International
Thomas Besnault, cook, and François Rieant, gardener, at Loire Valley Lodges
Beyond the now classic image of the chef crouching in his vegetable garden, for some there's a real work of vegetable production, which implies a close relationship and complicity with the gardener. The latter is no longer confined to the simple role of supplier, so much so that it's no longer clear which one is at the service of the other. Sixth episode in our series of portraits with Thomas Besnault, chef of L'Ardent at Loire Valley Lodges, and gardener François Rieant.
A cook, a gardener & their vegetable garden
Thomas Besnault, cook, and François Rieant, gardener, at Loire Valley Lodges
Beyond the now classic image of the chef crouching in his vegetable garden, for some there's a real work of vegetable production, which implies a close relationship and complicity with the gardener. The latter is no longer confined to the simple role of supplier, so much so that it's no longer clear which one is at the service of the other. Sixth episode in our series of portraits with Thomas Besnault, chef of L'Ardent at Loire Valley Lodges, and gardener François Rieant.
Valençay, tasting at the Atelier du Goût
Like all pyramid-shaped cheeses, it should be cut vertically, with the cheese upright rather than flattened, from top to bottom, generally by one eighth of the cheese to create a nice, easy-to-define slice (half of a quarter, or a quarter of a half). Of course, it's best tasted with its ashy rind, to appreciate all its aromas, a little more undergrowth and mushroomy near the rind, more dairy and creamy near the heart, with the ideal maturing period somewhere between "too fresh" and "too done", which could give it a pungent taste.
Gault&Millau Tour Centre Val de Loire 2023
To mark the presentation of its latest guide to the Centre Val de Loire region, Gault&Millau honored the region's chefs and food service professionals on Monday March 13.The event took place at the Domaine de la Fouardière in Mulsans (Blois). The previous evening, the winners and their partners had taken part in a dinner created by Christophe Hay in his Fleur de Loire restaurant.
An artist at refining
Rodolphe Le Meunier's cheese dairy is located 30 km from Tours. It's here, in his maturing cellars - which in this case are more like cold rooms - that hundreds of specialties wait patiently to be shipped. They will be sent to the boutique at Les Halles de Tours, to restaurants, sales outlets and supermarkets in France, and to a multitude of countries, including Saudi Arabia, Korea, Japan, the United States... Rodolphe Le Meunier is a cheesemaker and refiner with a MOF title, and an outspoken businessman who debunks preconceived ideas.
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