SPRING 2025
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Boeuf Bourguignon - Rajasthan Restaurant - Le Rendez-Vous Bar - Le Central Bar-Brasserie - Vichyssoise Soup
Restaurant Ô Gayot - Grand Frais
BOEUF BOURGUIGNON
There are so many Classic French dishes but perhaps Boeuf Bourguignon would be number one when thinking of a French classic. We have the dish on our menu which is often chosen by our guests who enjoy the rich red wine beef sauce with very tender beef.
Ingredients - 4 people
1kg - Beef chuck steak cut in 3 to 4 cm cubes. ( Ideally beef has fat marbling through it to be extra tender when cooked )
Plain flour
4/6 Carrots
6/8 Shallots
8/10 Paris mushrooms
2 Garlic cloves coarsely chopped
2 litres Beef stock ( if using stock cubes - about 5/6 I also add a spoon full of Bovril)
1/2 bottle red wine (drinkable Burgundy wine not cooking wine)
3 table spoons Worcestershire sauce
2 table spoons Cognac or Calvados
Table spoon tomato purée
Bouquet de Garni of herbs
Salt and pepper
Trim beef cubes of any sinews and excess fat, but no all the fat as this is important to make beef tender.
Mix beef cubes in seasoned flour (Plain flour will help thicken the sauce)
In a heavy casserole dish fry the beef cubes in olive oil and in batches, turning so each side is browned.
In a separate frying pan fry the bacon lardons until nicely coloured but not crisp. Chop carrots, peel shallots.
Having coloured the beef, pour a small amount of the red wine and garlic into the casserole pan, scrape the bottom to de-glaze the pan.
Add all the boeuf to the pan and the rest of the red wine. Stir as the wine sauce thickens then add the carrots, shallots, bacon lardons and the Bouquet de Garni. Add the beef stock and season. Finally add the Tomato purée, Worcestershire sauce and Cognac/Calvados.
Bring to the boil, then cover and place in oven at 150c.
To make the beef beautifully tender cook long and slow (3 hours)
Lightly Pan fry the mushrooms in butter and add to the casserole for the final 30 minutes of cooking time.
Remove a piece of the beef to check the beef is melt in the mouth. If not, give the casserole a bit longer. Check seasoning to taste.
Remove the bouquet de Garni and its ready to enjoy. This can be made the day before and re-heated or good to freeze.
Suggest complimenting the Beef Bourguignon with buttery mash potatoes and green beans in butter and chopped garlic.
RAJASTHAN INDIAN RESTAURANT - MAYENNE
Visit any number of British towns and all will have one if not more Indian Restaurants. In France, you have to search out if a town has one and you are more likely only to find in larger cities. We have discovered three under an hour from us, two in Laval and one in Mayenne only 20 minutes away. The restaurants in Laval are satisfactory, though as the French are not great fans of hot spicy food the curries were nice but a bit bland to my taste. To celebrate a friends birthday we discussed where we should go and ended up deciding a curry would be good as we rarely have one here in France. So we opted to go to the Rajasthan Restaurant in Mayenne. Our waiter was very friendly who offered us a choice to eat in or outside, as a very pleasant evening we chose to eat out on the terrace. He soon offered us drinks and their à la Carte menu which has a good selection of Indian starters, Curries and Biriyani's. The menu also has a number of set 3 course menus and vegetable curries for those not wanting a meat or fish curry. We started with a selection of samosa's, chicken and prawn tikka and Seekh Kebab etc. to share. For the main course, two of our friends chose a Biriyani which they said was excellent, I like my curries hot and spicy so I chose a Chicken Vindaloo which I could not fault, in the UK this would be classed as a Madras, as hot and spicy but not 'blow your head off' as can be often found in UK restaurants. The variety of Naans were also very good, though the poppadom's are much smaller and not exactly as you find in the UK. Other than the quality of food, the attraction of the Rajasthan restaurant to us was that on a balmy evening as we had, you can eat on the terrace overlooking the River Mayenne. Though the interior restaurant looked a very pleasant setting also to eat on cooler evenings or in winter. Wine can be ordered from the small wine list, but as every Indian meal needs a cold beer, Kingfisher beer is available in bottles plus as I was driving I enjoyed their excellent mango lassi . If you fancy an Indian, I can thoroughly recommend this restaurant which is in the centre of town, by the castle and opposite the cinema.
Rajasthan Restaurant
13B Pl. Juhel
53100 Mayenne
Tel. No. 06 33 43 80 92
Monday Closed
Tuesday 12 noon - 2.30pm. 6.30pm - 10.30pm
Wednesday 12 noon - 2.30pm 6.30pm - 10.30pm
Thursday 12 noon - 2.30pm 6.30pm - 10.30pm
Friday 12 noon - 2.30pm 6.30pm - 11.00pm
Sunday 12 noon - 2.30pm 6.30pm - 10.30pm
LE RENDEZ-VOUS BAR - MAYENNE
There are a number of bars and restaurants in the centre of Mayenne, but when ever we visit we pop into Le Rendez-Vous bar for a coffee or aperitif. This quirky little bar is run by Dominique Collet. Dominique is always welcoming and the bar is warmly decorated with arm chairs and sofas with the walls covered with quirky artefacts and musical instruments. They offer a small menu on the black board such as a platter of charcuterie and cheese, oysters etc. Live music is very popular here with local bands playing at the back of the bar especially at weekends. An outside pavement terrace is open if you wish to people watch or as we did have a drink before going on to the Rajasthan restaurant which is just around the corner. The bar is also ideally located if going to the cinema opposite.
Le Rendez-Vous Bar
27 Pl. Georges Clemenceau
53100 Mayenne
Tel. No. 07 85 56 28 29
Monday Closed
Tuesday 9.30am - 10.00pm
Wednesday 9.30am - 10.00pm
Thursday 9.30am - 10.00pm
Friday 9.00am - 01.00am
Saturday 9.00am - 01.00am
Sunday 10.30am - 7.00pm
LE CENTRAL BAR-BRASSERIE - DOMFRONT EN POIRAIE
Le Central is a very popular bar on the cross roads in central Domfront, with only a short walk up to the old historical town centre and castle. The bar is run by a charming Chinese family who are always very welcoming. With its large street terrace it always has a vibrancy with a younger crowd and is popular with bikers touring the region who stop off for refreshments. The bar offers a good selection of draft beers, coffees etc. and snacks are also available at lunch time and in the early evening - Croque Monsieur, frites, salads etc. and great Chinese noodles and nems being available from the blackboard menu. This is one bar you can guarantee to be open and though they close Thursdays if this falls on a French holiday, they remain open unlike many other French bars. To the right of the bar is an excellent butchers serving high quality air-dried aged beef, lamb and pork. A little bit further to the right is the Festival des Pains, my favourite boulangerie/patisserie which sells a large variety of breads, fantastic quiches, incredible cakes, desserts and home-made chocolates. It is open all day Sunday, so after a lunch time drink at Le Central, I pop in for bread and treat us to one of their desserts.
Le Central Bar-Brasserie
1 Rue du Maréchal Foch
61700 Domfront en Poiraie
Monday - Wednesday 06h30 - 20h00
Thursday - Closed
Friday - Sunday 06h30 - 20h00
VICHYSSOISE SOUP
I find nothing better on a hot summers day than a bowl of chilled Vichyssoise soup. Though regarded as a classic it was not actually invented in France, but in the USA by French Chef, Louis Félix Diat in the early 1900's when he was head chef at the Ritz-Carlton in New York. Its humble beginnings came from his mothers Leek and Potato soup which she would make for the family whilst living near to the French town of Vichy. From my research it has never achieved the popularity in France that it has in the US and Britain. However if you have never had it, I would suggest trying it as it is delicious and so easy to make.
Ingredients : 4 people
2x Leeks ( tops removed )
1x Medium white onion
4x medium sized potatoes
1x garlic glove
2 litres Chicken stock
Chopped chives and parsley
1x Tsp Grated nutmeg
12 cl Double cream
Salt and pepper
Stale bread for croutons
Coarsely chop the white part of the leeks, onion and garlic. Slice the potatoes into cubes. Sweat the leeks and onion in olive oil in a covered casserole dish making certain they do not burnt and have become translucent. When the leeks and onion are soft, add the chopped garlic and sweat for a few more minutes. Once all the ingredients are soft add the cubed potatoes and stir in. Season with salt and pepper to taste and the grated nutmeg. Add the chicken stock and bring to the boil, simmering until the potatoes are soft. Once potatoes are soft remove from heat and let cool. When cool and safe to do so, use an electric hand blender and blend smooth making certain all the lumps have gone. Finally add the chopped chives and parsley and pour in the double cream blending it all together. If the consistency is a bit thick, add some water and blend in. When all complete place casserole dish in the fridge for a couple hours or more to chill.
To make the croutons, pre-heat a baking tray with oil on it in the oven. Cut the stale bread into cubes and add to the heated oil. Keep an eye on the croutons, turning them over a couple times with a spatular. Beware they will brown and burn rapidly. Let cool and these can be served on the top of the soup when chilled and ready to serve.
HOTEL RESTAURANT Ô GAYOT - BAGNOLES DE L'ORNE
Having visited Bagnoles de L'Orne many times I have always been disappointed with each meal we have eaten here. As you come through the town from before and after the lake, there are many restaurants offering the standard tourist fair of pizza, galettes, burgers etc. Possibly the worst meal I have eaten in France was served (without mentioning the name) at the restaurant beside the Casino. However, having visited the 'Fête des Planets' the excellent annual plant fair in the castle grounds, we had made a reservation for 6 of us at the Ô Gayot. As a pleasant warm Sunday, we opted for lunch on their terrace. A pleasant welcome as we took out seats in a good vibrant and pleasant restaurant which was full for Sunday lunch. The set Sunday menu only had one choice for each starter, main and dessert. Neither of these took our fancy, so we all opted for the à la carte menu. Service was good though two of our party were disappointed with the Foie Gras they ordered, saying it was not the best of quality and my starter was burnt. However we were all happy with our main courses.
I had ordered the Boeuf Tartare which was excellent. A pleasant lunch in good company costing with wine and aperitifs - 60.00€ per person. For a special occasion, I would like to try the Michelin * restaurant Le Manoir du Lys which is located just out of town and I understand is excellent as should be expected of a Michelin * restaurant. Hopefully will be able to report on this restaurant soon.
Restaurant Le Ô Gayot
2 Av. de la Ferté-Macé
61140 Bagnoles de L'Orne
Tel. No: +33 (0)233 384 401
Monday - Sunday 12h00 - 14h00 19h00-21h00
Tuesday - Closed
GRAND FRAIS - LAVAL
French supermarkets are very good, however I do find that the selection of fruit, vegetables and other items can at times be limited.
Gran Frais stores, which I would describe as an upmarket Waitrose can be found across France in the larger cities.
Their presentation is excellent and prices though slightly more expensive make up for it in quality. Their meat section offers 30 day air dried beef, a huge cheese selection offering all manner of French cheeses plus other European cheeses. Their fruit and vegetable selection is of the highest quality with mist sprayed over their salad selection to keep it fresh. Unlike the main supermarkets the choice is far greater with exotic vegetables and fruit from Asia and other countries. The store offers a good selection of fresh pastas plus other ingredients and spices from around the world. In autumn and winter, perhaps the only place to find a variety of mushrooms rather than the standard button mushrooms as they stock chanterelles, morels, porcini etc. Perhaps you wouldn't shop here daily but if in a city with an outlet definitely worth a visit.
Grand Frais
Rue des Alignés Z.A.
53000 Laval
Tel. No: +33 (0)243 560321
Monday - Saturday 09h00 - 19h30
Monday and Sunday 09h00 - 12h30