This was our last night in Tours. Catha, still very full from lunch, again skipped dinner, leaving me to feed the boys. I jumped at the chance. The boys had enough walking around by that time, so we stuck close to the hotel, having dinner back at l'Odeon, where we had our first dinner in the Loire together.
We were promptly served the same set of amuse bouches: Asparagus Cream, Crispy Langoustine, & Cheese Puff...
...as well as the Langoustine Mousse.
I had the Crevettes en Brochette (Skewered Shrimps) to start.
Seared Scallops with Bacon
Foie Gras Ravioli
By way of white wine for the starters, I got a bottle of 2011 Domaine Couly-Dutheil Chinon Blanc Les Chanteaux - Nicely zippy, refreshing, well-focused, racy, crisp Korean pears, touch of quince, yellow apricot, hint of pineapple. Notably clean with good purity and lovely fresh acidity. Slight honey to the fruit, as well as a deft touch of cold limestone and a bit of steel. excellent with my shrimps. Totally different in style from the 2010 Bernard Baudry Chinon Blanc La Croix Boisée I had during the previous dinner here, but equally enchanting.
The boys liked it too.
We all ordered the Magret de Canard with Foie Gras, and, with that, I got a bottle of 2010 Domaine La Butte Bourgueil La Haute de la Butte (par Jacky Blot) - Whoa! Chewy, dense, very primary and rustic, concentrated, ripe black cherry, kirsch, juicy blackberries, roast meat, sweet pipe tobacco, the green bell pepper past mid-mouth almost an afterthought. Healthy dose of dark minerality. Acid is lowish as well. Boom. In your face. Very young and primary, very difficult to drink alone - but, with the duck, it was ok.
Say "Cheese"...
My Grand Marnier Soufflé...same dessert as lunch.
All the kids got the Molten Chocolate Tarte again.
Mignardises of Candied Oranges & Crème Brûlée
Nice last dinner with my boys for the Loire leg of the trip. Next, on to Paris!