Bretagne, France - Quimper near Le Guilvinec

Restaurant La Rosaraie, Quimper, France - Wow, my type of place. I will gush later (in the next couple of days), given the late hour, I will let the pics speak for themselves:

http://www.roseraie-quimper.fr/
av. Mendès-France - Départemantale 20 - Lieu-dit Bel Air
29700 Pluguffan
Tél. : 02 98 53 50 80

Charming and warm but youthful elegance without the stuffiness:




Now to the food...went for lunch and opted for the 4 course menu.

We were offered the following suite of amuse bouche to accompany our coupes des champagne and scotch for my brother:



Amuse bouche: oysters on the half shell with asian accented mignonette, lobster with savory vanilla mousse, crispy eggplant cigars, and crispy ‘something’ balls.


Domaine Cauhape – Jurancon Sec 2008
What an interesting and gorgeous departure from the usual. I am hooked, and have been searching for it since. Just purchased a bottle from Perman Wines in the West Loop for BYOB dinner at El in Sept, can't wait to taste how that compares to this.

The oaked Gros Manseng (typically blended with about 30% Petit Manseng),Sève d'Automne, is harvested a little later in October and similarly fermented before spending ten months in used oak. There is a third Gros Manseng cuvée, Ballet d'Octobre (also typically blended with about 30% Petit Manseng), managed in a very similar fashion to the Sève d'Automne.

http://www.thewinedoctor.com/southwest/cauhape.shtml


First course: Facon Sardine en boite – Aubergine/emulsion thym/citron
- Shaped Sardine in box with eggplant, thyme emulsion and lemon


Encornet – Courgette fleur/air de chorizo
-Calamari with pea shoots and chorizo foam

Another look at the beauty...sigh


Onto the next course:

Saint-Pierre de petits bateaux – Petit pois/jeune poireaux/Satay
- Saint-Pierre (small boat) with stuffed zucchini flower, crispy olive grains, oven dried tomatoes, chanterelle mushroom and satay essence

Needed another wine and asked for a recommendation:

Much more delicate, and not anywhere as interesting. If we started with this first, I think I would have appreciated it much much more. Not memorable after the Jurancon Sec.
Clos Du Breuil – Montlouis Sur Loire 2009

Dessert course was deceivingly simple, but was the perfect ending to an innovative and creative meal executed with such finesse and elegant balance of fresh flavors.

Fraise du pays – Sable Breton, glace citron
-Strawberries with crisped buttery Breton shortcake, meringue batons, fresh currants with lemon ice cream and currant coulis

In closing:

The entire experience was effortless and deceptively simple, yet with such subtle complexity on all levels that can only be achieved by talented artists with access to the ingredients that speak of integrity and depth.

It has been more than a month since my return from Le Guilvinec, a commune of the Finistere department of the Bretagne region of France. i spent a week there with family, and given the abundance of seafood minutes (literally) off the boat, which requires minimal preparation, we did not to resto as much as other vacations. However, this is quite noteworthy, even after a month, it still resonates, so much so that I had to share it.

This 1-star Michelin outshines the 3-star we visited last year in Alsace for me by far. I'm such a cheap date.

Beautifully delicious photos! Thank you!

Sweet! I've spent lots of time in Concarneau, and one place I love is Chez Jacky in Reic-sur-Belon. Superb seafood, incredible view onto the water. I love it!

Geo

edited once to fix URL

Beautiful! I was in France less than a year ago and your posts make me feel like I already need to get back there, asap.

So many places, so little time . . .

=R=

All - Thank you for the kind encouragements. Just a modest journal of a special experience for me and my siblings.

Each continent offers its unique experience and rewards. I'm lucky enough to have 'must' reasons for yearly France visits, which is highly recommended if you can. However, there is the rest of Europe, African, etc. that I am missing out on....but what a consolation being with family and the beauty (flaws and all) that is France.

So return at the earliest opportunity...relax, and just be....in any rustic corner...

c'est si bon!