Lille_Restaurant Le Rouge Barre If you want sincere and frank cuisine, head for the Rouge Barre in Lille, run by an ex-Top Chef. Before your very eyes, Steven Ramon concocts his effortless cuisine with produce from local artisans and producers, his dishes cooked to perfection and impeccably seasoned. His menus are clear, unfussy, and not overplayed, written in the hand of the straightforward man that he is, serving up smoked haddock-beetroot-goat cheese, or bass-watercress-celery…
Northern France _ Lille_ Le Rouge Barre Restaurant © Sophie Stalnikiewicz
Northern France _ Lille_ Le Rouge Barre Restaurant © Maxime DufourNorthern France _ Lille_ Le Rouge Barre Restaurant © Sophie StalnikiewiczNorthern France _ Lille_ Le Rouge Barre Restaurant © Maxime Dufour
Northern France _ Lille_ Le Rouge Barre Restaurant© Sublimeurs
Northern France _ Lille_ Le Rouge Barre Restaurant © Sophie StalnikiewiczEating well isn’t necessarily a luxury but rather a simple pleasure, and that is your motto that you share with the dreamy, creative bistro “Les Oiseaux” in Lille. The place is as charming as it is surprising, a little bit revolutionary too with three creative and complementary cooks. A short and seasonal menu is written on the blackboard, created from whatever happens to be growing in their producers’ fields. Go there without hesitation.
Then there’s the remarkable and unusual “L’Ardoise” in Saint-Valery-sur-Somme with a breath-taking view of the Bay of Somme from their picture window. You might even catch a glimpse of a seal splashing around in the water; the animal is often sighted in this “Grand Site de France”. The multi-fish cuisine with its characteristic taste of the sea from our Picardy coast is quite simply exquisite.
Northern France _ Les Oiseaux restaurant ©Sublimeurs
Northern France _ Les Oiseaux restaurant ©Sublimeurs
Northern France _ Les Oiseaux restaurant ©Sublimeurs
Northern France _ Sublimeurs _ la Team © Maxime DufourDID YOU KNOW?
Should you need a hand making up your mind, “Sublimeurs” is an agency that specialises in eating well and good food and can select ecologically responsible establishments to give you the gustatory experience you hunger for.
Northern France _ Compiègne_Le Rhizome Restaurant © Le Rhizome
Northern France _ Compiègne_Le Rhizome Restaurant © Le Rhizome
Northern France _ Compiègne_Le Rhizome Restaurant © Le RhizomeYou are a purist who is particularly fond of seasonal cooking aka spontaneous cuisine so check out the Picard neo-bistro Le Rhizome, a mouth-watering address in Compiégne, and highly rated on the web. You will certainly be happy to sample the proudly regional offering of cream of Soissons beans, Picard pork, poultry from the Petit Bocage, organic vegetables from Pierre Chabrol, cheeses from Ferme de Berneuil … all produce that the chef treats with respect, talent, and conviction.
Should a Michelin-starred table tempt you, go and get some fresh air at the edge of Hetz forest in the Oise at “L’Orée de la Forêt” in Etouy. This is a 19th century mansion, elegant and quietly refined, set in a tree-lined park where the chef grows a kitchen garden supplying your fare with fresh vegetables and herbs. The food is in line with current tastes and lovingly prepared. Afterwards, going for a postprandial stroll seems a natural thing to do.
Virginie CoudreMy top tip for foodies who loves their fish fresh off the boat is to head to the quayside in Le Crotoy on Saturdays and Sundays, 10am to noon and 3pm to 5pm. Four friendly fishmongers sell their wares at newly installed stalls here, all fresh fish and seafood from trawlers in Le Tréport, Dieppe, Etaples and Boulogne sur Mer. I often pick up my sole fillets and shrimps here for the kids, or if we’re preparing a special meal for friends, I’ll grab some turbot. The best bit is that it’s all refreshingly good value for money because you’re buying direct.
