Friday – Sunday 17-19 April 2026
Friday was another trip to Nanna’s, this time for lunch. In
the hour and a half that we dined there were only six patrons but it was a
remarkable meal. Starting with local Rose and Colliers red wine, we had the
offered three course prix fixe meal. These were all served in an eclectic mix
of crockery and just perfect portions. Entrée was whipped cheese and crème
fraiche topped with carraway blanched beetroot and plenty of fresh baguette. The
English translation was inaccurately described as ‘beetroot cheesecake.’
The plat was a Moroccan bowl of cous cous with broth cooked
carrot and potato pieces and the broth served on the side, along with a small
bowl of harissa. ‘Be careful, it’s harissa!” Mild really. Even channelling
their old empire, the French don’t do spicy. It was topped off with two spiced
meatballs. Magnificent combination of subtle but recognisable African flavours.
So good, that Flashy indulged in three glasses of wine. Alas, the driver was
limited to one rose.
Dessert was sliced fresh strawberries in a pale liquid. What
could this be? Not sweet. Not bitter. Then Lady P says “Ah, ha. It’s cold mint
tea!” And it was. And it was delicious with another tilt to Morocco.
All up for the meal and four wines, plus a take home bottle
of 18,60€ red wine - 68€. A bargain and some food ideas to
take away for other entertaining.
The warm weather continues, so it is off to Cognac on
Saturday. Last time we were there it was raining heavily, the market was washed
out, we saw not much of the town and Flashy got a haircut from a ’hairdresser.’
This time, we walked around the old town in beautiful Spring
weather. The market hall, a steel and glass structure was shut for renovations.
Nonetheless, we managed to buy some clothes, a baguette, a cold beer and Aperol
Spritz and observe that Flashy’s barber
still had his man bun.
Home to regroup before dinner in the nearby village of La
Pinelle at La Table du Chef Corvez.
To set the scene. We are in the massive floodplain/valley(s)
of the Charente River, due east of LPR. It is very rural and looks to be quite
well off. Large scale cropping such as silage, canola, sunflowers, maize and
barley, along with vineyards surround us. In between the larger service towns such
as Limoges, Angouleme, Cognac, St Jean d’Angeley, there are dozens of smaller
villages. These all seem deserted. Mainly because the French hide their homes behind
large stone or concrete walls. So, after driving through eight or more small
villages, we arrive at 7.00 pm to La Pinelle.
Hidden in the back streets is the 40 seat, Gault Millau,
multi awarded restaurant, La Table du Chef Corvez. Plenty of expat Brits in
this part of the world, so not surprising that the staff speak excellent
English. It’s a 3 course, prix fixe menu. A limited but well priced wine list,
including ‘by the glass,’
A Champagne accompanies the amuse bouche of olive tapenade en croute. Lady P chooses the gravlax of Ocean Trout, the chef’s special of nine hour slow cooked pork ribs and a Cognac Baba. Flashy had the penis de cheval. Well, actually it was white asparagus, (asperge blanche) a Spring speciality throughout Europe and 19€ a kilo in the markets; fillet of lamb perfectly cooked pink and the tart tatin.
As we are
closer to Bordeaux then Burgundy, a nice Bordeaux Blanc, Bordeaux Superior
Rouge and a local Rose were an excellent selection. The meal of three courses,
two amuse, and six wines was 115€.
The restaurant was fully booked and clearly, very popular. I’m eating a
strawberry as I type. Remember when strawberries had no white bits and tasted,
well, of strawberries? Amazing.
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