les épis de la joie

Assisted front of house by sommelier Océane (his partner), Clément Dumont, a young chef from the region with some solid experience, has made this restaurant not far from the Royal Citadel the new place to be. An inspired technician with a love of plants and the seasons, he cooks up creative, at times bold cuisine that is inspired by the village, Loire poultry and fish, and of course the goat's cheese, vegetables from his own kitchen garden, and herbs picked by small-scale grower Juliette Krier. One example is the starter based on white asparagus from the Richelais area, preserved egg yolk, eld

Chef Pierre Drouineau, who hails from Sarthe (near Le Mans), runs this restaurant at the entrance to an attractive fortified priory, the jewel in the crown of this charming country village. Both the setting and the food are a delight, thanks in particular to the wealth of local ingredients: Touraine lentils, spelt from Manthelan, strawberries from Chouzé-sur-Loire. Think modern bistro cuisine, simple and flavoursome, in the form of dishes such as fillet of duck, roasted crisps, new potatoes from Louans and carrot ketchup – a creation that is packed with distinct flavours.

Local lad Gaëtan Evrard pays tribute to the seasons and his homeland in this old house in a small town, some fifteen kilometres from Tours. Regional veg and meat and fish straight from Brittany: the ingredients are the star of the show, enhanced by the market-fresh ethos of a chef who is not afraid to push the boundaries, e.g. steamed Brittany oyster, cucumber and confit lemon or a tomato-themed dessert with a basil sorbet, fresh goat’s cheese and vanilla mousse. Choose from the excellent list of Loire wines that is perfectly suited to the chef's creative cooking.

Balzac was a regular guest at the Château de Saché, located right next door to this Auberge housed in a half-timbered building that has retained all its authentic charm behind its ivy-covered façade. Exposed beams, tiled floors, a fireplace and more contemporary tableware: this pair – chef Kevin Gardien and Stéphanie Marques – know how to look after their guests. The spotlight is on local produce from the Loire: poultry from Ingrandes-de-Touraine, trout from a fish farm in Langeais, saffron from Cheillé, cheese from Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine. The chef's cuisine is modern, but not obsessed with

This contemporary restaurant surrounded by orchards has a bright, welcoming, clean-lined dining area that looks onto the surrounding countryside. Full of verve and creativity, Bastien Gillet's colourful, zesty cuisine is as subtle as it is finely judged, both in terms of the aromas and the textures; his dishes, laden with top-notch farm produce from the region, are rife with flavours. And the detail to seal the deal: the dishes are served in delightful crockery that is handmade locally. The menu is liable to change daily, in accordance with the chef's inspiration. Suffice to say, this restaura

You only have to take a look at chef Jérôme Roy’s star-studded CV (Gagnaire and Troisgros, together with a star earned at the Couvent des Minimes at Mane) to know he has an ambitious roadmap! Born in Loches, he has returned to his roots in the company of his spouse, and together they have created this smart, trendy venue. Roy deftly crafts modern, creative fare that keeps pace with the seasons and is meticulously sourced: sautéed scallops in a stock of the scallop frills, dried lime and Aleppo pepper; lamb in provençal herbs, artichoke and samphire; segments of pink grapefruit marinated in spi

The name of the restaurant means "blackthorn" – a thorny shrub or tree commonly found in the hedgerows of France. Its fruit (sloes) can be turned into sloe gin. Formerly a school dating back to 1866, the premises are tastefully decorated throughout: exposed ceiling beams, large windows giving onto a tree-lined terrace, designer lighting and works of art. The chef offers a seasonal menu served in several courses that celebrates local produce and artisans.