09/12/2025: Find the mistake in this unexpected encounter with excellence on December 3, 2025!
It was in Charolles, at Chef Frédéric Doucet's gourmet restaurant. Venus, the goddess of love, was at the reception, her noble benevolence and delicate attentions permeating the entire staff, as well as Mr. Frédéric Doucet, the owner. We both felt as if we had suddenly entered another world. What a majestic welcome, devoid of any sentimentality, but woven with genuine goodwill and grace.
Our entire evening, guided by Pénatés, was imbued with this professionalism, bordering on excellence, from the warm attitudes to the sincere smiles.
We had chosen the menu entitled "In the Footsteps of Charolais Beef."
We sat down to dinner around 8 pm and left shortly before Cinderella. We savored truly authentic ingredients and exceptional flavors that left a Milky Way of delights, surprises, and groans of gustatory pleasure in our mouths. The Greek poet Ovidius wrote, "Bacchus on Venus is like fire on fire!" From the amuse-bouche to dessert, it was like that, from flavor to flavor, from marvel to marvel, and on top of that, this discovery of the local terroir with its royal riches, the traditions of the Charolais region laid out before us with the Burgundian culinary culture as our tablecloth. My partner and I learned more about this region in one evening than in over a year of living here! All the servers deserve a special mention, with the sommelier being the highlight, perfectly pairing flavors on your palate. And what can be said about Chef Doucet and his team, who skillfully combine ingredients with exquisite taste and flair? Excellence here reaches the pinnacle of gastronomy! It must be shouted from the rooftops: this place of pleasure is a must-visit. It's like a beautiful love story, a complete epicurean fusion that transcends you, leaving you with an irresistible urge to savor it again and again. And when we're away from this table that unites tradition and innovation, we're overcome with longing. A love story, I tell you! We looked for a flaw in this restaurant, something amiss, and after four hours of pure enjoyment—visual, gustatory, and full of discoveries—we found nothing amiss! Oh, except for the church bell tower and its twelve strokes of midnight.
I won't give you any details about this famous menu, because only you can form your own opinion. I, and we, can only recommend this place where happiness truly exists. In conclusion, it's up to you to find the flaw...
16/11/2025: We received a very warm welcome. The setting is lovely, the staff are very friendly and genuine without ever being pretentious. The chef is passionate and approachable.
We chose the "Burgundy Immersion" menu with five varied, flavorful, and meticulously prepared courses that showcased the best of local cuisine.
We felt truly pampered.
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