(Some news from Mark Robertson, Jim's Loire's occasional Epeigné-les-Bois's distinguished correspondent.)

Mark in traditional attire

Photos of the Fête Country on Epeigné website.

Moules Frites (13th July) went very well, promised showers didn’t materialise and the Comité des Fêtes served close to 1400 meals (and 1000 crèpes).

Veraison started at the Clos Chossay for the Cot and Sauvignon a week ago and we’re looking at a very early vendange. We did have some rain (15mm) Saturday the 16th July and a few showers since.

The Moulin de Bourg is not formally for sale, but has had some viewings. (Potential as a small hotel/chambres d'hôtes?)

Sadly the Detour (Civray-en-Touraine) seems to have shut for good.

More positively the restaurant at Le Lézard Vert in Epeigné is busy and its reputation is spreading.

Nacer Maghissene – Le Lézard Vert's proprietor calm under pression ...

Saturday night saw the official opening of the new restaurant@the Lézard Vert with a couple of bands (including Mozaik Etnik to mark the event on a fine, warm evening.

Stéphanie, who looks after Nacer and their two young children

  "What's this funny blue tent, Nacer? You told us it would like playing Bercy!" 

"Well I suppose it will have to do!"

Setting up

Band leader

Guitarist

Flautist

 The band in the dusk

The crowd gathers

The party spills out into the road

Two of Les Trois Matinales

Warm enough for an ice cream!

The third of Les Trois Matinals

Brief excitement when this car was spotted but it wasn't Nico and Carla

Saturday 30th April: Moules Frites – both at lunchtime and in the evening or to takeaway.

Saturday 7th May: Grand inauguration of the restaurant

 

From 19.00 hours. Unclear whether Nico and Carla will be able to make it...
 

Restaurant open for lunch from Tuesday to Saturday: 10€ for three courses + a 1/4 litre of wine or a demi pression

Restaurant open for dinner from Tuesday to Saturday: from 12€ for three courses + a 1/4 litre of wine or a demi pression

Friday and Saturday tagine or couscous available if ordered in advance

Reservations to Stéphanie or Nacer on 02.47.23.97.94

8 Rue de la Fontaine, 37150 Epeigné-les-Bois  

 

 

Signs@Le Lézard Vert, Epeigné-les-Bois

Yesterday with part of our kitchen being redone, including a new sink, we decided that this was an excellent reason for trying out lunch at Epeigné's Le Lézard Vert run by Nacer and Stéphanie. Three courses for 10€ is great value.  We chose the assiette de crudités followed by the veal escalope with a cream sauce plus sauté potatoes. The veal was beautifully tender. We finished with CRM having the semolina cream and I chose the cherry tart. It was great to see some twenty or more people sitting down to lunch plus a few other people clustered around the bar having a drink. 

The restaurant is bringing new life into the village – we had a really enjoyable lunch in a buzzy atmosphere.

 The waiting staff grabbing a quick break under the shop counter

Menu from the following day

Le Lézard Vert is open for lunch Tuesdays to Saturdays and dinner by arrangement.
Tel: 02.47.23.97.94 

Stephanie and Nacer

I gather from my permanent correspondent in Epeigné that the restaurant at Le Lézard Vert in the village's high street is now open for business. Last weekend Nacer apparently had some 50-60 bookings. Will post menus and opening hours when I have them.

Le Lézard Vert

8 r Fontaine
37150 Epeigne Les Bois

Tel: 02.47.23.97.94.

Stéphanie and Nacer toast to future success

The restaurant at le Lézard Vert in Epeigné-les-Bois should be fully open by the end of this year. CRM and I had an excellent lamb tagine with dates, prunes and almonds there this evening after our journey down from London today. Fortunately we avoided the snow both in the UK and in France. I fancy had we left a day or two later the journey would have been difficult. Instead it was wet and gloomy. 

The restaurant  – all freshly painted and now awaiting clients

The chef@work in the new kitchen

Epeigné has two events on today. First at 3.30 there will be the performance by L'Arbre à Vache will be appearing at Epeigné and La Croix performing Bob, transports en tout genre.

Then in the evening at Le Lézard Vert it's the launch of the exhibition of the photos of Franz T 'le Pérou' – un fascinant voyage aux mille couleurs (Peru – a fascinating journey with a thousand colours). Stéphanie and Nacer will be serving their famous couscous this evening. Contact them at Le Lezard Vert, 8 Rue de la Fontaine, 37150 Epeigné-les-Bois Tel: 02.47.23.87.84.

The exhibition is part of Photos Folies en Touraine – a biannual event with lots of exhibitions of photos held across Touraine from 17th September to 1st November. This is the 5th edition. More details here.

Work on making a kitchen at Le Lézard Vert will finally begin on Monday and is expected to take about a month. Nacer tells me that the first dish he will be serving once the work is complete will be a lamb tagine with prunes.

 

Le Lézard Vert

 

The big barn just on the edge of Epeigné on the road to Saint-Georges is apparently up for sale.  It used to be part of the Moulin property but was sold off separately and for a number of years was owned by a second hand furniture dealer (brocanteur), who used it for storage. How everything has been cleared out. There is a project for the commune, presumably with a considerable subsidy to make this large space into a musée de la patrimoine.

If this project falls through I understand that there is a fledgling impresario, based in London's Chelsea who has ambitious plans to make this into a cultural/conference centre. As I understand it the idea is to hold international seminars and jazz concerts etc. here.

This Saturday there is a soirée barbecue to celebrate the first anniversary of Stéphanie and Nacer taking over Le Lézard Vert. Further details from Le Lézard Vert.

The traditional late summer event - Soirée pot au feu - is on Saturday 4th September. For details and to sign for the Soirée contact La Mairie (02.47.23.92.88) or Mr Guignard (02.47.23.97.98).

 

Allez la France!`

Epeigné's epicerie/bar has got into the spirit of the World Cup with French flags and slogans on the windows and plenty of good-hearted banter when I go to collect the bread in the morning. Although none of the three teams – France, Algeria and England – with known support have managed to distinguish themselves so far. Despite the good humour it may be best not to remind Nacer that Algeria lost to Slovenia on Sunday. 

Friday looks to be the big crunch match – Algeria versus England – with both teams needing to win to keep their hopes of progressing to the next round.  

Nacer serving a beer in August 2009

Stéphanie, Nacer and their 18 month son, Alric, took over the Le Lézard Vert, Epeigné's bar and store, on Saturday 8th August and are now well installed.

Nacer, Alric and Stéphanie

There are plans to open a restaurant but a kitchen needs to be added yet. "A significant part of the finance will come from the Communauté de Communes of Bléré," said Nacer "It has been agreed but we are now waiting for the money to be released."

Nacer is a Kabyle from Algeria. For the last ten years he has had a restaurant in Châtillon, Hauts-de-Seine, a suburb of Paris. "Traditional French cuisine and coucous as well," explained Nacer.

Epeigné has long had an excellent goats' cheese producer

Santé!

Le Lézard Vert, 8 Rue de Fontaine 37150 Epeigné-les-Bois
Tel: 02.47.23.97.94
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 8.00-13.00; 16.00-20.00
Sunday: 8.00-13.00

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Talking of restaurants La Nouvelle République has a special report on how far restaurateurs in Indre-Loire have applied the reduction of TVA (VAT) from 19.6% to 5.5% that came into force on 1st July. General conclusion is that it is patchy. See here.