Company Christmas Lunch in Paris Shang Palace

Today I'm eating out with my boss and colleagues at the Shang Palace in Paris.
This restaurant looks great and it has just been awarded a Michelin star this year.
I'm looking forward to the experience.   I'll try and take a couple of photos.

Three restaurants in Brittany...First up Avel Vor

To celebrate Alain's thirty something birthday, we reserved to table at L'Avel Vor in Port Louis.
We had heard mixed reviews about this place, hence us not eating there before now (we've been going to Brittany ever year for twelve years now.
The website probably sold me on trying this place out, so hats off to whoever did the job on it, because you (me at least) feel virtually immersed in the restaurant.
The compliments stop here...well nearly, maybe just one for the dessert.

Upon entering the restaurant we were fairly warmly greeted and shown to our table, which was placed next to a window, which good (there are some badly positioned tables, with little or no intimacy, fairly gloomy and noisy to add), then we mulled over the menu, knowing really that we'd already decided before hand. We chose the menu Terre et Mer at 63 euros and then waited.  
More people arrived, the restaurant was almost to full capacity and there were only two floor staff, and the chef's wife who wasn't very efficient.   Before even ordering (we were ready though) some amuse bouches were served, I thought this odd, but ate up. I racking my brains trying to remember what we actually ate, but nothing springs to mind, so nothing exceptional, just ok.
Still no-one came to take our order, making us feel slightly uncomfortable, we finished by having to ask by form of gestures (this is a one star michelin restaurant, service should be important),    
Eventually, after our order was taken and wine chosen, the first course came quickly, which was Nage de lotte aux aromates et tomates, vinaigre de Xeres (Monfish with herbs, tomatoes and Xeres vinegar).  The fish was good (never had a bad experience when it comes to fish from this region of France), however the plate lacked something, maybe some more seasoning would have been good.
For our next service we had a filet of sole, stuffed with blue lobster  and a duxelle of mushrooms, it looked good, tasted ok, still missing that something special and the course was served a little too cold for my liking.
I knew when it came to the next course, pigeon with pan-fried foie gras and crispy potatoes, that I'd probably have issues with the pigeon, which turned out to be true, so I can't be objective about this one, because I just don't like pigeon, but Alain disliked it too and the way it was prepared.  
I did say earlier there weren't any more compliments to be given a part from the dessert and thanks to that, it saved our evening from being one huge gastronomic disappointment (that sounds harsh, but true).
We ate the most amazing, truly probably one of the best ever desserts served in a restaurant or anywhere else for that matter, that night, a delice  choco passion, sablé à la vanille de Madagascar (chocolate passion delice,  and a Madagascar vanilla sable.
It looked fantastic, tasted devine, just faultless, awesome chocolate, texture, taste, vanilla sable that just melted in my mouth....now just for that I'd go back there, right now, but just for dessert.  And, I'd do almost anything for a sable right now with my cup of tea, but I'll have to do with a chocolate tartine.

Auvergne with two children and a donkey (Pessade to Orcival)

Meet Chocolat, our donkey for a week, the one that carried our 17kilos of luggage 83 kms over a six day period.  We picked him up in Pessade (Rando Ane) a a round 11am on our second day (first night camping next to Lac Aydat).

 After going over how to car for a donkey and where to find the fields to put him in of a night, we were off.  Above is a view after Pessade towards where we were heading.

After about ten kilometers this is where we stayed for the night, Orcival.  We really loved this village and looking back, this is where we ate out best meal.  A delicous Saint Nectaire Tart, followed by a so tender beef casserole (paleron), then a cheese platter and a creme brulée.  If you are even in Orcival, go and check out the Hotel de la Cassade, it's a bit stuck in a time warp but the owners are lovely and the food, well, fantastic.

One of the many things are love about this region of France, a part from the food and the people, is the architecture, especially the roofs shapes and slate used.

Alexis and Marie Kate preferred what was housed under that roof, a chocolate artisan.

We only stayed here for one night and the night day we made our way to Laschamps (more to follow)

The church in the background is called Notre Dame. On the outside walls you can see prisoner's balls and chains hanging.  This church is devoted to freed prisoners.

Astrance, amazing restaurant in Paris

Last Thursday, Alain and I got to eat at Astrance.  The table was booked in October, we had intended on eating there for our anniversary, but the restaurant was booked up for lunch until December, so instead we ate at the cinq, and although the meal was good, I think it's reputation is  way over hyped.

This was going to be our last shot in a starred restaurant, mainly because of our experience at the Cinq, but after eating at the Astrance, we've been blown away by the food, the service and the incredibly relaxed atmosphere that we're going back in February (booked till then) and I just can't wait.

As soon as I figure out how to transfer the photos on my phone to my computer, I'll put some photos on the blog of what we ate, however the food was so amazing, there aren't many, I just didn't want to spoil the experience by taking photos of every course, amuse bouche et cetera.

To be updated soon

Last restaurant: Imli

Imli(wall decor)

Imli is in Soho on Wardour Street. It's best to go there before 6pm with children because they have a special children's 3 course meal for £5.99, we didn't know that before, we never eat that early. On arriving in the restaurant, we weren't told that, never mind, it was still worth eating in with the children. The staff helped us choosing suitable food for the children (not too spicy) and Alain and I had the tasting menu for two. The lamb was fantastic, the smoked fish too.
I was a bit disappointed with the dessert, carrot fudge, it was a little dry and the ice-cream wasn't so good either.

It was the most expensive restaurant we dined in while in London, costing £92 including tips and wine. With hindsight, it's probably better to eat here with older children, Marie-Kate found the food still too spicy for her liking.

London: Super Mexican Restaurant

Wahaca was really a great place to eat, fun, spicy and in. Just of Covent Garden, this place was Gabrielle's and perhaps my favourite restaurant that we dined in.

The children were really made to feel welcome, the staff gave them crayons to colour their menus, and they helped us choose suitable things for them to eat.

We arrived just before the rush and were lucky to have a place without waiting.

We shared some heavenly guacamole (best I've ever tasted), ate plenty of great food, shared a bottle of good wine and finished off with some churros and some mango sorbet for £70 with tips, the cheapest place we ate inIf only I knew how to make guacamole like this.

Next year this restaurant is first on my list to re-visit.