La Promenade – Jacky Dallais 
Somewhat of a cheat this as Le Petit Pressigny is in the deep south of Touraine but so what as this is one of my favourite restaurants in France. Jacky Dallais’ cooking is brilliantly inventive and given the quality of the food certainly offers amazing value for money. Dallais champions local produce including the geline de touraine*, a particularly flavoursome local bred of chicken. Once Touraine’s traditional, high quality chicken, the geline had virtually died some 50 years ago because it needs 120-130 days to raise against only 90 days for other, but less tasty, breeds. Profit and accountants appeared to have doomed the geline – also called the Dame Noire. Fortunately in a small group of people started to revive the breed in the early 1980s.
There is also a splendid wine list not just the Loire but other parts of France, especially Languedoc-Roussillon, expertly orchestrated by Xavier Fortin.
Road sign in Le Petit Pressigny
The only problem with La Promenade is that it is a long way from the Cher Valley and there is nowhere nearby to stay, so for me it has to be a long lunch day.
Closed Sunday night, Monday and Tuesday. Booking essential
There is also a splendid wine list not just the Loire but other parts of France, especially Languedoc-Roussillon, expertly orchestrated by Xavier Fortin.
Road sign in Le Petit PressignyThe only problem with La Promenade is that it is a long way from the Cher Valley and there is nowhere nearby to stay, so for me it has to be a long lunch day.
Closed Sunday night, Monday and Tuesday. Booking essential
11 Rue du Savoureulx, 37350 Le Petit-Pressigny
Tel: 02.47.94.93.52.
Web: www.touraine-gourmande.com/resto24.php
* For more information about the geline click here and here.
