Outstanding. That is probably the first word that comes to my mind when thinking about Domaine…read moreMichaud. They provide excellence at a level that I didn't find anywhere else in years by taking care of the most minuscule detail you can think about.
The restaurant (and we then discovered is also a luxury B&B) is located at about 20 minutes from Carcassonne. So some people may think it's not worth it to drive to there... Wrong! It's absolutely worth it! The place is lovely. And even if it's beautiful by its own, it also provides a nice view of the city. If that was not already enough reason, you find out very soon that that's just the beginning.... the owner welcomed us at the entrance and guided us to the great room with a majestic fireplace. We sat on the sofa facing the fire and she served us a couple of glasses of Blanquette de Limoux (the first sparkling wine of the world!) and some olive and nuts. After that, she accompanied us to the table. The menu she prepared for us (based on our preferences since she already asked us beforehand by email) was:
.- Amuse-bouche of crab with lemon caviar pearls: fantastic. The balance of the crab with the acidic lemon caviar (not real caviar) was simply about perfect.
.- Baby scallops and avocado wrapped in a cabbage leaf and black truffle with mushroom cream: beautiful as well as delicious creation. The cream was something of another world. I think you could even serve it as a soup by itself. The wrap delivered really delicate flavors that were accentuated by the black truffle.
.- Pan roasted salmon with vegetables and port reduced sauce: Salmon was super fresh and the sauce was also superb. Perfect crispy skin. Interestingly enough, even if the salmon was excellent for me the star of the dish was the vegetables. They were delicately cooked and provided freshness in each bite. I could eat an entire plate of them. Pure perfection!
.- Chocolate pudding with passion fruit, mint and white chocolate. Lemon sorbet as a side: excellent desert for closing such an enjoyable and lovely night. The chocolate with the the passion fruit and white delivered nice and balanced flavors and texture. The mint provided some freshness so you want to come back and get another bite. Finally, the lemon sorbet cleansed your palette in the most delightful way.
At the end of the dinner, the chef approached us to ensure everything was right and that we enjoyed the dinner. He is only 21 years old!!! I have been in One Michelin Star restaurant that were not as good as him! If he can put together dishes like these ones with only 21 years old, I can't wait to see what this chef will offer us in the future.
In summary, we cannot wait to come back. This time, not only for dinner but also to stay at their luxury B&B!
