Rest Day Friday 17 Oct: Matougues

We had to return the cars tonight so decided to take a rest day today so we could make good use of them. After investigating Matougues this morning Lynn and I headed up the road to Fagniéres to do our final food shop… it was much easier to find the supermarket here than in Chalons en Champagne! Then it was off for a truly delicious meal at Le Fin Bec in Bouzy… the best of the trip (so far) and one of the nicest I’ve eaten anywhere. It was sensational.

Vending machines… pizzas from a box on the left and farm produce on the right in an old bus stop.

Arriving at *Le Fin Bec*, set in a renovated former grape harvesters’ dining hall

Reims ham and champagne lentils with old-fashioned mustard and walnut oil vinaigrette

Semi-smoked, semi-cooked salmon, with celery brunoise & balsamic cream

Duckling fillet, butternut and golden apple with ratafia sauce

Beef rib eye (entrècote) with potato and chanterelle millefeuille

Grand Marnier creme brûlée with blood orange sorbet

Caramelised pear tart with dulche de leche cream. (With sooo thin pastry)

From the sublime to the ridiculous (literally), we’ve noticed the “pizza box” vending machines all through our trip so determined we’d try them before we head to Paris. Tonight’s the night!