Jean-François Issautier – Saint Martin du Var

We have been coming to this fine restaurant for over twenty years. It hasn’t changed much. We were here one Christmas eve and one night we celebrated the birthday of a friend, but usually we come for lunch. Issautier is in an awkward location right on the heavy traffic Route de Digne which leads north from Nice into the mountains. The only advantage of the location is the business meals from the nearby Carros industrial zone. June 21, 2007 at lunch there was one table of five businessmen and a solitary gourmand, plus Linda and me. There is a lower-priced luncheon menu, but we chose the Menu à l’Auberge at 70 €. We ordered a bottle of the Cuvée Saint Pierre, one of our favorites from the monks on the Iles de Lérin. We each had a champagne apéritif.

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The amuse-gueule was two lightly-battered deep-fried zucchini flowers with pistou, which were superb due to their being served right out the fryer.

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We went on to langoustines with an orange/saffron sauce that was a bit too strong for the delicate langoustines. 

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Linda’s main course was the day’s fish, St. Pierre served on a tomato cream chive sauce. There was a small bowl of risotto made with parmesan and olive oil on the side. 

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My main course was veal with wild mushrooms and sage, a thin slice of ham and spinach in a socca roll.

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An excellent cheese tray followed. 

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Linda finished with a feuillété of fresh raspberries with a raspberry sorbet. 

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My dessert was babas au rhum with homemade vanilla ice cream.  

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There was a lovely little tray of friandises with the coffee. We enjoyed our meal and plan to go back.

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Linda with Jean-François Issautier