Awards and citations:


1997: Le Prix du Champagne Lanson Noble Cuvée Award for investigations into Champagne for the Millennium investment scams

2001: Le Prix Champagne Lanson Ivory Award for investdrinks.org

2011: Vindic d'Or MMXI – 'Meilleur blog anti-1855'

2011: Robert M. Parker, Jnr: ‘This blogger...’:

2012: Born Digital Wine Awards: No Pay No Jay – best investigative wine story

2012: International Wine Challenge – Personality of the Year Award




Wednesday 4 March 2009

Guide Michelin 2009: Touraine won 1 – lost 3

@L'Aubinière starred restaurant in Saint-Ouen-les-Vignes

The new edition of the Guide Michelin has given one restaurant in Tours a star – Au Rive Gauche (www.toursrivegauche.com/) run by Pascal Vuillemin, who used to be number two to the now retired Jean Bardet.

However, three restaurants Touraine restaurants have lost stars. Au Plaisir Gourmand in Chinon was no surprise as chef-owner Jean-Claude Rigollet has now retired and theis long established restaurant has shut. Château du Pray near Amboise has lost its star following the departure last year of chef Ludovic Laurenty, while in Amboise Le Choiseul has lost its star following chef Pacal Bouvier’s departure to Au Coin des Halles in Langeais.

Following the retirement last year of Jean Bardet there are now no two-star restaurants in Touraine. Quite why Jacky Dallais’s excellent La Promenade does not have at least two stars is beyond me and may say more about Michelin’s criteria that Jacky’s cooking and the restaurant’s excellent wine list.

La Promenade, Jacky Dallais (Le Petit Pressigny)

Further east there are two new stars in Bourges: Le Piet -à-Terre, formerly in Châteaumeillant, and D'Antan Sancerrois (www.dantansancerrois.com/).

6 comments:

Susan said...

I'm a big fan of Jacky Dallais too. A couple of years ago, when we first started coming to the Touraine, and didn't know any of the wines, I made the wine waiter smile by choosing something more or less at random then telling him how delighted I was the moment I tasted it.

Jim's Loire said...

La Promenade is one of my favourite restaurants in France. It is a pity that it is a 60k drive there and back and that it is very difficult to find somewhere to stay nearby.

Xavier certainly knows his wines.

Susan said...

Is that a hint? :-) We are still in camping mode, with no hot water etc, but once we are sorted out (hopefully later this year), we may be able to arrange something :-)

Jim's Loire said...

Susan

No it certainly wasn't intended as a hint. There used to be a not very good b&b opposite the restaurant. Due the distance we tend to go there for lunch.

Susan said...

Just teasing you a little about hinting, Jim :-) If I hear of anything within walking distance of La Promenade I'll let you know.

Jim's Loire said...

Hi Susan. That would be great if you happen to hear of anywhere nearby. Thanks.