Logis L'auberge de Moricq

Previously Alexandre Couillon's sous-chef at La Marine, Simon Bessonnet has set up shop in premises dating from 1860 in the heart of a wine-producing village in the Fiefs Vendéens. But as the contemporary interior he has designed for his restaurant suggests, the chef is very much in touch with the times. Drawing on a regional pantry, he comes up with bold and original combinations and chooses just the right emulsions, jus and condiments to intelligently boost his dishes. As for the desserts, they are models of deliciousness.

This engaging roadside inn provides an opportunity to sample stripped-back, seasonal fare that relies on fresh ingredients of traditional and regional inspiration (duck foie gras with juniper berries, breast of roast guinea fowl in herbs, etc.). A small cottage garden supplies the kitchen with some veggies and herbs. Take a seat in the conservatory or in the garden, depending on the season.