It is one of my pleasures
each year to take a trip to France: star
hunting we call it. So as to avoid the mistake
of a fellow writer I shall clarify that
by “No I am not talking about people with
a dubious claim to fame for some perceived
excellence in the entertainment industry,
and most certainly not somebody who has
impressed his peers by his doubtful skill
with a round ball. I am talking about Michelin
stars as issued to the better restaurants
in the Michelin red guide to France .”
Starting from my UK base
we used Sharon and Tracy 's airline (Easyjet)
to waft us from Luton to Geneva . I am not
a lover of S & T although I will acknowledge
that their service has made this type of
trip so much easier, and more economic.
I just do wish the staff would smile more,
and sometimes understand the customer's
problems: even if I think I understand their
problems!
We hired a car in Geneva
and set off on our hunt. We had to throw
my sister on a train at Lyon so that was
scheduled for the first night. We took the
road via Annecy but were far too early for
lunch when we arrived in that area so we
continued on down the Autoroute. However
as midday arrived we were just passing Chambéry
so we left the motorway and used the old
N road looking for a suitable place to lunch.
I had the Michelin and was looking for guidance
therein. However nothing seemed to fit the
bill: that was until we spotted signs to
Hostellerie Le Saint-Laurent and then we
saw it set back from the road. I suppose
Lord Toad and I are old pros at this kind
of thing and it is seldom that we make a
mistake. We had not done so here either.
We walked through the hotel to a wonderful
garden at the back. A lunch was declared.
 We
had red mullet fillet which was quickly
roasted and delivered with an attractive
salad and whiskers. Likewise the pan fried
calves liver was cleverly presented sliced,
pink and with minimal but colourful accoutrements.
A very good restaurant with some sensibly
priced rooms in this attractive old hotel.
We continued to Lyon and
stayed at Mercure's Libertel Wilson. I have
to say that I like Accor's hotels and often
use The Mercure and Ibis brands. Ibis rooms
are small and the facilities basic but often
their hotels are well located and they are
sensible priced. The Mercure rooms are much
better and the same comments apply, but,
of course you pay for that extra space.
I had planned that night's
diner at the J C Pequet Restaurant not far
from our hotel. A family run restaurant
which I found via Michelin. My first impressions
were not that good and except for the recommender
I might well have moved on. However the
staff were keen and it all looked interesting
enough. "Solid not spectacular"
I said to my friends. And that is exactly
what it was, except that we ate Grouse,
which was cooked pink, gamey and served
with an interesting accoutrement of cabbage
stuffed with a meat and liver mix: reminiscent
of haggis. Everything was well done and
the service excellent. |
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