In the former Convent of the Visitation that’s been given a facelift, a collection of bars and restaurants produce a merry hubbub. Among them is Racines, the latest restaurant from Franck Gérôme and Jean-Charles Huon (who also run L’Un des Sens). It’s a chic wine bar (red walls, roots painted on the wall, a wine cellar behind glass…) with a terrace with tightly-squeezed-together tables. The night we went, we nibbled on shared plates to go with the lovely wines, including: some excellent, locally sourced platters that combined a handful of veggies with Rémon smoked trout, or some delicious rilllettes from La Rouelle de Veau; lovely charcuterie, like Basque ham from Pierre Oteiza, Italian Villani truffled ham, or Iberian La Prudencia ham; and for any snobs out there, caviar from Périgord. Finally, there are classy desserts from Maison Daguier, the best local nougat and baby vanilla baba au rhum! // Jean Pascal
FEELING THIRSTY? Three hundred very beautiful bottles, often organic and always eclectic, 30 of which are served by the glass! Like the Quincy from the Domaine Mardon (€5.50 a glass), the Côtes-du-Forez red from Gilles Bonnefoy (€6.50), the Arbois from the Domaine Ratte (€39 a bottle), the Saumur white from Romain Guiberteau (€70).
PRICE: Platters €9-35.
