After the smashing success of their sandwich shop Casa Jerico, Maïté Verriez-Foene and Arthur Favé left Anjou in 2018 to set up shop in Savennières, a charming village with tufa stone houses, where chenin wines run freely. In this exquisite bistro, the sommelier brings together some fabulous vintages while the chef makes his locally-sourced ingredients shine – or prepares dishes using his own homemade bottarga. Devoured the Sunday we went for lunch, seated on the sunny terrace filled with cyclists: mouthwatering charred leeks invigorated by the house’s meagre bottarga and a briny vinaigrette; Normandy veal served in divine rosy slices, with butter beans and a full-bodied lemongrass jus; and for the no less bold but still sophisticated dessert, a dainty chestnut and vanilla cream mont-blanc. // Suzy Dalleuze

FEELING THIRSTY? : Maïté’s locavore recommendations are worth listening to: a chenin from Damien Laureau (€8.50 a glass), a Sables et Schistes chenin from Loïc Mahé (€5.50), Sans les Mains, a pineau d’Aunis from Frédéric Mabileau (€28 a bottle), or Rosa, sparkling rosé produced by Liv Vincendeau (€31).
PRICE: : Set menu €21-25 (weekday lunch), à la carte €37-54 (dinner).