With a Large Cheese Cart and Soufflé Flambé au Cognac: 5-course Menu Inspiration - Leisurely Sunday Lunch at Restaurant La Croix Blanche on the Banks of the Loire between Amboise and Blois, with Owner/ Chef Jean-François Beauduin (Bib Gourmand Michelin) - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

The Loire Tour 2025 by ombiasy WineTours took place from Sunday, October 5 to Thursday, October 16, 2025. The tour started in Nantes and ended in Sancerre, with a bus transfer and lunch in Paris. There were 9 of us including Annette and myself.

It was Sunday and on Sunday Annette always plans for a leisurely Sunday lunch on her tours, the way the French do.  

At Restaurant La Croix Blanche, we could all enjoy the old French traditon of a well-stocked cheese cart. Instead of bringing us a plate of pre-selected cheeses, a cart full of cheese was wheeled to our table, the cheeses explained, and we had the ability to choose whichever we liked. Some of us (including me) finished the lunch with a Soufflé Flambé au Cognac.

 

Restaurant La Croix Blanche has a Bib Gourmand Michelin.

 

Owner/ Chef Jean-François Beauduin greeted us and his wife Laetitia Beauduin led the service team. 

Loire 2025 by ombiasy WineTours led by Annette Schiller 

 

Annette Schiller in her announcement: What comes to your mind when you hear ‘Loire Valley’? Of course images of glorious Châteaux pop up in your mind. Yes that is true and we will visit some iconic château and dig deep into France’s history. However, during this wine tour we also discover a magnificent, but often overlooked French wine region and one of the most exciting best kept secrets of excellent, high quality wines at very reasonable prices. The Loire Valley wine region is a vast area and consists of several distinct wine regions, each with its own characteristic grapes, appellations, and wine style. We take you on a journey from the Atlantic Ocean to the Auvergne mountains to explore this unique region. We learn to appreciate “Sancerre”, "Pouilly-Fumé", “Vouvray", “Chinon”, as well as many other not so familiar appellations.

 

MICHELIN Guide’s Point Of View

In this former coaching inn on the banks of the Loire, you can enjoy the modern cuisine of chef Jean-François Beauduin, who learned the ropes in starred establishments. His tempting menu abounds in seasonal, local produce and stars a wonderful culinary lineup of dishes such as roast pollock, carrot greens and confit ginger. It would be a crime not to sample the soufflé flambéed in cognac with vanilla ice cream on the side. The menu also features a number of more traditional local dishes, like a “beuchelle tourangelle” (creamed kidneys and sweetbreads). Gracious service by the chef's wife, in a pleasantly rustic setting and special mention for the tree-lined shaded terrace.

Gilles Pudlowsky

Il est le nouveau classique du Val de Loire. Jean-Francois Beauduin, natif de Cognac, qu’on découvrit jadis en adjoint de Rémy Giraud à Onzain aux domaine des Hauts de Loire. Ce jeune (31 ans) ancien de chez Bernard Loiseau à Saulieu, Arnaud Lallement à Tinqueux et Jerome Nutile à Nîmes au Mas de Boudan, s’est installé dans une ancienne des bords de Loire où il pratique la tradition ligérienne avec art.

Tout ce qu’il réalise possède le ton de l’évidence : filet de caille poché, avec la cuisse en pâte chaud au foie gras, son condiment de raisin et jus de verjus, Saint Jacques poêlées aux légumes racines (cerfeuil, topinambours), sa sauce mousseuse au vin jaune, lièvre à la royale en deux façons : à la manière Escoffier présenté traditionnellement avec foie gras, sauce au sang et aux abats, mais aussi celle du sénateur Couteaux en filaments vinaigré façon Parmentier en crème de pommes de terre.

On y ajoute un impeccable soufflé flambé au cognac Baché-Gabrielsen – bon sang charentais ne saurait mentir -, avec sa crème glacée à la vanille. Les vins au verre suivent le fil de la Loire en des chemins parfois imprévus, comme ce blanc Lucile au domaine des Vaucornelles à Onzain ou ce rouge issue de syrah, eh oui, en terre de cabernet franc, signée Philippe Pain au domaine de la Commanderie à Panzoult.

Le lieu a du charme, avec ses tables bien mises, sa charpente en bois apparente et les menus sont fort bien équilibrés et très raisonnables, comme le premier à 33 € qui vaut çà Jean-François son « bib » chez Michelin. Nul doute que ses aspirations aillent au-delà…

Arriving

 

Welcome

Wine List

 

Aperitif

Amuse-bouche

 

 

Entrées

 

Viande/ Poisson

Cheese Cart

Instead of bringing us a plate of pre-selected cheeses, a cart full of cheese was wheeled to our table, the cheeses explained, and we had the ability to choose whichever we liked.

Dessert

Soufflé flambé au Cognac, crème glacée à la vanille

Accompagné d'un verre de cognac 2cl
Américan Oak, Bache Gabrielsen, 5 €

My favorite.

Mignardises

Bye-bye

schiller-wine: Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours - Already Published Postings   

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Summary: Loire 2024 - Châteaux and Wine - by ombiasy WineTours, led by Annette Schiller

Summary of the Loire Valley Tour 2025 by ombiasy WineTours: The Facebook Postings of David Miller

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Oysters and Muscadet at Taverne Royale in Nantes - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Riding the Grand Elephant of Nantes - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Guided Tour of Old Town Nantes - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Dinner at Iconic Brasserie La Cigale in Nantes - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

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Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Gadais Père et Fils, in Saint Fiacre-sur-Maine, Muscadet Sévre et Maine, Pays Nantais, with Christoph Gadais - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Dinner at Les Petits Prés in Angers with "Top Chef France" Samuel Albert - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Introduction in the Courtyard, Cellar Tour, Tasting and Bottling at Domaine Loïc Mahé, with Loïc Mahé - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Vineyard Tour and Salon Tasting at Château des Vaults, Domaine du Closel in Savennières, Anjou - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Lunch at Brasserie de la Maine in Bouchemaine - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Visit of Château Angers and the Apocalypse Tapestry (UNESCO) - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

For a Bottle of Natural Wine from the Loire at Wine Bar L’ Angevigne in Angers - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Extensive Vinyard Walk, Short Visit of the Wine Cellar and High-end Tasting in the Wine Cellar at Domaine Belargus in Saint-Lambert du Lattey, Anjou - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Charcuterie and Cheese Lunch with Wine Tasting plus Cellar Tour and Vineyard Tour at Domaine de la Soucherie in Beaulieu-sur-Layon, Anjou - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Touring the Cave, the Winemaking Facilities and the “Clos d’Entre Les Murs” Vineyard, a Special Monument, and Tasting at Château de Parnay in Saumur-Champigny - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

3-course Dinner at Restaurant L’ Alchimiste in Saumur (Michelin Guide Listed), a 2-Person Operation of Chef François Deplange and his Wife - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Tour of L’ Abbey Royale de Fontevraud in Fontevraud - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Lunch at Saumur's Fairy-tale Castle Château de Saumur - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting, Tour of the Old Cellar and Vineyard Tour at Clotilde Legrand – Domaine Legrand in Varrains, Anjou, with Clotilde Legrand and her Father René-Noël Legrand - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Tour and Tasting at Maison Bouvet-Ladubay, a Leading Crémant de Loire Producer in Saumur - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

A Bottle of Claire et Florent Bejon Vin de France Rouge "Pain Perdu" at La Tonnelle Wine Bar in Saumur - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Bernard Baudry in Cravant-Les-Coteaux, Touraine - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting at Domaine Couly-Dutheil in Chinon - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Lunch at Bar-Restaurant Le Bistrot du Marché of Hotel Le Lion d'Or in the Center of Chinon - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour and Tasting in the Cellar at Cave M. Plouzeau in Chinon, Touraine, with Owner/ Winemaker Marc Plouzeau - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

3-course Dinner (with a Tablet) at Restaurant L’Écluse (Michelin-listed) in Amboise - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting at Domaine François Chidaine in Montlouis-sur-Loire - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTour

4-course Lunch at Restaurant Le Favori (1-star Michelin), with Head Sommelier Paul Rybard, in Cheverny - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

 

Visit of Château de Chambord: "An Epitome of what Human Art can Produce" said Charles V. (Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire of German Nations) - Loire Valley 2026 by ombiasy WineTours

 

Guided Visit of Château du Clos Lucé, where Leonardo da Vinci lived and died, in Amboise - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours