... I wonder out loud about putting my thermals on.
Fifteen degrees first thing, and the temperature struggles to get any higher as the day goes on. Our Dutch guests leave early. At least their journey north, even if there are many hold-ups, will not be in unbearable heat. Travelling on the Saturday 31st July with France on the move is not the easiest of things to be doing.
By the afternoon, and a little stir crazy, we decide to head out to investigate a restaurant friends have recommended. COVID has had an impact. Several of our favourite places that we have proposed to our guests over the years have either closed or have changed hands with less than positive results. New owners are struggling to match previous high standards of menu and service and I'm busy revamping our information pack and website to reflect our new reality, saddened by the need to do so.
But maybe we have been in a rut. When we came here fourteen years ago, everything was new to us and over those first few months we were on a voyage of discovery. We are so again.
The recommended restaurant proves to be a success, in a lovely setting by a lock, ample seating out under the trees and plenty of covered space if the weather is inclement. The menu is simple, but good value and the provenance of a chef and a kitchen that we already know and trust.
We look for new places that have attractive spaces to sit outside. In these times of COVID people prefer that option and normally, with late evening temperatures in the high twenties who wouldn't? Mind you, if this cool weather continues much longer I need to warn our next guests to bring their thermals if they want to dine al fresco (very "fresco").
Unseasonably chilly round the gorbals here at the moment....after an u nseasonable heatwave. Wetoo are looking at what is available as old favourites have bitten the dust, especially the caff run by a Nicaraguan lady which was our go to place for breakfast after early morning hospital appointments - they start at 6.00 am, would you believe!
ReplyDeleteHow are the new regulations going to affect restaurants and bars in France? Friends tell me that insisting on the new pass willl lose a lot of customers - simply because people, vaccinated or not, don't like being forced to show 'their papers'.
Hello Fly, yes it's our go to places we miss, when we've had a hard day and can't be bothered to cook. Not sure about the new passes. I think at the end of the day people just want to get back to their bar or restaurant and will put up with it.
ReplyDeleteMy 'eating out' locally (now 2 yrs in UK) was dominated by can I manage my husband and The Dog. Now widowed and semi-post-covid all my favourites are still going strong and inside without masks and no flashing of mobile phone required. They are now suggesting a futher jab in one arm plus the flu jab in the other. So be it. I like the idea of testing your local places and calling it a business expence!! Lesley
ReplyDeleteHello Lesley, glad to hear that your favourites are still there. When they go it's like being bereft of an old friend! Good to hear things are getting back to normal - long may that continue for you. Here - not so much because so many people still are refusing to be vaccinated. So we continue to be cautious. We've a new creperie to try this week - we need a go-to place for ourselves, let alone our guests.
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