Hautevillers, France: Le Restaurant de l'Abbaye
Address | 114 Rue de l'Église, 51160 Hautvillers, France
On our first night in Hautvillers, we intended on going to the market and enjoying a meal at the cottage. After we settled in, made some calls, and relaxed we realized we had missed our opportunity as all the shops were closed. We reviewed the list of possibilities that our host had left for us and decided to walk to Le Restaurant de l'Abbaye. We walked down the stairs and out into the quiet street. The only two people out, we looked up and noticed how many stars were shinning down on us from the sky. We walked past closed champagne tasting rooms and production sites, as well as the Abbaye Saint-Pierre d'Hautvillers where Dom Pérignon is buried.
After a brief, two minute walk we arrived to a large courtyard with a path leading to the restaurant. The space was large, it seemed too large for such a small village. We were seated by a pleasant woman, somewhere between the only other two occupied tables in the restaurant. She asked us what aperitifs we would start with. When we seemed unsure if we wanted aperitifs she seemed taken aback. My eyes met my wife's and we gave each other a knowing look, When in Rome or Hautvillers as it were. I ordered a Kir Royale. Lynette settled on a martini.
We were brought pumpkin soup and dry cured ham (for me) and heirloom tomato (for Lynette, she's pescatarian). It was a welcome starter on a chilly night. My first course was a foie gras terrine. It was very well seasoned and served with a salad. The Chef kindly accommodated Lynette's dietary choices and made her salad without jambon but included a sizable portion of camembert en croute. (She says this salad has ruined all other salads for her. She's a cheese lover.)
For a pallet cleanser we were served lemon sorbet in chilled Ratafia de Champagne (made from fortified grape must). It was sweet and fragrant and I could have been satisfied eating this alone. When our mains arrived at the table, Lynette immediately remarked to me that the meal looked "so German". I agreed. I had veal with mushrooms and potatoes. Lynette's plate looked similar. She had the vegetarian option of noodles with a creamy sauce, black trumpet mushrooms, veggies and potatoes. The meal was satisfying. Simple and tasty.
Ah! A cheese course. Normally I really limit my cheese intake but when in France I decided to go for it. All the cheeses were local and incredibly rich and tasty. Lynette forewent dessert and settled on just a cheese plate. I was getting full but I forged on, ready for the dessert. Dessert was a plate of assorted sweets. Mint chip ice cream, fruits and cream, cakes. It was all tasty. Nothing that blew you away but something enjoyable made more sweet by the cozy setting and the friendly service.
All in all it was a hearty and satisfying meal. We said goodnight and made the short walk back to our cottage where we settled in for the night. We relaxed in anticipation of what would be a busy next day visiting Champagne Houses.
