A selection of menus Click here to book
At Les Bons Vivants, menus have a strong French flavour, illustrating the rich regional fare from mainland France as well as the more exotic parts of the country such as La Réunion (one of France's overseas counties) and also former colonial lands such as Vietnam, Morocco and Algeria.
Wines are BYO (except for the pre-dinner drinks which I supply) and I have mentioned a suggestion for each menu but of course you can bring what you like - as long as it's French!
Suggested donations of £30/35 per head for pre-dinner drinks & nibbles, a 3-course meal, coffee & douceurs.
I use garlic, spices, nuts, dairy products & wheat in a lot of my recipes. I therefore do not recommend my menus for anyone with any allergies or intolerance to these ingredients.
Menu La Réunion £35pp
Apéritif
Punch & Bonbons Piment
Starter
samoussas & leaves
Main
Rougail saucisses
(a spicy tomato & home-made sausages casserole)
Sunny whole rice
Dessert
Flambeed bananas with rum & raisins parfait
To finish
Coffee, pineapple & chocolate bites
Suggested wine: actually, cool beers for this one!
Menu Vietnamien £30pp
Apéritif
White wine & Nems
Starter
Pork & prawn Vietnamese pancake
Main
Hanoi Pho
(the famous beef noodle soup)
Dessert
Creme caramel maison
To finish
Coffee, coconut canelés
Suggested wine: beers (lagers) or a dry chilled rosé or white.
Menu La mer £35pp
Apéritif
Muscadet & smoked fish toasties
Starter
Mouclade charentaise
(mussels in saffron-infused mariniere sauce)
Main
Salmon on a lightly curried sauce
seasonal greens & celeriac mash
Dessert
Crepes Suzette with home-made honey & cardamom ice cream
To finish
Coffee, home-made orangettes
Suggested wine: a dry white wine.
Menu Sud £35pp
Apéritif
Pineau des Charentes & home-made nibbles
Starter
Poivrons a la Nicoise with leaves in a light walnut dressing
Main
Astet de l'Aveyron
(stuffet pork fillet)
with French beans persillade
Dessert
Tourtiere pommes/pruneaux
To finish
Coffee, mini canelés de Bordeaux
Suggested wines: a good red Bordeaux
Menu d'été £35pp
Apéritif
Kir with home-made nibbles
Starter
Pissaladiere and leaves
Main
Poulet Basquaise with whole rice
Dessert
Tartelettes chocolat/framboises
To finish
coffee & home-made biscuits
Suggested wine: a chilled white or rosé
Menu de Fete £35pp
Apéritif
Kir Royal & cheese feuilletés
Starter
Smoked salmon terrine
Main
Venison casserole
stripy roasties & greens
Dessert
Pear & Cranberries Yule Log
with Kirsch cream
To finish
home-made truffles & coffee
Suggested wine: a very good red bordeaux or burgundy and champagne for dessert!