After our visit to Chateau de la Rochepot, we wound our way through the countryside toward the small town of Chapaize. The slow but persistent drizzle only added to the moodiness of the landscape as we passed rolling hills, wooded forests, and herds of grazing sheep and cattle. Ironically, the drive also left us hungry–must have been all those times I had to lift my hand to adjust the heat…
Before our trip, I spent hours scouring the internet for restaurant recommendations in the countryside. I always feel like I need to take two trips–the first to scout everything out and find all the best places, and the second to actually go to them. When we were in the Douro Valley last year, I spent ages searching for cool wineries/restaurants to visit, with very little luck. Once we arrived, it seemed like every other driveway led to a gorgeous winery serving lunch…as long as you already had a reservation. Which we didn’t. Because we didn’t know they existed. I was determined to avoid this situation in Burgundy, so, after much research, I finally booked a table at the lovely La Table de Chapaize in the (very) small town of Chapaize.
It turned out to be mother’s day in France, which was perfect for our mother-daughter adventure. Naturally, we went with the set mother’s day menu, which included (among other delicious plates) seared scallops and sea bass in coconut milk. Everything was cooked to perfection, and because it was mother’s day, I didn’t even try to steal one of my mom’s scallops…that’s true love right there.
Of course we didn’t pass up the chance to enjoy a few glasses of burgundy wine or a few more gougeres while we were there. After tasting our first gougeres at the Cook’s Atelier, we were hooked.
After lunch, we went for a walk–partly because we ate so much of lovely desert at La Table de Chapaize, and partly to soak in the bucolic scenery. We wandered down a country road, past a flock of sheep and several well manicured pastures.
I immediately started imagining myself as a French farmer, raising sheep, growing carrots, and making my own cheese, but quickly remembered how nice it is to live in an apartment with almost no upkeep, which I can abandon on a whim every time I want to travel somewhere. So, I resolved instead to take annual trips to Provence and Burgundy. (Expect the gofundme account to support my new lavish lifestyle to pop up in your inbox any day.)
Not much else was happening in Chapaize on a sleepy Sunday afternoon, but the rain had finally let up, and we were just happy to be outside enjoying all the signs of spring.
As with everywhere else in Burgundy, Chapaize is located on the route de vines de Bourgogne (wine route of Burgundy). Which was a huge relief, because for a minute I was starting to feel faint with worry that I would be more than three steps from several hundred bottles of world class wine.
After several days of eating and drinking our way through Burgundy, this little hiker seemed to have the right idea. (Le Routard is a well known series of French guidebooks for backpackers.)
We didn’t send any post cards, but we won’t soon forget this idyllic excursion into the Burgundian countryside.
Eating and Drinking in Chapaize
La Table de Chapaize
Cozy but elegant restaurant in the Burgundian countryside. The atmosphere feels a little dated, but the food is perfection!
Le Bourg, 71 460, Chapaize | 03.85.38.07.18
So beautifully written Jess! I want to go back!