The Zero Calorie Lunch

With the return of both Ade, who is currently working in Brussels during the week, and the sun, we decided to make the most of our Friday together, get the bikes out and have a lovely lunch - just the two of us. Despite venturing no more than 25kms from home and returning to a restaurant we have been to before, see here, we managed to pick a route that was new to us, not bad after 9 years of living here.

Following the back roads into Chef Boutonne, then through Les Vaux, Tillou, St Genard, Mazieres-sur-Beronne and into our destination of St Romans-les-Melle saw us cycling past fields of freshly rolled hay, wheat just on the point of flowering and sunflower and maize seedlings. Cycling this route of valleys that lie between Melle and Chef Boutonne made me realise just how much steeper the land is here than just down the road in our area south of Chef Boutonne. At times I felt like I was in the Alps, we even had a few 90 degree switch backs to contend with. It was certainly a well deserved beer in the lovely outdoor terrace of Le Sporting that we chose to start our meal with.

A Beer aperitif 

Buffet starter

Rosé with chicken

Having cycled 25.5kms there (and therefore home again too) I'd like to think that calories burned v calories consumed =  a 0 calorie meal, however I guess it would have done IF we had stuck to plan A and not had the cheese and dessert course - yeh right!

Fantastic cheese selection

Tarte aux fruits

Le Sporting, St Romans les Melle,  where a delicious four course lunch with beer aperitif, rosé wine and coffee only costs 15€ per person - we will be back.

St Roman les Melle

St Roman les Melle

The conditions were perfect for a bike ride, hot but not too hot and no nasty wind. The air was heavy with the scent of elderflowers and the birdsong was a constant accompaniment. On the way home we stopped in the cool of the woods in St Genard where we watched red squirrels in the trees and dragonflys on the water. The banks were full of wild garlic that was dying back for it's summer sleep, but it's scent was still present in the air. We are looking forward to many more bike rides (and lunches out) like this.

St Genard

St Genard