of the year when the vineyards are possibly the most interesting as the” vendanges “ , grapes harvest, are in full swing, and the cellars really busy .
This time again we tasted some really magical wines and had some great dinners and lunches in some of the region best vineyards, Clovallon, Mas Gabriel, Daumas Gassac, Chateau de l’Hospitalet, La Grange De Phillips , Mas D’Alezon to name just a few….the highlights…possible the picnic and wine tasting at Mas Gabriel, the lunch at the cellar at Clovallon, the visits at chateau de L’Hospitalet…..the wine tasting at Daumas Gassac and a fabulous dinner at l’auberge de Combes. But wherever we went the warmth and the welcome are always second to none; thank you to all the people involve for making the tours so special.
A close encounter with a wild boar resulting to some damage done to our transport vehicle could have ruined the day but some expert driving dealt with this incident in a very efficient way…..the only victim being the wild boar!!!
I received some news this week and it is still very warm and sunny ….cannot wait to go back! but before this happen there is plenty to do here at la Garrigue with Christmas round the corner, and a couple of events before then.
I really need to review the wine list and bring a couple of new wines and of course with the change off season the menu need to be updated to a more seasonal flavour….figs, chestnuts , wild mushrooms, pigeon, may be a pheasant or a Partridge some venison may be….the larder here is so plentiful….the next big event of course is the dinner hosted by Deborah and Peter from what has now become my favourite Domaine; Mas Gabriel in Caux. Deborah and Peter will be my guest for a couple of days and we will have a wine tasting at my favourite wine bar in Dunfermline the Reuben’s Cafe and Wine Store (01383731 475 for reservation) at 7pm on Monday the 17th of October , follow with a 5 courses dinner at La Garrigue on the 18th form 7pm onward. IT looks like we will have the aperitif at Urbane Art Gallery, next door to La Garrigue before dinner.
Places are limited for both even so please book your table as soon as possible for this very special evening. In any case I am planning to dedicate a whole section to Mas Gabriel on our wine list so you will be able to enjoy the wines every time you come to visit us .
I am also please to confirm that our festive menus for both Lunch and dinnerare now on ourwebsiteand the reservations are coming in quite fast just now, so it looks like December is going to be a very busy time for us. This year again La garrigue will be open on Christmas day with 2 services as per last year. the fist seating is at 12-12.30 pm and the second seating 4.00 -4.30pm. So if you book your table soon enough no turkey to roast and no washing up to do for you!! What a Christmas present!!!
Following our two latest awards , the AA recommended Wine list and the French restaurant at the Awards ceremony in Glasgow the mood is pretty good at the moment and the team is really doing well. “Happy chef made Happy food” the saying goes, and our small team results are very pleasing and encouraging we still need to recruit one or two people in the coming weeks so we will be well staffed for December and the new year and we already have a few candidates to see so it is looking good. May be if you have a minute to spare and recently visited La Garrigue a wee endorsement on Trip Advisor will be really appreciated.
I have to leave you know as Simon from Henry’s in Stockbridge is coming in for a cheese presentation/tasting this afternoon and I am looking forward to tasting some new seasonal French cheeses to compliment our cheese platter….not good for my expanding waistline!!! Quel dommage!!
A bientôt,
J-Michel
Winner - Harpers French regional wine list 2013
Winner - Which? Scottish Restaurant of the Year 2010
Featured on "Ramsay's Best Restaurants"
La Garrigue - 0131 557 3032 or book online.
Find us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
I only been back for a week from my last wine Tour in Languedoc and already the enquiries are plentiful…..the word is spreading, so I am afraid that if you haven’t booked your space for the rest of 2016 then you will have to wait until next spring now but do not worry, I will publish the dates for 2017within the next few weeks so keep an eye open for my next letter.
Once again judging by the feed back received this last tour was a great success . Of course it is the time of the year when the vineyards are possibly the most interesting as the” vendanges “ , grapes harvest, are in full swing, and the cellars really busy .
This time again we tasted some really magical wines and had some great dinners and lunches in some of the region best vineyards, Clovallon, Mas Gabriel, Daumas Gassac, Chateau de l’Hospitalet, La Grange De Phillips , Mas D’Alezon to name just a few….the highlights…possible the picnic and wine tasting at Mas Gabriel, the lunch at the cellar at Clovallon, the visits at chateau de L’Hospitalet…..the wine tasting at Daumas Gassac and a fabulous dinner at l’auberge de Combes. But wherever we went the warmth and the welcome are always second to none; thank you to all the people involve for making the tours so special.
A close encounter with a wild boar resulting to some damage done to our transport vehicle could have ruined the day but some expert driving dealt with this incident in a very efficient way…..the only victim being the wild boar!!!
I received some news this week and it is still very warm and sunny ….cannot wait to go back! but before this happen there is plenty to do here at la Garrigue with Christmas round the corner, and a couple of events before then.
I really need to review the wine list and bring a couple of new wines and of course with the change off season the menu need to be updated to a more seasonal flavour….figs, chestnuts , wild mushrooms, pigeon, may be a pheasant or a Partridge some venison may be….the larder here is so plentiful….the next big event of course is the dinner hosted by Deborah and Peter from what has now become my favourite Domaine; Mas Gabriel in Caux. Deborah and Peter will be my guest for a couple of days and we will have a wine tasting at my favourite wine bar in Dunfermline the Reuben’s Cafe and Wine Store (01383731 475 for reservation) at 7pm on Monday the 17th of October , follow with a 5 courses dinner at La Garrigue on the 18th form 7pm onward. IT looks like we will have the aperitif at Urbane Art Gallery, next door to La Garrigue before dinner.
Places are limited for both even so please book your table as soon as possible for this very special evening. In any case I am planning to dedicate a whole section to Mas Gabriel on our wine list so you will be able to enjoy the wines every time you come to visit us .
I am also please to confirm that our festive menus for both Lunch and dinnerare now on ourwebsiteand the reservations are coming in quite fast just now, so it looks like December is going to be a very busy time for us. This year again La garrigue will be open on Christmas day with 2 services as per last year. the fist seating is at 12-12.30 pm and the second seating 4.00 -4.30pm. So if you book your table soon enough no turkey to roast and no washing up to do for you!! What a Christmas present!!!
Following our two latest awards , the AA recommended Wine list and the French restaurant at the Awards ceremony in Glasgow the mood is pretty good at the moment and the team is really doing well. “Happy chef made Happy food” the saying goes, and our small team results are very pleasing and encouraging we still need to recruit one or two people in the coming weeks so we will be well staffed for December and the new year and we already have a few candidates to see so it is looking good. May be if you have a minute to spare and recently visited La Garrigue a wee endorsement on Trip Advisor will be really appreciated.
I have to leave you know as Simon from Henry’s in Stockbridge is coming in for a cheese presentation/tasting this afternoon and I am looking forward to tasting some new seasonal French cheeses to compliment our cheese platter….not good for my expanding waistline!!! Quel dommage!!
A bientôt,
J-Michel
Winner - Harpers French regional wine list 2013
Winner - Which? Scottish Restaurant of the Year 2010
Featured on "Ramsay's Best Restaurants"
La Garrigue - 0131 557 3032 or book online.
Find us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter