Tag Archives: Starters

Club Med Val Thorens Sensations: Great Restaurants & Bars

Club Med-Val Thorens Sensations-France-Epicurious-Panoramic View-1-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

What about a ski weekend in Val Thorens?

Sorry for the long silence, I had some technical issues on the blog. And I just returned from a wonderful ski weekend at the new Club Med Val Thorens Sensations 4 tridents (in Savoy, France), where I was invited to the inauguration. I haven’t set foot in a Club Med for ages (yes I was DJ in another life)!

Still the same winner formula: as soon as you are in the Club, you feel good. Arrived around 11:30 p.m. (after a trip with 3 hour bus), my first discovery was the main restaurant. 

The Main Restaurant

Club Med-Val Thorens Sensations-France-Main Restaurant-Breakfast-1-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

User-friendly graphic Yurts

I really discovered the main restaurant at the breakfast, the next morning of my arrival (above photo montage). 

Big crush for the yurts scattered in different rooms of the restaurant. They create a sort of intimate cocoon, where I really like to eat and chat under a subdued light.

The dishes are nicely presented. And as always there is many choice and something for everyone. During my short stay, I really enjoyed fresh or dried fruits, ice creams and Kusmi Tea. Shame on me : )

On the photo montage below: No. 3, fish stew in a small red pot, so chic! No. 2, a set of starters elaborated by star chef Edouard Loubet. No. 1, owls gallery at reception and No. 4, the bench of the Canadian (woodcutter) cousin at the gourmet lounge Epicurious. 

Club Med-Val Thorens Sensations-France-Main Restaurant-Breakfast-2-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Breakfast At The Epicurious, Gourmet Lounge

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Cozy Atmosphere At The Epicurious

When I finished my first ski lesson in the late afternoon, I joined a part of the group for a drink at the Gourmet Lounge: Epicurious. The outdoor terrace offers panoramic views of the snowy peaks (first photo).

Almost sleepy in a comfortable armchair, while listening some music (photo 7) … when I notice that there’s a live musician and not a soundtrack (LOL!). The space is dedicated to the restoration and local products, including a really nice wine cellar. 

The Epicurious restaurant and wine cellar are decorated by Sophie Jacquemin, in charge of the interior design of the whole Club Med Val Thorens Sensations. The tasting dinner is designed by the chef Edouard Loubet, a native of Val Thorens, with 2 Michelin stars, 5 Gault & Millau toques and chef of the year in 2011.

The morning of departure, I take a late breakfast with a view of the mountains. There is less choice than in the main restaurant, but it’s the quieter and more exclusive, with a great service. On the photo montage below: a plate made of cheese, smoked ham and fresh cereal bread. 

Club Med-Val Thorens Sensations-France-Epicurious-Gourmet Lounge-1-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Club Med-Val Thorens Sensations-France-Epicurious-Gourmet Lounge-3-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Club Med-Val Thorens Sensations-France-Epicurious-Gourmet Lounge-2-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Tea time At The Main Bar

Club Med-Val Thorens Sensations-France-Main Bar-Tea Time-Macaroons-1-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Yummy break at the main bar: few snacks after skiing! We’re lazily laying in the lounge, with a choice of excellent macaroons, chocolate cakes etc … Before getting ready for dinner, LOL!

Photos : Mademoiselle Le K – copyright 2014, tous droits réservés.

Informations   

Club Med Val Thorens Sensations  

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HOTEL REVIEWSDESTINATIONS & LIFESTYLE 

Many thanks to all the team of Club Med for this invitation and as always these are my opinions! 

Brussels, Belgium: Dinner at Chez Montaigne

Chez Montaigne-Brussels-Belgium-Restaurant-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Foodies, you’ll enjoy this restaurant!

I recently discovered with my dear mum, the excellent restaurant Chez Montaigne, Place Brugmann 27. 

My family and friends say I’m picky about food, but I don’t think so. I prefer the quality of products than some extravagant associations and sauces that kill the essence of the taste of each ingredient … 

I like to be a bit surprised, but not too much! In other words, it’s quite challenging for the chef (LOL)! We sit inside because it’s raining on the terrace (pictures 1 & 5). 

The decor is white and minimalist, a painting by Jean-Luc Moerman roughly recalls the French philosopher Montaigne. The light softens gradually as the evening progresses. We arrived early and will leave among the last (a good sign).

Chez Montaigne-Brussels-Belgium-Restaurant-1-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Chez Montaigne-Brussels-Belgium-Restaurant-2-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Great first meals  

My mother chooses a salad of ​​beets sliced very thin with chew, a half fig and hazelnut. Really delicious (picture above)! 

As always, I don’t like to experiment and I choose a more conventional dish with thin avocado slices, parsley and lobster, perfectly seasoned (picture 2). Lovely presentation: many colors in the plate! And impeccable service both professional and friendly!

Chez Montaigne-Brussels-Belgium-Restaurant-3-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Then we order fish

served with lentils, asparagus and tomatoes. The cooking is perfect and  the dish is simple and tasty as I like. The large plates are not roborative.

After a long hesitation, we share a delicious homemade ice cream with vanilla (picture below).

Chez Montaigne-Brussels-Belgium-Restaurant-4-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Chez Montaigne-Brussels-Belgium-Restaurant-6-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Photos : Mademoiselle Le K – copyright 2014, tous droits réservés.

Informations

Chez Montaigne, Place Brugmann 27, Phone +32 (0)2 345 65 23

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DESTINATIONS & LIFESTYLE  

We were invited by the restaurant Chez Montaigne and these are my opinions. Thanks to the team of Chez Montaigne.

Fooding at The Awesome Sungai Gold, Bali

Sungai Gold-Bali-Fooding-Lunch-1-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Foodies, enjoy!  

I had an amazing stay at Sungai Gold, a beautiful rental villa where every meal was a feast for the eyes and palate. Every morning, the chief asked me what I wanted for lunch and dinner.            

I like eating light and prefering the quality of ingredients to a complex cooking. Mostly I wanted to discover Balinese specialties. What interest ordering pizza whe you’re in the Balinese countryside? So here are some of my meals. 

Let’s begin with the famous Nasi Goreng (on the photo above, the No. 2): steamed rice with leeks, mushrooms, carrots, garlic, chilli and oyster sauce and fish sauce. Fried chicken and an egg on the rice. A delicious dish very nutritious, served with sauces, including one very spicy (3). 1. Fresh coriander juice (I think) with lime, the whole is very bitter.

Sungai Gold-Bali-Fooding-Breakfasts-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

The breakfasts   

(pictured above). I always had the same breafast, enjoying sun-drenched fruits with a fresh fruit salad and orange juice (1).   

Depending on my activities, when I didn’t have lunch at the villa, I added a bowl of whole grains (2) or scrambled eggs with mushrooms sprinkled with parmesan (3).

Sungai Gold-Bali-Fooding-Dinner-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

The  dinner of my arrival    

When I arrived after more than 20 hours of flight, I was not hungry. Unable to resist, I ate because it was so good (ten times too much for me alone)! And the setting was magical!     

Photos 1, 2 & 3: the starters. 1. Scallops with chilli and cream of coconut. 2. Tempura barramundi (a fish of Southeast Asia and Australia) with a Thai salad. 

3. Spring rolls of lamb with cumin seeds. 4. The main course: grilled chicken salad with green mango. In all the dishe, there are coriander and chilli. A divine meal!

Sungai Gold-Bali-Fooding-Dinner-1-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Do you know the Barramundi and some Asian fruits?   

Above, photo 1: steamed Barramundi with lime sauce and coconut, with mashed sweet potato. Among the ingredients: lemongrass, coriander, ginger, palm sugar, coconut milk, lime juice, garlic and “green bird eyes” chili.     

2. The dessert! What a dessert: a plate composed of dragon fruit (white flesh dotted with edible black seeds and pink skin not to eat), passion fruit (viscous seeds in the strawberries) for those I liked.

I really liked the dragon fruit, mixed with a scoop of homemade coconut ice cream​​: a real treat! This became my favorite dessert (usually I’m not dessert)! 3. Passion Fruit.

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Pleasure for the eyes       

At lunch: grilled chicken with vegetables (carrots and cucumbers) marinated in white vinegar, small chillis and sugar. The chicken has also marinated in fish sauce and shrimp paste, long hot pepper, garlic, tomato and oil. It’s great and beautiful to look at (1)!       

For dinner: baby snapper with Balinese spices, garlic, chili, lime, shrimp paste, tomato and oil, plus lemongrass (2). This dish is served with steamed rice with coconut that I found pretty dry (3).   

Big surprise when I saw the dessert (which I couldn’t finish!): banana fritters served with ice (4)! Two million calories, lol! If you say fritters, you mean: rice flour, topped with a sauce made from palm sugar, cream and butter !!! Really not good for any diet ; )

Sungai Gold-Bali-Fooding-Snack & Dinner-3-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Hearty dinner after a sightseeing day  

I did the visit of two temples quite distant from each other, without having time to lunch. When I got home in the early evening, the chef prepared me some spring rolls to snack before dinner.       

I used to dine late. 1. Spring rolls & 2. Typically Balinese: corn fritters made of maize, sweet chili sauce, garlic, pepper, celery, egg and rice flour. A very filling dish that peasants cook when they do not have enough rice.     

3. Dinner with a classic Nasi Goreng. Well I hope this gives you want to taste some Balinese dishes (do not miss the Balinese chicken Satay)! Suksma to the entire team of Villa Sungai Gold and especially the chef for this delicious culinary journey!        

Photos : Mademoiselle Le K – copyright 2014, tous droits réservés.    

Informations

Sungai Gold

To go to Bali : Qatar airways  

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I was invited by the Villa Sungai Gold Bali and as always these are my opinions.