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Thursday, 14 August 2008 |
A recent meal at one of the Dordogne’s Michelin one-star restaurants
was so outstanding that Frances Beasley is still salivating from the
memory. But was it all in her head?
With a name that translates
literally to ‘imagination’, it is
little surprise that the food at this
charming restaurant exceeds not just
your expectations but your value for
money as well. ‘L’Imaginaire’ is
located in the medieval city of
Terrasson, next to the famous
gardens of the same name, on the
banks of the Vézère river. It even has
accommodation for those in need of
a lie-down after the gourmet intake.
Chef Éric Samson has created a
true wonder for those aspiring to
sample the best France has to offer.
Hailing from north-western France,
his origins are reflected in his love of
seafood and his selection of menus is
tailored to suit every budget.
For the cash-conscious, there is
little to beat the Menu du Marché,
offered Wednesday through Friday at
lunch times. At €27 for three
sumptuous courses, it’s a definite
winner. For an additional €8, the
menu includes a glass of excellent
wine plus coffee and superb
friandises at the end.
Flaky cornets stuffed with a nut
cheese, miniature rolls of smoked
salmon served on curved silver
spoons and peeled cocktail tomatoes
whet the appetite with an aperitif.
Follow this with tomato consommé
with a sardine cappuccino and your
taste buds will start humming. The
starter was a clever combination of
two regional specialities – foie gras
and crème brûlée. The normal crème
brûlée is sweet; the idea of a foie
gras crème brûlée is nothing short of
a brilliant conception. Accompanied
by a mini mango salsa topped with
lychee sorbet, the taste combination
is hard to beat – wickedly smooth,
obscenely rich and totally divine.
For main dishes, slices of tuna on
a bed of seasonal fat white
asparagus drizzled with a tomato
coulis bring the taste buds back in
line, before they are assaulted by the
dessert creation of lime and
pistachio macaroons filled with
strawberries and fresh cream. By the
time you reach the coffee and
friandises – jellied fruits, seriously
rich dark chocolate truffles and mini
almond raspberry muffins – you are
ready for a siesta.
Service is exemplary and staff
generally speak two or three
European languages.
There is little doubt that Michelin
still has its place in the food world
today and if L’Imaginaire is an
example of a one-star establishment,
one can only drool over the thought
of what a three-star would provide.
L’Imaginaire, Place du Dorail, Terrasson
05 53 51 37 27, www.l-imaginaire.com
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