Superbe Bernard Loiseau & Cajun Music, Saulieu - Friday 3/8/12-Saturday 4/8/12

We headed to Saulieu on Friday afternoon, to break-in the new DS3 which we have named Scarlet, after Scarlet in River City!, and zoomed the 1 1/2 hour drive to Restaurant/Hotel Bernard Loiseau, a highly respected 5* hotel and 3 Michelin-Starred restaurant. What a beautiful drive it was and what a magnificent hotel & restaurant Bernard Loiseau is. Chef Bernard Loiseau took his own life years ago and his wife Dominique has carried his name on with Chef Patrick Bertron and has maintained their 3 Michelin-Starred status. We had the most exquisite room over-looking their stunning 'English' garden in typical Burgundian style and had full use of the Sauna, hammam, pool and spa which James enjoyed very much, I stupidly forgot to pack my costume! When we arrived, we noticed that there was a Cajun music festival on, how lucky was that! So we headed across the road to listen to some of the live bands before dinner. The afternoon sessions were free, result! Before Dinner, we were served aperitifs and Dominique Loiseau introduced herself to us and asked us why we had chosen to come to her Restaurant. We told her that we had seen it on Raymond Blanc's Hungry Frenchman programme on BBC, and that because it was so close to us, we knew that we would one day relish the experience. We also chatted about Michael Caines who has a 1* restaurant at Gidley Park, and how he used to work with them at Bernard Loiseau and she couldn't praise him enough. Then it was time for our Dinner and boy was it amazing, we had the Bernard Loiseau Classics menu including wines and course after course was devine. Frogs Legs in Parsley with garlic puree, Pike Perch on onion confit with red wine reduction, free range Chicken with pan fried foie gras and truffled potatoes with asparagus , cheese, and the most beautifully presented chocolate mousse and candied orange dessert. The first 3 courses were absolutely outstanding, we both didn't like the cheese, James said it tasted like a farm.... and the dessert for us both was a bit too heavy. But overall, the ambience, service and experience was Superbe! After coffee in one of their beautiful lounges, I needed a lie down! When we went back to our room, our presents were waiting for us (part of the package booked) - a bottle of blanc de blanc champagne, the 'tout Loiseau' Recipe book and 2 beautiful Pillivuyt china Bernard Loiseau mugs for our kitchen. Everything was beautifully wrapped, along with some pillow chocolates (no chance of eating those!) We had a great night's sleep in our room, followed by an outstanding breakfast in the courtyard outside next morning and a relaxed check-out at 12 noon. What an experience, the french really know how to turn on the charm. This is the best hotel we have stayed in, ever. We enjoyed more Cajun music on Saturday from just before noon onwards, with everyone getting into the swing of things, the frenchies were wellying the wine at 11.30, by the bottle! There was also a really good market on which we had a look around, and a walk around the beautiful village of Saulieu. We will be back next year for the festival, got it marked in our diary already.