L'Automne à Lille

hoto © Anne-Marie Minhall

An autumnal break in La belle Lille.

One day spent with a friend before flying solo for a few days.

Via Eurostar from London St Pancras, the journey to this city within French Flanders & near the border with Belgium takes just over an hour & twenty minutes. Once out of the station it's a ten minute walk or so to the centre. It's a lovely stroll as well,

The first port of call for lunch is here: https://restaurant-pulpe.fr 

It's a warm, cosy & friendly modern bistro in the very heart of Lille. Myself & my companion get a corner table near the open kitchen. When we arrive there are two other tables occupied but just half an hour later the place is packed. I'm always in awe of the French people's meticulous timings for le déjeuner - in by 1230 & then out by 1430. That two hour lunch break is still sacrosanct in the culture & I hugely admire that. No mucking about with an overchilled sandwich & a meal deal here.

Here's what the two of us went for ..

To begin ..  

Paris Mushroom & Spinach Ravioli, Roasted Comines Snails, Lovage & Parsley

Then ..

Roasted Veal Rack from the Chateauneuf farm, Celery, Black Garlic & Jus

Homemade bread created every day from natural sourdough and local flours

A glass of fizz to begin & then a nice bottle of red.

We were the last to leave Pulpe - not being French you see, our lunch timekeeping was way off.

AMM