Eating out.............

We have been busy working on updating the website White-Shutters with the new images and floor plans, still a work in progress but we're getting there!

I have been meaning to do a little summary of some of the restaurants we have enjoyed both last year when on holiday and house hunting trips, and our Easter trip to White Shutters.

I have already mentioned the children's favourite in Matha, Le Pinocchio which has a good value set meal and a la carte, pizzas how they should be cooked, pasta, steaks and salads with extensive inside and outside tables.

We also discovered a very good seafood restaurant in St Jean d'Angeley called Le Mareyeur. We just love seafood and this restaurant is very family friendly and not at all fancy or formal, with great tasty cooking, especially if you love seafood! A 2 course evening meal with plenty of choice was around 12E, and even better a 50cl carafe of very passable wine for E5, a great find. A huge dish of moules is just an essential requirement for our holidays, and they serve up a lovely bowlful here.

A bit further afield in Melle (30 minutes) are two lovely restaurants (well there are more, but we have tried these two!)

First of all, another wallet friendly restaurant, Thai this time. This was our celebratory meal after buying White Shutters in January, without breaking the bank any further. I can't find a website but it is the Delices d'Orient, 5 rue des halles, 79500 Melle P: 05 49 29 26 48 Very friendly owners, and great value at 15E for 3 delicious courses, the soup was especially good.

Also in Melle is Les Glycines, a great setting for a celebratory French meal for two or a large table full of family and/or friends. We had a delayed 70th birthday, actual 44th Birthday, early 67th birthday and a very early 13th birthday to celebrate! A Logis de France award winner, Les Glycines is more formal than the previous eateries, but still very family friendly. Our teenage girls enjoyed their "proper" French restaurant meal with good service, and the Menu Terroir varies from 18E for two courses to E26.50 for four courses, so you know the budget before you start. I really want to go back and sample the Menu Decouverte, it looks a delicious experience.

Finally, another more gourmet offering is 10 minutes away on the Aulnay-St Jean d'Angely road, Le Moulin des Saules , the setting looks delightful, with menus from 25E, we can't wait to sample it, perhaps just the two of us!

We hope to discover many more delightful eateries on our future holidays..... and will start a restaurant section on the website very soon, at least I have some notes here now!