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Restaurant La Rocadine in the Roannais
This month La Rocadine has once again hosted another successful evening soirée. A local investment club monthly reunion was organised at the restaurant which specialises in high quality traditional French cuisine such as ‘Foie Gras’ and ‘Boeuf de Charolaise’.
Recently revamped and redecorated, La Rocadine once again surpassed expectations.
Specialities : foie gras, viande charolaise, poissons, desserts maison. Closed Sundays, Saturday lunchtime, Wednesday evening, and Bank Holidays Open daytime 12.00 to 1.30pm, evening from 9.00pm (summer), and from 8.45pm (winter). Menu – 12€ (during the week) to 34€.Menu for children 10€ (up to 10 years) Groups 60 max. Handicap access. Terrace. Take-away Service: foie gras,terrine, poissons, viandes, dessert. Order 1 week in advance.
This is a sincere recommendation to an excellent restaurant run by Jérôme and Mélanie Sadot.In typical Jérôme fashion his menu and presentation is traditional French, but with contemporary and original styling. A winning combination along with the use of high quality, local produce.
It’s a good sign when you can see many local French people are eating and enjoying themselves there!
Visit: Purefrancenow Roannais Directory – La Rocadine
Part 1: Our Man from the Roannais in London! by Brian Franklin
April has been a remarkable month for us.
We started our sojourn in London with a 2 night stay in the heart of the City.
After a long, warm, sunny walk through the iconic streets of the city, and catching numerous taxis to various points of interest.
From the historic Saint Catherine’s Dock over the famous Tower Bridge for some great views of the River Thames.
We then headed to the southside of the Thames via the famous Millenium Bridge and to the new Globe Theatre for a bit of Shakespearian history.
A perfect use of an old power station!
Simply mind-blowing, and quite emotional. Definitely one of the best experiences of the week-end.
After the ‘buzz’ of Covent Garden another type of ‘buzz’ was experienced as we all had a flight on the huge London Eye with spectacular views of the city. Jean-Marc’s vertigo was under control, so he enjoyed the ride tremendously. Great Fun!!
Our magical London visit, however, did not end there, and like all good tourists we also ‘did’ Buckingham Palace and visited the Queen!! A sunny stroll through the Palace gardens past Horse Guards Parade to the symbolic Trafalgar Square, just to remind Jean-Marc of the battle won over the French by our great Admiral of the Seas – Lord Nelson!!
Back to our City-based hotel to rest our somewhat weary legs for a short relax and some cool refreshment. In the evening we jumped into a taxi to Jamie Oliver’s ‘Fifteen’ restaurant where we had an absolutely delightful evening of exceptional food, and very attentive and charming service.
Definitely to be recommended.
Take a look at their website: Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Restaurant, London
To be fair we had done so much in such a short 2-day period it felt like a week! Jean- Marc was very happy!
The Royal Academy of Arts, London
Part 2 of “Our Man from the Roannais” series will follow shortly, amongst the famous towers and spires of Oxford, including a visit to the Wye Valley, and the Cotswolds.
The Magnificent Hunting Lodge in the Roannais! by Brian Franklin
Yes, we’re back once more at ‘La Loge’ – a magnificent hunting lodge with all its vast lakes and woodland. An absolute paradise for creatures great and small!
For the last year, or more, this countryside wonderland has lived and prospered without a visit from us, and we have certainly missed its wild embrace.
But during this year’s long Easter week-end we have at last walked its by-ways, breathed its fresh, aromatic air, and floated on its waters, once again.
Spring has arrived now with a vengeance, and the trees and waterside grasses are budding and greening up. Many varieties of waterfowl are also evident, including huge numbers of ducks, mating swans, and moor hens, along with huge herons flying majestically overhead.
Despite the regional water table being hit with the very hot and dry summer of last year, and insufficient rainful during this last winter the persistence of the renowned ‘ragondin’ is ever-present, with tell-tale footprints in the mud and freshly-dug holes in the dried mud of the embankments.
The beaver-like ‘ragondin’ is a big pest in these parts, and needs constant culling. Michel, our good hunter-friend always has his pistol at the ready!
He tells us that during the previous week he shot and killed one which was over 2 metres long!
All part of the rugged, and down-to-earth reality of estate management and the ever-vigilance of the hunter’s life.
Probably, however, a little too bloody and red in tooth and claw for my wife, Lucy!
Ellis, our 9 year-old son, on the other hand, is in a magical world – a real-life adventure kingdom.
Made even more incredible and full of fun this time since Michel gave him some lessons on shooting with both rifle and pistol.
Worryingly, Ellis was exceedingly good at it, and probably a little too enthusiatic about it all for my wife’s liking!
We all had a great traipse through the woodland, and once again, Michel continued to explain about the different plant life around us. There were many tracks of deer and wild boar, too, and although I have experienced a little duck shooting and deer-stalking, I have never had the good fortune of being involved in a wild boar hunt, despite having invitations to do so. Hopefully this year will be the first time!
Michel, Ellis, and I went off in one of the boats across the lake (the English boys doing the paddling (I think this is traditional!), while Michel relaxed in the bows and directed operations.
We got back to the lodge, and sat outside under rough beams and eaves, and finished off with an Easter gateau (made by Lucy), and some refreshing rosé wine ( a taste perhaps, of a long, hot summer to come!)
It was a great day. We’ll be back!
More on ‘The Chasse’…..
‘A Day in the Hunting Grounds of ‘Le Chasse’
‘Fishing, Hunting, and Fun at La Loge in the Roannais’