Now and then Chéri and I like to sneak out to lunch and try a new restaurant. This is how we discovered the lovely restaurant Relais Chantovent in Minerve: a restaurant with an amazing view of the gorge of the River Cesse. If you go for yourself, make sure you get seated on the terrace, you won’t be disappointed!
Restaurant with a view
Minerve, one of France’s most beautiful villages, is absolutely worth a visit. And, if you are already exploring the picturesque and medieval streets, why not combine pleasure with more pleasure by visiting the wonderful restaurant Relais Chantovent. Although the interior of the restaurant is very tastefully decorated, you might want to sit on the terrace outside. That way, while enjoying your delicious dinner, prepared with loving care, you will be treated to a stunning view of the Cesse Gorge.
Fresh and local products
Now, I would never go to a restaurant just because of the view. Don’t worry! The food is worth the detour as well. Relais Chantovent is a family-run restaurant and the chef Nicolas Bru only cooks with fresh, local products, a lot of them organic. The lunch menu is very simple and offers two options for each of the three courses. You can also choose to eat à la carte. As a starter, Chéri had an “Emulsion Crémeuse de Pomme de Terre” (creamy potato soup) and I went for the “Chèvre Frais sur une Tranche de Pain aux Noix” (fresh goat’s cheese on a slice of homemade bread with nuts).
Minervois wines
The French know how to name their dishes. They almost sound poetic! For example like the main dish we had: a “Filet de Truite Rose en Croûte d’Amandes Dorées”, which translates as a pink trout fillet with a golden almond crust. I wonder if the trouts came from the Cesse River just below us… Relais Chantovent not only cooks with local products, they also have a selection of the best Minervois wines. A perfect accompaniment to your meal!
Reasonably priced
Last but not least, we savoured our dessert: a “Verrine Gourmande avec un Crumble et Caramel Onctueux” (a decadent glass filled with crumble and luscious caramel). Followed by a little coffee to top it off. The reasonably priced menu cost 22 euros per person, and we were delighted with the food and returned home happily.