January 13 - Special lunch in Sevrier to Ron's birthday

We each “scrounged” a bite of breakfast from whatever we could find. Madame D. sent a text message that she would come at 11 AM instead of 10 AM. This was unfortunate since we wanted to go out. But we had to discuss whether or not we were staying. We offered her a reduced price for our inconvenience, and she accepted. We also needed her to help us get the wireless access. One thing led to another and she was there at least two hours, and never did get the internet issue resolved. We could connect on her desktop, using French keyboard (very different from US), but not wirelessly on our laptops. No one wants to sit isolated in a bedroom staring at the wall when there is a beautiful lake view elsewhere - and only one person could be on-line at a time. Madame insisted on explaining how to use the washer, dryer, dishwasher, etc. I had been looking at restaurants and had one web-site up on the computer and she said to me that it was a very good place – so I jotted down the address.

As mentioned, Madame is a very energetic woman. Mike counted she made 16 trips running up and down those circular stairs.

When we finally were able to leave it was already after 1 PM – and we programmed the Bistro du Rhone in Annecy into the GPS (the place Madame had said was very good).  When we arrived at the given address, there was an Indian restaurant. Don’t know why the web-site, reviews, etc. would all be functioning if it had gone out of business. Anyway, we didn’t have a back-up plan and drove along the lake on the west shore – we went out of Annecy city limits and came to the town of Sevrier. There we drove into a hotel/restaurant, and Ron went in to check it out and the restaurant was closed for annual leave. We went a short distance further and saw a place nicely lighted and with many cars in the lot, and so we parked and went into Auberge de Letraz. We were promptly greeted and asked if we wished to have lunch. It was quite a formal place with nice linens, smartly dressed staff, and windows looking out to Lake Annecy. The chef is Bernard Collon, and his son , Brice, works with him. They use traditional ingredients in a modern cuisine.

Once we were seated we had “aperitifs” and placed our orders. We were then presented with an amuse bouche –cones filled with the lightest goat cheese and pastries filled with a tapenade containing anchovies. This was followed with another complimentary appetizer – a creamy  mussel broth in a small cup.

Goat cheese cones and tapenade pastries

Creamy mussel broth

We all chose a three-course menu. My appetizer was a pate de foies gras with quince and orange. The foies gras was atop a slice of a spongy bread infused with an orange essence. Pat had a very interesting dish – five cones filled with snails.

Mary's Pate de foies gras

Pat's cones containing snails

Ron's fowl terrine

Mike had huge oysters in an unusal sauce with fried chicory.

I had a second “appetizer” for my main course – a lobster salad. Ron had sea brim – a beautiful presentation with stripes of carrots and potatoes.

Lobster Salad

Pat and Mike had “black and white scallops” – the black is blood pudding atop potato, and the scallops were atop sliced apples.

Mary's menu included a cheese course to be selected from the trolley. I only picked three small pieces to taste. 

The desserts were probably the highlight. Mike and Ron shared flaming crepes suzette with lots of Grand Marnier.

 I had a Grand Marnier soufflé, and Pat had a chocolate tour with “chocolate pearls”.

Mary's souffle

Pat's chocolate tower

Mike had told the waiter that it was Ron's birthday, and he was presented with a tray of petit fours with a cylinder that was shooting sparks.

This was a true dining experience (as only the French seem to do), as we did not leave the restaurant until 4 PM! The presentation was spectacular. Mike and Pat surprised us by treating us to this fabulous repast for Ron’s birthday and for my help in planning the long journey.

We then had a short walk along the beautiful lakeshore before getting back in the van. Lake Annecy is actually the cleanest lake in all of Europe, and provides all of the water for the towns lining the lake. The area is beautiful, and the restaurant's outdoor dining would be stunning in warm weather. It is one of our favorite areas of France.

We drove a bit further to see if Carrefour (huge store like Super Wal-Mart) was open, but it was closed (Sunday). We then returned to our apartment. That evening we sure didn't need a big meal, and nibbled on salami and cheese and had a few games of cards.