Arnaud Lallement’s Cuisine

Trained by renowned chefs such as Roger Vergé, Michel Guérard or Alain Chapel, Arnaud Lallement became interested in cooking at a very young age thanks to his father Jean-Pierre, who was also a starred chef at the time. First Michelin star at only 27 years old, second star at 31, chef of the year by Gault & Millau in 2013, and a third star the following year at the age of 40, that gives you a small idea of the incredible rise and talent of chef Arnaud Lallement.

The Emotion Menu

During my visit to the Assiette champenoise, I had the chance to live a unique gastronomic experience with the Emotion menu: 9 courses, each accompanied by a glass of champagne. After a few delicious appetizers, of course accompanied by a good glass of champagne (an excellent blanc de blanc from Étienne Calsac), it was time to move on to the many different courses.

• Potée champenoise
• Green asparagus S. Erhardt – egg yolk – red sansho (the first two entries were accompanied by a glass of René Grué Carte Noire Chouilly champagne)
• Pea tartlet (sounds simple, but it’s the best tartlet I’ve ever eaten) with a beautiful glass of Francis Boulard’s Les Murgiers, 100% pinot meunier champagne
• Caviar from Kaviari – Haddock with a glass of G.H. Mumm Golden
• Blue lobster with a glass of Nicolas Maillart’s rosé champagne grand cru
• Saint Pierre de petit bateau – onion B. Deloffre
• Green curry – celery (the last two dishes were accompanied by the incredible Louis de Sacy Cuvée XII in Magnum)
• Veal – chimichurri with my favorite champagne of the day, a glass of Pol Roger Brut rosé vintage 2008
• Lemon deconstructed – Mr. Baches with an excellent glass of ratafia champenois

Member of Relais & Châteaux

L’Assiette champenoise is not only a 3 star Michelin restaurant, it is also a renowned hotel member of the prestigious Relais & Châteaux network with its 33 rooms and suites combining comfort and modernity.

Whether you sleep or eat at the Assiette champenoise, it is an utterly unique experience that awaits you! I can only advise you to go there at least once in your life if your budget allows it!

How to get there

L’Assiette Champenoise
40, Avenue Paul Vaillant-Couturier
51430 Tinqueux
assiettechampenoise.com
infos@assiettechampenoise.com

Cet article My Lunch Experience at l’Assiette Champenoise est apparu en premier sur vino2travel.

Tartarun

Located in the very picturesque fishing village of Marsaxlokk, Tartarun celebrates freshly caught fish and shellfish every day. Tartarun is the name of a fishing net in Maltese. Take a stroll through the picturesque fishing harbor with its colorful boats before heading to the restaurant. I ate very well at Tartarun. For starters, a succulent octopus salad, and for the main course, a tasty plate of seafood, accompanied by a good glass of chardonnay (the Isis vintage from Meridiana Wine Estate). A very nice wine list with the best of the island, including several old vintages of the Grand Master of Marsovin, one of the most famous wines of Malta. tartarun.com

In Marsaxlokk, you will find other good restaurants around the fishing port, including La Capanna and Ta’ Victor.

Caviar & Bull

This chic restaurant, located in the very modern community of St. Julian’s, offers modern Mediterranean cuisine. Chef Marvin Gauci’s cuisine features products from the local market, to the delight of the guests. I had excellent grilled squid and tacos. Most dishes come in tapas format, so order several to share! Caviar & Bull also has another restaurant in Budapest, Hungary. caviarandbull.com

Legligin

Legligin is both a wine bar and a restaurant in the center of Valletta, the capital of the island of Malta. Legligin is a Maltese slang word used to describe someone who drinks too much! During my visit, I opted for the tasting menu. The cuisine is typically Maltese and the food had a lot of flavor. I left the restaurant more than full. Very good choice of wine too! A very good address in Valletta! Legligin on Facebook

More suggestions

Pour avoir visité quelques vignobles lors de mon passage à Malte, j’ai obtenu pas mal de recommandations de restaurants, je vous les donne en vrac :

• The Cliffs Restaurant sur la côte ouest (pour observer le coucher du soleil)
• The Medina Restaurant et De Mondion dans la superbe ville perchée de L-Imdina
• Tarragon Restaurant, Lovage Bistro et Café del Mar (pour une journée détente à la piscine) sur la côte nord
• Mgarr United (pour regarder un match de Manchester United ou manger des spécialités typiques telles que le lapin frit ou les escargots)

• Gululu Kcina, in St. Julians to enjoy its large terrace and its friendly atmosphere
• Be-Birgu and Tal-Petut in Vittoriosa for typical Maltese cuisine
• Tmun Restaurant, Il Kartell, or Pulena on the island of Gozo

Cet article Eating out in Malta est apparu en premier sur vino2travel.

Guts and Glory

This charming little restaurant offers themed menus that change every 3 months. For lunch, a surprise menu of 3, 4 or 5 courses, and for dinner, the same concept, but with 5, 6 or 7 courses. As you don’t know what you are going to eat, of course, you are asked if there are foods you don’t like or if you have any food allergies. When I visited, the restaurant had a Latin American themed menu. At the moment, it is Spain that is in the spotlight. I liked everything about this little restaurant: the service, the presentation and most importantly the quality of the food. gutsglory.nl

Restaurant C

C for Celsius. Open since October 2015, Restaurant C has indeed created its menu around the concept of temperature. The entire menu is indeed listed according to temperature scales: 0-20C raw or cold, 40-80C low temperature, 100C steamed and seared, 200C grill, plancha and tempura! The decor of the restaurant is very successful and the kitchen is integrated in a large central island where the food is prepared. I was seated at the bar and I was able to observe with attention one of the cooks preparing my dishes. The food is of impeccable quality. Very nice bar also to taste succulent cocktails. My favorite of the 5 restaurants I visited during my stay in Amsterdam. c.amsterdam

Wolf Atelier

The restaurant of Austrian chef Michael Wolf is located in a beautiful glass building built on an old railway bridge, not far from Amsterdam’s central station. The atmosphere is very cozy, especially with the bar area as soon as you enter the restaurant. Wolf Atelier offers a 15-course tasting menu for the biggest appetites (at 70 euros when I visited). Otherwise, there are more classic 4 and 5 course menus. I found the wine list a bit short, really the only criticism to make. Otherwise, the food as well as the service were really great. And the portions were surprisingly big compared to what we are used to see in restaurants of this standing! wolfatelier.nl

Choux

One of the latest gastronomic additions to the Amsterdam culinary scene, Choux is always busy. Reservations required!!! Located just a stone’s throw from the central station, the restaurant is on the first floor. The first floor is dedicated to cultural events (the program is very varied). Of the five restaurants I went to, Choux is by far the one with the best wine offer. Riedel glasses and waiters who know a lot about wine. But above all, a very nice menu that includes names like Hervé Souhault, Philippe Bornard, Belluard, Frédéric Cossard, Philippe Pacalet, Yvon Métras, La Stoppa or Emidio Pepe, to name a few, but not the least! The restaurant was packed. All the items on the menu are composed of 4 ingredients. The food is very good, everything is very well executed, almost too much! A little downside, I found that some dishes had too many different flavors… Very nice experience though ! choux.nl

EN Japanese kitchen and sake bar

Chef Ken Osawa has mastered the art of sushi, to say the least. The chef’s creations are fabulous, but it’s not all raw fish! The 3, 5 or 7 course tasting menus will delight your taste buds. Very large choice of sake. I had a very good time at EN. The manager Ryuji and the chef Ken are both very friendly and are an integral part of the great experience you will have by going to this restaurant. Japanese food lovers, you will be delighted ! en-amsterdam.nl

Other Restaurant Suggestions

I didn’t go there, but I heard great things about it, here are some other suggestions of restaurants in Amsterdam : Loetje, Jaimie Van Heije, De Ysbreeker, Oriental City. For a next time

Cet article Eating out in Amsterdam est apparu en premier sur vino2travel.

Le Comptoir Charcuteries et Vins

Located on Saint-Laurent Avenue, a stone’s throw from Saint-Joseph Avenue, Le Comptoir was opened in October 2010. The owner, chef Segué Lepage, had the goal of opening a place where you could have a good glass of wine while eating, among other things, homemade charcuterie. At the time, working with charcuterie yourself was not a common practice in Montreal.

Le Comptoir Charcuteries et Vins met en grande majorité de l’avant des vins nature ou bio. La carte des vins montée par la sommelière et copropriétaire Laurence Michèle Dufour met en lumière des petits vignerons qui travaillent bien, «petits par la taille, mais grands pour la qualité de leurs vins». La carte, qui contient une centaine de références (d

Le Comptoir Charcuteries et Vins features mostly natural or organic wines. The wine list put together by sommelier and co-owner Laurence Michèle Dufour highlights small winemakers who work well, “small in size, but big in the quality of their wines. The wine list, which contains about 100 wines (many from France), changes a lot. Le Comptoir offers about a dozen wines by the glass, which are renewed every week.

As for the food, if the traditional plank of artisanal charcuterie remains a must, the culinary offer of Le Comptoir is far from being limited to that. The dishes prepared by Segué Lepage combine finesse and balance and highlight market products. Laurence recommends two per person. The chef will always try to use a delicatessen in each of the dishes prepared.

Le Comptoir also organizes wine events, especially when winemakers are in town to offer tastings of their wines, at a modest price in order to democratize wine.

Le Comptoir has opened a boutique, La Réserve du Comptoir, located on Amherst Street, near the Marché Saint-Jacques. You can stock up on your favorite charcuterie, which is made on site!

We like: the tasty dishes, the very glouglou wines on the menu, the very relaxed atmosphere of the place, and the home-made charcuterie
To treat yourself: wines from Massa Vecchia (Tuscany), Pierre Frick (Alsace), Bruno Duchêne (Roussillon), Eric Pfifferling (Southern Rhône), Frank Cornellissen (Sicily), Thierry Allemand (Cornas), Prieuré-Roch (Bourgogne).

Le Comptoir Charcuteries et Vins
4807 boulevard Saint-Laurent Montréal, QC H2T 1R6
(514) 844 8467
comptoircharcuteriesetvins.ca

Chez Lavigne

In the heart of the Saint-Henri neighborhood in the southwestern part of the island of Montreal, Chez Lavigne is the latest addition to the Montreal wine scene. Created by Éric Bernard and Catherine Tremblay, the wine bar that features “live” wines opened in March 2016. It was Catherine who put together the wine list with a focus on wines without any added chemicals. Consumers are more and more interested in knowing what they are eating and the owners of Chez Lavigne think it is the same for what they are drinking.

The particularity of the bar is that all the wines are available by the glass! If the menu only has about thirty references, it changes very regularly. As for food, the menu is elaborated with products from local suppliers. There are dishes to share such as mushroom dumplings, salmon gravlax or herring rillettes. More substantial dishes are also on the menu, such as pork loin or guinea fowl confit.

Chez Lavigne has just launched a wine club. Depending on the type of annual membership, you can get discounts on wine, food, tastings, and even get a free bottle at the bar for your birthday!

We like: all wines are available by the glass, oysters at $1.50 and $10 off bottles on Thursday night, very original and tasty cuisine.
To treat yourself: a champagne from Larmandier-Bernier, wines from Milan Nestarec (Czech Republic), Olivier Pithon (Roussillon) or Jean Foillard (Beaujolais).

Chez Lavigne
4280 rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montréal, QC H4C 1R6
(514) 939-1111
chezlavigne.com

Buvette Chez Simone

Opened in June 2008, Buvette Chez Simone is located on Avenue du Parc, on the border of Mile End, Outremont and Plateau Mont-Royal. Simone Chevalot, who was an actress at the time but had always worked in the restaurant business, wanted to set up a European-style wine bar. At that time, there were only bars and restaurants. Too few places were able to offer a nice wine offer and combine it with quality food. Simone joined forces with 5 other partners to create La Buvette, a casual wine bar with the goal of making it affordable for everyone.

The wine list has about sixty references. La Buvette offers its customers 8 glasses of red wine by the glass, 8 whites, one rosé, and one orange wine. The wine list is very European and features wines that are easy to digest, fresh and easy to drink. In short, thirsty wines. The wines by the glass are changed every two weeks.

In the kitchen, Chef Julia Giraud is in charge. The menu changes according to the seasons, but always includes some classics like the famous roast chicken of the Buvette. Some customers come all the way to the bar just for the chicken just out of the rotisserie!

We like: the festive and relaxed atmosphere of the Buvette, the very eclectic clientele, the terrace.
To treat yourself: the wines of Gérard Boulay (Sancerre), Camin Larredya (Jurançon), Olivier Pithon (Roussillon), Alain Graillot (Rhône), Philippe Bornard (Jura), Mas Jullien (Languedoc), Philippe Pacalet (Beaujolais).

Buvette Chez Simone
4869 avenue du Parc, Montréal, QC H2V 4E7
(514) 750-6577
buvettechezsimone.com

Rouge Gorge

Rouge Gorge opened in March 2015 in the heart of the Mount Royal neighborhood. The co-owners, Alain Rochard and Laurent Farre, own a vineyard in the south of France, Vignoble du Loup blanc. The bar has a very extensive wine list with more or less 400 references depending on the season. Most of the wines are organic and biodynamic, but there are also a few natural wines, often thirsty wines. The menu changes regularly. The bar also offers a very large choice of wines by the glass, between 30 and 40.

The owners were at the head of the Continental restaurant which for a long time was a reference in Montreal. They had built a cellar there for almost 25 years. Some of the pins followed and Rouge Gorge now has several great vintages. The bar organizes tasting trios every Tuesday night. On Monday nights, you can listen to jazz, and on Wednesdays, private import agencies sometimes taste their wines. On Fridays, the atmosphere is set with the presence of DJs.

If the Rouge Gorge is above all a bar (one comes there to drink more than to eat), it is nevertheless possible to eat there. The first part of the menu is composed of classics such as oysters, cold meats or cheeses, the second part of the menu is composed of dishes that change according to the market products.

Rouge Gorge has also created a wine club called Red Gorges. Being part of the club gives you access to group tours of vineyards, certain tastings as well as the purchase of certain wines as private imports.

We like: the wines offered by the half-glass, the very well-stocked wine list (including a lot of great wines from Languedoc), the decoration.
To treat yourself: a Champagne from Lassaigne, wines from Hubert Lamy or Philippe Pacalet (Burgundy), François Cotat (Sancerre), Chateau Rayas or Jean-Louis Chave (Rhône), Domaine de Montcalmès, Roc d’Anglade and Grange des Pères (Languedoc), Domaine Belluard (Savoie), etc.

Rouge Gorge
1234 avenue du Mont-Royal Est, Montréal, Québec, H2J 1Y1
(514) 303-3822
rougegorge.ca

Vin papillon

Located on Notre-Dame Street West, at the intersection of Atwater Avenue, Vin Papillon opened its doors in 2013, next to its big brother the famous Joe Beef restaurant. Vanya Filipovic, the sommelier and co-owner of Vin Papillon has put together a wine list that features natural, organic and accessible wines. The wine list is not written. The hundred or so wines available are listed on the slate, which is very practical, because the wine offer changes regularly according to the arrivals. The bar offers a dozen wines by the glass.

The atmosphere at Vin Papillon is very relaxed. In fact, the bar does not take any reservations in order to leave room for anyone who wants to come and have a drink or spend the whole evening there! The bar has a very nice terrace in the back where we organize barbecues in the summer.

Chef Marc-Olivier Frappier’s cuisine pays particular attention to the use of vegetables. At Vin Papillon, we share small plates cooked with market products. No plate is over $20, the idea being to treat yourself without breaking the bank! One of the classics of the place is the famous maple smoked piglet ham.

We like: the complementary nature of the wine and food offer, the vibrant and friendly atmosphere of the place, the decoration, the terrace.
To treat yourself: a champagne from Frédéric Savart, wines from Pierre Frick or Audrey and Christian Binner (Alsace), Frédéric Cossard, Alice and Olivier de Moor or Prieuré-Roch (Burgundy), Hervé Souhaut (Ardèche), Jean-François Ganevat (Jura), Bruno Duchêne (Roussillon), etc.

Vin Papillon
2519 rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montréal, Québec, H3J 1N4
(514) 282-2020
vinpapillon.com

Cet article The best wine bars in Montreal – Part II est apparu en premier sur vino2travel.

M. et Mme

Opened in mid-January 2016, Mr. and Mrs. has quickly become a must for wine lovers in the Plateau Mont-Royal and Outremont. Located on Laurier Avenue, this wine bar has one of the most ambitious wine lists in Montreal. Its friendly sommelier Francis Arkinson has put together a list of no less than 600 wines, many of which are organic, biodynamic or made using natural methods. 120 prestigious wines will be added to the list in the coming months.

An interesting concept, Mr. and Mrs. work with 13 private import agencies. Each agency has its own bottles stored in a cellar that blends harmoniously with the decor. Each week, the bar highlights a particular agency by putting several of its wines on tap. At any given time, Mr. & Mrs. offers some 40 wines by the glass and half-glass, plus a few thematic tasting trios. Very nice choice of orange wines for the amateurs of the genre. I had the chance to taste a very rare orange wine from the Languedoc winegrower Léon Barral.

M. et Mme offers a very substantial food by Chef Stelio Perombelon. You will have the choice to sit in the bar area or in the dining area. A lighter, finger food style menu is also available for those with a small appetite or to accompany a drink if you don’t necessarily want to dine.

The basement of the bar has two spaces to organize various events. Mr. & Mrs. organizes wine tastings on Tuesday evenings. During the M. et Mme Evenings, you can taste a dozen wines for the modest sum of $20. On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, we also organize 4 or 5-course tasting dinners to showcase the wines of a producer.

We like: one of the largest choices of wines by the glass and by the bottle in Montreal, impeccable service, the quality of the food and the late night menus at $24 after 10 pm.
To treat yourself: champagnes from Larmandier-Bernier and Jérôme Prévost, sylvaners from Franken (Germany), wines from Jean Tardy (Burgundy), Pascal Cotat (Sancerre) or Can Rafols Del Caus (Catalonia), etc.

M. et Mme
240, rue Laurier Ouest
(514) 274-6663
mmme.ca

Accords

Accords is located on Notre Dame Street West, a stone’s throw from Notre Dame Basilica in Old Montreal. The owners, Chantal Fontaine and Jean-Pierre Des Rosiers, opened Accords in 2009 inspired by the Italian enoteca concept. The restaurant and wine bar attracts a business clientele at lunchtime and a more touristy clientele and wine lovers in the evening. Accords offers almost exclusively natural or biodynamic wines, as the owners say, “wines that are a little funky, original, but without flaws. The restaurant has a very extensive wine list with no less than 500 references. There is no wine by the glass on the menu. Every evening, the sommelier decides which wines to open and offer by the glass, depending on the menu of the day and the tastes or desires of the customers!

When it comes to food, Accords is gastronomic with the cuisine of chef Simon Mathys. The restaurant transforms all the products it receives. Everything is homemade: pastry, bakery, butchery, etc. Great attention is also paid to the origin of the food.  For this reason, products from sustainable agriculture or fishing are favored. The chef is himself a wine lover and he does not hesitate to taste wines with the sommelier in order to get inspiration to create and renew his menu. The menu changes very regularly according to the fresh and seasonal products, just as the wine list evolves constantly according to the arrivals.

The decoration is superb with large stone walls, typical of the architecture of the buildings of Old Montreal. The jewel of the place is nevertheless the superb terrace which attracts many customers as soon as spring arrives.

Accords organizes a few events around wine, including the Nuits d’ivresse, which take place on Saturday nights. Starting at 11pm, private import agencies come to present their products. For a fee, you can taste many different wines. The events also sometimes take the form of meetings with winemakers passing through Montreal. Accords has also opened a second restaurant, Accords le Bistro, in the Quartier des Spectacles. As its name suggests, it offers bistro-style cuisine, while maintaining the same spirit as its big brother.

We like: the very elaborate food where everything is homemade, the variety of wines offered on the menu, the great attention of the staff and especially of the sommelier ready to uncork THE wine that will satisfy you, the superb terrace to enjoy the beautiful days.
To treat yourself: a Champagne from Jacques Sélosse, a great vintage from Burgundy among Thibault-Liger-Bélair, Dugat-Py or Camille Giroud, several vintages from Château Le Puy (Bordeaux), a Cornas from Thierry Allemand or a Chardonnay from Domaine Ganevat (Jura).

Accords
212, rue Notre-Dame Ouest
(514) 282-2020
accords.ca

Restaurant Les Cavistes

Les Cavistes wine bar and restaurant opened in 2012 on Fleury Street West in the Ahuntsic neighborhood on the north end of the island of Montreal. The owners, Roberto Herrera and Maude Théroux-Séguin, are convinced that wine improves greatly with food. Their wish was to create a neighborhood restaurant with simple and tasty food to showcase carefully selected privately imported wines.

Les Cavistes has not only become a must-visit restaurant in the neighborhood, but also a favorite spot for wine lovers who participate in its many tasting workshops. In fact, the place was awarded a certificate of excellence in 2016 by the very famous Wine Spectator magazine. The workshops take place every weekend from September to April, always on a different theme: a featured region, a grape variety, an appellation, old vintages, etc. Almost fifty workshops are organized during the year, including thematic dinners and meetings with winemakers.

The wine list changes approximately every six weeks. At any given time, there are 12 whites, 12 reds, 4 bubbles and 12 sweet wines by the glass (also rosés in the summer). The wine list has a little less than 200 references, but these are only the bottles displayed, because the Cavistes buys a lot of wines in order to organize its tasting workshops. The cellar is therefore very well stocked, with notably older vintages, but also quite a few magnums and large formats. Every Thursday, we open more expensive bottles that are sold by the half glass, at cost price. A great way to taste wines that you could not afford to buy by the bottle.

As for the food, we are talking about a bistro style cuisine with a menu that includes the classics of French gastronomy, to which are added the daily inspirations of the chef proposed on the slate. The chef takes part in tastings with the sommeliers in order to always start with the wine to create his menu. From Wednesday to Saturday, Les Cavistes offers a $22.50 menu after 9 p.m.

We like: perfectly executed bistro classics, the tasting workshops, the warm welcome and quality of service, one of the largest selections of sweet wines in Montreal, the possibility of tasting more expensive wines by the half glass on Thursday nights.
To treat yourself: a Moulin-à-Vent Vieilles Vignes from Thibault-Liger-Bélair, the wines of Mustiguillo in the Valencia region of Spain, an old vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon from Beringer (California), a Dominio de Pingus (Ribera del Duero), an old Brunello from Col d’Orcia, the wines of Yves Cuilleron (Northern Rhône), Domaine de la Taille aux Loups (Loire) or Zind-Humbrecht (Alsace)

Les Cavistes
196, rue Fleury ouest
(514) 508-5033
restaurantlescavistes.com

Cul-Sec

Located on Beaubien Street, a few steps from St-Laurent Avenue, Cul-Sec offers a nice selection of natural, organic, or biodynamic wines. Opened in 2015, the place imagined by the famous and friendly chef Martin Juneau is both a canteen and a neighborhood cellar. Cellarist, because it is indeed possible to buy any bottle as long as you order food to go.

Martin Juneau, who already owns Pastaga restaurant, wanted to create a more convivial space, with a more bistro-like cuisine. A place where you can come and have a drink with friends and eat simple, yet comforting food. All of the ingredients for the dishes are prepared at Pastaga, which is a one-minute walk from Cul-Sec. They are then assembled at Cul-Sec. The menu includes oysters, charcuterie and terrines, tartars, tataki and other salad meals. Cul-Sec is open for lunch with a $15 menu, or $20 including a glass of wine.

The wine list has more than a hundred references, with a strong emphasis on French wine. Cul-Sec regularly receives new arrivals, sometimes in very small quantities. It is therefore necessary to come back regularly to taste different vintages, because the menu is constantly evolving. We always offer by the glass, a bubble, 3 whites and 3 reds (as well as rosés in summer).

We like: the conviviality of the place, the food, the great drinkability of the wines offered, the very reasonable prices and the possibility to buy and take away wine until 11 pm.
To treat yourself: a Chablis, a Pommard or a Nuits-St-Georges from Christophe Pacalet (including magnums!), a Chinon from Wilfrid Rousse, a Coulée de Serrant from Nicolas Joly, a natural xinomavro from Thymiopoulos, the wines of Pierre Beaugé (an exclusive in North America!).

Cul-Sec
29, rue Beaubien Est
(514) 439-8747
culsec.ca

Bar Loïc

Bar Loïc is located in the St-Henri neighborhood in the southwestern part of the island of Montreal. Opened in September 2015, the bar is inside a century-old building previously occupied by a bank and then a post office. The wine list is composed by Cassady Sniatowsky, who also works at winemaker Normand Hardy in Prince Edward County, Ontario. With about 50 wines on the list, Cassady offers Bar Loïc’s clientele natural, organic or biodynamic wines.

Le Loïc offers 3 whites, an orange wine, 1 or 2 rosés, and 2 reds by the glass (more reds in winter). Cassady wants customers to be able to indulge without emptying their wallets, which is why there are no bottles over $120 on the menu. The wine list changes regularly. Loïc, which defines itself as more of a bar than a wine bar, also has a nice selection of cocktails and beers.

At Bar Loïc, you can eat a very simple cuisine with only a few ingredients, but which is always refined. The menu changes every day. The day I was there, we found oysters, cold cuts, cheeses, half a roasted chicken or pork cheeks with clams.

Bar Loïc organizes tastings every Sunday. During my visit, it was the sherry that was in the spotlight. Loïc organizes thematic tastings or the discovery of a particular producer. Very recently, a tasting was organized around the fabulous and very rare wines of François Raveneau in Chablis! We particularly like the very friendly side of these Sunday tastings. You can arrive anytime between 4pm and 3am!

We like: the very relaxed atmosphere, the very glou glou wines, the terrace in summer, the informal tastings on Sundays.
To treat yourself: wines by Frédéric Cossard (Burgundy), Partida Creus (Catalonia), Jean-Pierre Robinot (Loire), Gramenon (Rhône), Philippe Bornard (Jura) or Kevin Descombes (Beaujolais).

Bar Loïc
5001 Rue Notre-Dame O
(514) 439-6806
barloic.ca

Pullman

Located on Avenue du Parc, Pullman is one of the first wine bars to have opened in Montreal in 2004. The concept of wine bars was then non-existent in the city. The idea of the owner Catherine Bélanger was to democratize wine among Montrealers. Pullman has trained many wine professionals over the past 12 years. All servers are sommeliers and have at least 5 years of experience in the field. Many young sommeliers are also in training.

The Pullman’s head sommelier, Véronique Dalle, has put together a superb wine list with no less than 400 references in the summer, and up to 450 to 500 products in the winter. There are classics such as great Bordeaux and Burgundy wines, but also many new wines such as young up-and-coming winemakers. As Pullman has been in existence for more than a decade, we are lucky to be able to find older vintages. The wines offered by the glass, about forty, change every week, and there are also tasting trios.

The sommeliers are very attentive to the customer. If you don’t find what you’re looking for in the extensive selection of wines by the glass, the sommeliers won’t hesitate to open other bottles, which they can then offer by the glass. Pullman participates in many Montreal festivals such as Montreal à table or Montreal en Lumière. It is also a popular venue for the Montreal sommelier community. Private import agencies also organize meetings with foreign winemakers visiting Montreal.

On the food side, Pullman offers snacks such as olives, chorizo and almonds, as well as dishes to share such as fried squid, cold cuts, tartars and mini-burgers. You can also order more substantial dishes, which vary according to the season.

Pullman has just given birth to a little brother, Moleskine, also located on Park Avenue. It is a small neighborhood pizzeria. It should also be noted that the owner’s spouse, Frédéric Simon, runs the Pinard et Filles vineyard, an estate located in the Eastern Townships. A family well established in the wine world!

We like: one of the largest choices of wines by the glass and by the bottle in Montreal, the professionalism of the sommeliers, exceptional bottles.
To treat yourself: a Clos Rougeard (Saumur-Champigny), a wine from Prieuré Roch (Burgundy), an old vintage champagne from Jacques Sélosse, an old Barolo from Giuseppe Rinaldi, or if your wallet allows it, why not a wine from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti!

Pullman
3424, avenue du Parc
(514) 288-777
pullman-mtl.com

Cet article The best wine bars in Montreal – Part I est apparu en premier sur vino2travel.

Ultramarinos Quintín

Open since 2014, this two-story restaurant is also a boutique where you can get your groceries by buying vegetables, cheeses and bread of the day. The decor is gorgeous and the dim lighting in the evening creates a cozy, intimate atmosphere. As for the food, it is up to the task. The cuisine is very elaborate and inventive and the dishes are tasty and meticulously executed. A favorite during my stay in Madrid. The wine list will delight the greatest lovers of Spanish wines and the selection of wines by the glass allows you to order great wines such as the wines of Vega Sicilia in Ribera del Duero or Alvaro Palacios in Priorat! ultramarinosquintin.es

Laredo

Established in 2012, this restaurant located three blocks from Retiro Park offers tasty cuisine featuring remarkably fresh produce. The interior design of the restaurant is very successful with a beautiful bar and a very spacious dining room. The place was packed when I visited. Very large choice of tapas to share and some succulent seafood, fish and meat dishes. The menu changes regularly according to the seasons. The quality of the food is irreproachable and the wine list very well supplied, with of course many beautiful Spanish bowls, but not only! tabernalaredo.com

Pelotari

Located just a few minutes from the Plaza de Colón, this Basque and Navarrese cuisine restaurant has been an institution for over 25 years. If you are a carnivore, you are in the right place and you must try the chuletón de vacuna. This rib of beef is aged for 45 days and grilled over charcoal. The best meat I’ve ever had in my life! As for the wine list, no more paper. They bring you an iPad that describes the 300 or so Spanish and other wines offered in the restaurant. Very well done. If you’re not the techie type or if you get lost in all these references, Enrique will be happy to guide you. pelotari-asador.com

Lakasa

Cesar Martin’s restaurant recently moved to the Chamartín neighborhood. The decoration, of modern inspiration, is superb. A large bar at the entrance with a few high tables (no reservations required) and a very cozy dining area (reservations required). Good choice of wine, but the real star at Lakasa is the food! Each dish can be ordered in portions or half portions, which allows you to order many different things. The mini squids for example with their ink were to die for! lakasa.es

Angelita Madrid

Angelita is not a restaurant per se, but a wine bar (as well as a cocktail bar upstairs), but I would have been remiss if I didn’t mention it because I ate and drank so well there. Just a stone’s throw from the very central Gran Vía metro, Angelita is a newly opened wine bar that has all the makings of a quick success. The food is good, with a short menu reflecting a market cuisine. The dish of the day (tripe Madrilenian style) was delicious! As for the choice of wine, it is amazing, both by the glass and by the bottle. Of course, there is a large selection of Spanish wines, many from the Madrid region, but also from all over Spain. Let the friendly sommeliers guide you. The service is great and if you are the picky type, they will not hesitate to open a bottle, even if the wine was not offered by the glass, in order to satisfy you. I’ll go back as soon as I’m back in Madrid! madrid-angelita.es

Autres adresses

I didn’t have time to go to these three restaurants, but they were highly recommended. It will be for another time!

Taberna Arzabal
Restaurant created in 2009 by Álvaro Castellanos and Iván Morales. Beautiful terrace with views of Retiro Park. Traditional and market cuisine. Nice wine list. Arzabal has opened a second address in the Reina Sofia Museum of Contemporary Art. arzabal.com

Viavelez
Paco Ron’s restaurant, located not far from Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid’s stadium, showcases the cuisine of the province of Asturias in northwest Spain. A tavern area on the upper floor to have a drink or order some tapas and a dining room on the first floor. Splendid wine list with nearly 240 references and about twenty wines by the glass. restauranteviavelez.com

Aldaba
This restaurant in the Chamartín neighborhood opened in 1994 and is now an institution in the Madrid gastronomic scene. Wine lovers will be delighted with the extensive wine list! All desserts are made on the spot. restaurantealdaba.es

Many thanks to José Benavides Jiménez-Landi, the owner of the estate of the same name in Méntrida, for suggesting most of these restaurants! If you are a Grenache lover, José produces wines from old vines of exceptional quality and freshness!

Cet article Eating out in Madrid est apparu en premier sur vino2travel.

The great strength of Etiquette is that it offers no less than fifty wines for tasting, enough to please everyone, but above all enough to allow you to discover wines from all over the world. The concept is simple: you get a tasting card (5 euros deposit) on which you put an amount of money. This card allows you to use enomatic machines (which preserve the wine thanks to an argon system) in which the wines are exposed. You can then serve yourself 3, 6 or 12 cl, and the price obviously varies according to the value of the bottle.

Bottles are rotated daily and each machine has a tasting theme: light reds, strong reds, white wines, “UFOs”, natural wines, Italian wines, Spanish wines, New World wines, or a particular grape variety or appellation. Sometimes, Étiquette offers bottles of great wines for tasting, which allows you to taste “great wines” without breaking the bank. Would you like to try a Château d’Yquem? It’s possible at Etiquette!

The wine bar, which opens at 5 p.m., offers about 15 wines by the glass. Etiquette serves tapas-style cuisine, but also charcuterie and cheese plates. If among the fifty or so wines available for tasting in the machines, plus the fifteen or so wines by the glass at the bar, you still can’t find what you’re looking for (we hear you’re picky…), you should know that you can always open any bottle in the wine shop for a corkage fee of 10 euros. Another important point to know is that the tasting card entitles you to a 15% discount on any bottle to take away.

Etiquette also organizes wine tasting courses on request and occasionally hosts winemakers. Wine accessories and gift ideas are also available for sale in the boutique. Etiquette also plans to open the restaurant during lunch time in the near future and is currently thinking of exporting the concept.

Unfortunately, when I was at Etiquette, I had a train to catch so I could only spend an hour there. I would have spent the whole evening there! The next time I’m in Brussels, I’ll go back. A big thank you to Emeline for her warm welcome. At Etiquette, Emeline does cellar consulting, event planning, and she is also a venue manager. Don’t hesitate to follow her advice, she knows a lot about wine!

To get to Etiquette

Avenue Emile De Mot 19
1000 Bruxelles, Belgique
Phone: +32 2 644 64 11
etiquette-wines.com
drink@etiquette-wines.com

Cet article Etiquette, a great wine shop and bar in Brussels est apparu en premier sur vino2travel.

QWhat is a trattoria ?

A trattoria is a restaurant in the purest Italian tradition. The family setting invites simplicity, the wine is always of high quality and the dishes are home-made and prepared to order. It is generally a simple and unpretentious restaurant, which puts forward the regional cooking. But this is not always the case, and many of the Gambero Rosso award-winning trattorias are also upscale restaurants. A trattoria may also have catering and take-out operations. By the way, for the record, trattoria comes from trattore which means the one who treats, therefore the one who prepares.

Now that you know more, let me share with you this list of the best trattorias established by the Gambero Rosso. It will give you some ideas to prepare your next trip to Italy!

Ristorante Angiolina
Located in the small fishing village of Pisciotta, in the Salerno region of Campania, the trattoria run by Rinaldo Merola focuses on seafood products. Angiolina, Rinaldo’s mother, created the restaurant in the 50’s and she is still occasionally behind the stove! ristoranteangiolina.it

Osteria del Mirasole
Founded in 1989 by Anna Caretti and Franco Cimini, the restaurant is located halfway between the cities of Modena and Bologna. It is known for its grilled meats and the use of Emilia Romagna products. But the undisputed star of the restaurant is the Parmigiano Reggiano Emilia that is present in almost every dish! osteriadelmirasole.it

Ristorante Antichi Sapori
Chef Pietro Zito’s restaurant is located in Montegrosso, north of Bari, in Puglia. Pietro processes products from his own biodynamic garden. Oregano, marjoram, rosemary, sage and other typical Mediterranean herbs are used in the dishes. Chef Zito himself has selected the wines and craft beers on his menu. pietrozito.it

Armando Al Pantheon
As its name suggests, this restaurant is located near the famous Pantheon in Rome. Founded in 1961 by Armando Gargioli, today it is his son Claudio who puts forward a typically Roman cuisine. Some of the restaurant’s specialties are even inspired by the recipes of Apiciane, a great cook who lived at the time of Emperor Tiberius! armandoalpantheon.it

Trattoria Ai Cacciatori
This trattoria located in Cavasso Nuovo in the province of Pordenone, was created by Danêl Corte and Angelina Zecchin. The restaurant highlights the cuisine of Friuli and you can taste typical dishes such as i blecs alla Friulana, fresh buckwheat pasta accompanied by pitina (cold cuts) and montasio cheese.

Ristorante Consorzio
Opened in 2008, this Turin restaurant offers cuisine inspired by Piedmontese culinary traditions. Both ravioli lovers and carnivores will be delighted by the cuisine of the trio of chefs, Andrea Gherra, Pietro Vergano and Miro Mattalia. ristoranteconsorzio.com

Al Convento
Located in the beautiful town of Cetara, on the Amalfi coast, south of Naples, this restaurant highlights the products of the sea. Cetara is famous for its processed food products made from tuna and anchovies, such as colatura di alici, a fermented anchovy sauce. Al Convento, run by chefs Pasquale Torrente and Domenico Lambiase, is also known for its tasty pizzas that you can order by the meter. alconvento.net

Caffe La Crepa
This restaurant, housed in a 15th century palace, is located in the small town of Isola Dovarese, in the province of Cremona in Lombardy. Run by Fausto Malinverno, it offers typical Po Valley cuisine, and meat lovers can enjoy guinea fowl, rabbits, geese, capons, ducks from the surrounding farms, or game such as pheasant, partridge or hare. If you prefer fish, you can order char, sturgeon or pike freshly caught in Lake Garda. caffelacrepa.net

La Locanda delle Grazie
As the name suggests, the trattoria is located in Grazie di Curtatone, on the shores of Lago Superiore in Lombardy. Excellent risottos. This restaurant, run by Fernando Aldighieri and Daniela Bellintani, also serves as a bed and breakfast. facebook.com/locanda.dellegrazie

Trattoria-Osteria La Locandiera
Located in the small village of Bernalda, in the south of the Basilicata region, the restaurant of Maria Gallotta and Francesco Russo, offers a family cuisine of southern Italy. Maria is the cook and Francesco is the sommelier. trattorialalocandiera.it

Trattoria La Madia
Chef Michele Valotti’s restaurant is located in the town of Brione, north of Brescia, in Trentino. It features local products such as cured meats, bagoss cheese and organic poultry. One of the typical dishes of Trentino is served here, the carne di castrato, made from castrated lambs between six months and two years old. trattorialamadia.it

Osteria del Treno
Located in the heart of Milan, a few minutes from the central station, this restaurant, run by the Bissolotti family, offers typical Lombard cuisine. You will enjoy artisanal cold cuts and specialties based on goose and rabbit, among others. osteriadeltreno.it

Un Posto a Milano
As its name suggests, Un Posto a Milano is located in Milan, a little on the outskirts. It is a bar, a restaurant and a guesthouse all in one. Chef Nicola Cavallaro prepares northern Italian cuisine. Enjoy the local equivalent of coq au vin. Replace the rooster with goose and the French wine with a good Merlot di Cascina Belmonte di Muscoline. Accompanied by polenta of course! unpostoamilano.it

Pretzhof
This institution, run by chef Ulli Mair, has existed since the end of the 16th century and is located in Val di Vizze, in Trentino-Alto Adige, a few minutes from the border with Austria. Most of the ingredients are produced on site. Pretzhof, for example, makes its own sausages. pretzhof.com

Sora Maria e Arcangelo
Giovanni Milana’s restaurant is located in the town of Olevano Romano in Lazio, 70 kilometers east of Rome. Typical Roman cuisine with cannelloni, pollo alla romana, rabbit with bacon, quail with figs, etc. soramariaearcangelo.com

Tischi Toschi
Restaurant located in the beautiful city of Taormina in Sicily. Chef Luca Casablanca offers Sicilian cuisine prepared with organic products. tischitoschitrattoria.com

Ristorante Albergo Vecchia Marina
Restaurant located in Roseto degli Abruzzi in the region of Abruzzo, in central Italy, on the Adriatic Sea. The cuisine of Gennaro d’Ignazio and Ester Pennese will delight lovers of fish and seafood.

Osteria della Villeta
Restaurant located in the municipality of Pallazzolo sull’Oglio in Lombardy, near the wine region of Franciacorta. This trattoria, managed by Maurizio Rossi, offers a seasonal menu that highlights local products. Very nice selection of wines from the nearby Franciacorta region. osteriadellavilletta.it

Cet article Italy’s Best Trattorias est apparu en premier sur vino2travel.