Bienvenue, Mes Amis. After our time at Camping Les Ecureuils came to an end we drove a few miles up the road to Puy Du Fou in Les Espesses. Puy Du Fou is a medieval theme park which according to trip advisor is the best theme park in Europe and 3rd best in the World. Puy Du Fou is like nothing I've been to before, our hotel was literally a castle.
The Medieval theme continued in our first meal which was a medieval banquet at the hotel restaurant with various meats, vegetables, cheese and pastries on a buffet but we were so tired and hungry when we arrived that we forgot to take any photos.
The next day our main meal was a bit of a spectacular experience at one of the park restaurants called Le Café De La Madelon. The restaurant is like a 1914 Café, where the wedding meal of La Madelon is taking place. The food itself is amazing and you get entertainment in the form of an immersive cabaret involving actors and even the waiters as the food is brought out as part of the show.
For starter we had Salmon Medallions with garnish of salad and boiled eggs. The main was Chicken Parcels with Rosti Potatoes and Tomato Provençal. The dessert was the wedding centre piece of Gourmet Choux Pastries. The food was all really good but the spectacle of the show really made this an dining experience like none I've had before.
Our next meal was at another of the hotels called Les Deux Couronnes where we could feast on King Francis I's favourite meats cooked on the fire in the Camp Du Drap D'Or. This was like the best Barbecue I've ever been to. Beef Skirt cooked rare with mushrooms, marinated pork ribs, pork and mushroom sausage, barbecued chicken thighs along with grilled vegetables were the mains we went for. Desserts were Chocolate Torte, Lemon Meringue Pie and Macarons along with a cheeseboard of Brie, Mizotte and Camté. Honestly this beef was the best I've ever had, so full of flavour from the fire pit. Amazingly tender and so juicy.
The following day we were back in the Park and our lunch was La Mijoterie du Roy Henry a renaissance style dining hall. You get a wooden board with grooves cut into it to hold your starter, main and dessert dishes, you take your wooden board u to the serving area and choose you meal. The mains are served in cast iron pots which I thought was really cool.
I went for the Octopus Carpaccio with Potatoes, Marinated Peppers and herbs to start. Raw octopus may not be to everyones liking but this was really good I just wish there had of been more octopus but it was only a starter.
For my main I had Sausage with Mashed Potato, Bacon, Tomato and Haricot Beans. I was in two minds about what to have for main as there were a few I liked the sound of but when I found out the Sausage was Blood Sausage I went for that. It was like a french version of a full english breakfast, the sausage was like really good black pudding.
My dessert was Lemon Cream, Cumble and Vanilla Mousse. Some lemon desserts can be a bit too subtle but that was not the case here the lemon cream was really punchy with citron.
Our final meal at Puy Du Fou was at Le Bistrot a Belle Epoque Brasserie in the Village of Bourg 1900 at Puy Du Fou. The bustling bistrot was like stepping into a french film and felt quintessentially French. For starter I had a Salad of Frisée Lettuce, Bacon Lardons and Croutons, then for main I had Confit Duck Leg, Shallot Sauce, Potatoes and Garden Peas. Like the Duck I had in Vendée this was falling apart and tender but the Shallot Sauce gave it and extra dimension and really took this to another level. For dessert I had Three-layered Chocolate Crunch Torte with Red Berry Coulis and I think this was my favourite dessert of out whole trip, so over the top indulgent.
We never had a bad meal in France and considering we went to a camp site and a theme park this is pretty impressive if you think about the kind of food you would get at these types of places in the UK. Our short stay has won me over to French cuisine and I can't wait to head back to France for another culinary adventure.
Au revoir.
S
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