Restaurant Simon in sleepy Flagey-Echezeaux, open for business( Photo by Carol Fletcher)
small galleries, museums and medieval churches, all combine to form an important destination for any traveller. Fine Burgundian cuisine makes for a memorable destination. Local fresh markets show off the produce and riches of the land; artisanal sweet shops entice people from their path into sweet decadence; and an array of dining places grace town squares and corners.
With the help of our server, we agreed to a prix fixe menu, and the courses of our lunch began to appear: the amuse bouche, with three tiny, delectable tastes; an appetizer course; a main course; an opulent cheese cart with regional specialties; the pre-dessert( a tiny taste of delectable sweets before the actual dessert); dessert, and après-dessert( another tiny taste). The espresso-like café noir that capped it off was as rich and perfect as the Pouilly-Fuissé that had accompanied the meal.
We had been in no rush: we sat down at 1:30 in the afternoon, and rose from the table at 4:30. We all agreed that dinner would be both late, and light, that day. Thankfully, the towns and villages of Burgundy are also blessed with numerous ordinary cafés that offer simple ingredients done with beauty. Modest versions of bœuf bourgignon, escargots, pouchose( fish soup), and regional cheeses are a celebration of the region’ s richness and culinary pedigree.
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