As I have told you, we go for outings almost every day in Provence. As we walk around Sablet past the boulangerie, épicerie and café before we leave, one or more of the villagers ask "where is your balade (ride) to today? Sometimes they offer a suggestion saying "do you know this village?"
We usually visit villages, wineries, historical sites or one of the many Provencal markets in the region. Once we decide where we are going, I try to find a good place for lunch as I don't like to leave that important decision to chance. Fellow foodies know exactly what I mean.
Sometimes our destination is a restaurant, then we hope it's in an interesting place or pretty spot, like the day we headed to Gaujac with friends Steve and Mary to dine at La Maison. I discovered La Maison in Michelin's Bonnes Petites Tables guide for 2013, my best resource for good restaurants.
Gaujac is a small village (population 1,026) on the other side of the Rhone river in the department of Gard in the Languedoc-Roussillon region about one hour from our home in Sablet. Here are some sights that caught my eye as we walked around Gaujac before lunch.
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| Gaujac |
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| Gaujac gate |
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| Gaujac town hall |
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| Gaujac fountain |
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| Gaujac church |
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| Gaujac gate |
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| Gaujac tower |
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| Gaujac house |
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| Gaujac clock tower with iron belfry |
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| Gaujac war memorial |
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| La Maison Restaurant |
La Maison is located in a 17th century vigneron's (winery owner) house built in the defensive walls of Gaujac.
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| Shirley waiting outside La Maison Restaurant |
The restaurant is owned by chef Christine and husband Pierre who works the front of the house. The restaurant has been owned by the couple for 9 years. Options for seating are a vaulted dining room and patio.
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| La Maison Restaurant dining room |
As I said, I found La Maison in the 2013 Michelin Guide to Bonnes Petites Tables. Restaurants in the Guide have been chosen as Michelin inspector's favorites and awarded a Bib Gourmand. Bib Gourmand restaurants offer three courses for 31 Euros or less.
We ordered a bottle of 2012 Château de Tresques Côtes du Rhône rosé and waited for lunch. First out, an amuse bouche of carrot ginger soup with a swirl of reduced balsamic vinegar on top. A great start. Check out the rest of our meal.
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| Amuse bouche of carrot ginger soup with swirl of reduced balsamic vinegar |
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| First course of grilled tuna over lentil salad with soy sauce and sesame oil. |
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| Main course of grilled beef |
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| Main course of pan roasted sea bass with Madras curry sauce and sweet potato vanilla puree. |
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| Friend Steve |
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| Friend Mary |
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| Dessert |
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| Dessert trio |
The food was excellent and service was friendly and attentive. The only slightly negative thing if any would be there are only a couple of choices for each course. We look forward to a return visit.
There is not a lot to see in Gaujac but La Maison would be a great choice for lunch or dinner before or after a visit to the
Pont du Gard (19 km),
Uzès (19 km), or wine tasting in
Tavel (17 km) or Lirac (14 km).
La Maison Restaurant
Rue du Presbytère
30330 Gaujac
Tel: 04 66 39 33 08
www.lamaison.gaujac.com
Have a great week. Chat soon.
There actually aren't so many foodie oriented restaurants in that region, so thanks for the heads up Michel! Have a wonderful week too...
ReplyDeleteHi Heather. You are right about that as we have looked for foodie oriented places as we travel around the Gard. This is one I would highly recommend as the food is excellent, service too and I think reasonably priced.
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