Restaurant Session (in Spa, Belgium): Manoir de Lébioles

For the evening, we wanted to have dinner at the gourmet restaurant from chef Loic Jambon - but it was a Monday and the restaurant was closed. As an alternative, the hotel offered a three course menu.

 

Before dinner, we went...

...to the gardens to enjoy the view and...

 

...have our aperitifs. I had a Kir Royal.

 

The manoir is so beautiful!

The restaurant is at the left side, the breakfast room is at the right tower. 

 

After the aperitif, we went inside for dinner. The view...

...from our table.

 

I like the big windows, but not really the wall paper (or is it painted?). 

 

Butter and...

 

...bread. 

 

As starter, tomato - tomato on shortcrust pastry, poultry garum and goat cheese sorbet.

[Tomate - sablé tomate | garum volaille | sorbet tomate chèvre]

 

As main dish, Ibérico Bellota pluma, radish tsukemono, Ibérico chorizo and bell pepper. It felt a bit like a stew - was not really my taste.

[Pluma Ibérico Bellota | tsukemono de radis | chorizo Ibérico | Poivron]

 

 

As part of the main dish.

 

As dessert, raspberry éclair - almond, lemon cream, raspberry kombucha.

[Éclair de framboise - amande | créme de citron | kombucha framboise]

 

The entire meal was very disappointing. It felt like something that was left ready and just warmed up. I would not go again on a day that the gourmet restaurant is not available.

Aug 14th, 2023.

Sleeping in Spa (Belgium) : Manoir de Lébioles

For a mini break, we went to the Ardennes to stay overnight. Arriving to...

...our hotel. It is such a beautiful building!

 

 

Manoir de Lébioles - also known as "Little Versailles of the Ardennes". 

The entrance porch, with a water fountain. 

 

After check-in, we went to our room (category Chambre Relais). I love the building from outside, but not sure about the room's decoration. From my style, it could be a bit cozier.

 

Impressive vase size😀 

 

From the bed, a view to the fireplace. 

 

Entering the bathroom. I loved the wooden floor and...

 

...the bathtub with a view!

 

The view to the inner garden...

 

...and the forest. 

 

Going to the spa for a massage and a swim.

The pool has also some lying down areas with jets.

Swim, Roger, swim! 

 

A little lady bug showing up to say hi 😊

 

Aug 14th, 2023.

Cooking Time: Quiche

Leek & bacon quiche.

 

With pâte brisée (from the supermarket) plus a filling of créme fraîche, eggs, leek and bacon. Sooo good😍 

 

Aug 11th, 2023.

Restaurant Session (in Kornelimünster): Sankt Benedikt

I love that on home office days, we can just go over to restaurant Sankt Benedikt and enjoy a quick lunch with their bistro menu😊 As starter, couscous salad.

 

 As main dish, grilled salmon. Loved it! 

 

Sweet time! Plum with cinnamon ice cream. Delicious😋

 

Aug 11th, 2023.

Restaurant Session (in Roetgen): Maison Charlemagne

Enjoying a beautiful Summer evening, we went for dinner at restaurant Maison Charlemagne, from chef Detlef Rams, in Roetgen. 

 

The garden. 

 

View from our table, having...

 

...the aperitif. I had a Kir Royal, Roger had a martini. 

 

As starter, Roger had the tuna with green beans and ginger.

[Thunfish | Bohnen | Ingwer]

 

Delicious😋

 

I had scallops with cauliflower, mushrooms and poultry jus.

[St. Jakobsmuscheln | Blumenkohl | Pilze | Geflügeljus]

 

As main dish, US striploin, braised onion, tarragon, turnip tops, backed potato.

["US" Striploin | geschmorte Zwiebel | Estragon | Stangkohl | gebackene Kartoffel] 

 

Swet time! Raspberry millefeuille with white mousse and peach ice cream.

[Himbeeren | Blätterteig | weisse Mousse | Pfirsich-Eis] 

 

Aug 10th, 2023.

Who Is There?

Bird visitor. 

 

Is it a female magpie?

 

Aug 6th, 2023.

Movie Session: Oppenheimer

At the cinema in Maastricht, ready to watch 'Oppenheimer'.

 

Aug 5th, 2023.