Reviewed by
Evelyn
Sourcing the very best luxury, traditional and artisanal French food is at the heart of what La Gourmet Box does as they invite their subscribers to embark on a gastronomical journey through different regions of France every month. Getting to savour the region’s famous delicacies is a true pleasure for any foodie and as a self-confessed Francophile, I absolutely love trying out the contents of their boxes!
This month, La Gourmet Box is themed on Nantes, a city on the Loire River in the Upper Brittany region of western France. The food and drink hamper is packed full of gourmet goodies which are well packaged and presented with fast shipping to the UK.
Here’s everything that I found inside:-
Château de Chasseloir, Maison Chéreau Carré – Vielles Vignes 2014 – Muscadet Sèvre Et Maine Sur Lie (75cl/12% vol)
Each hamper from La Gourmet Box features a superb bottle of fine French wine and here we have a delicious Muscadet which is made by Château de Chasseloir where they harvest some of the finest vintage grapes from the oldest vines on the property – some are over 100 years old! It doesn’t stop there though as this wine is then aged onsite for several years to allow it to mature properly. It has a lovely golden colour and notes of citrus and pear on the palate, with a delicate mineral hint and pairs well with shellfish and cheese dishes. I have a soft spot for a good quality muscadet and this is one of the nicest that I have ever tried!
Pays de Retz – Côtes & Quais Mouclade De Moules
A truly French product, this traditional mussel mouclade is made by artisans who have perfected a unique recipe that’s bursting with flavour. My mum and sister tried it as I’m not keen on mussels myself and they enjoyed it spread onto toasted crusty baguette slices for an afternoon snack.
L’Atelier Bernard Marot Duo de Saumons Crème & Citron Vert
Common amongst artisans who work with seafood in Nantes, Maison Marot has concocted this savoury spread which features contrasting flavours of fresh and smoked salmon, the smooth thickness of sour cream, and a dash of lime to top it all off. Again, my mum and sister sampled it as I’m not keen on fish, and it received mixed reviews from them as it has a very fishy and rich flavour. One to save for dinner parties and special occasions perhaps?
Atelier PotPote Carrot, Coconut & Curry Soup
One of my favourite products in this month’s box is this incredible Carrot, Coconut & Curry Soup which is made with 100% organic and natural ingredients. Made by eco-friendly artisans that use a low-energy building and all-natural methods to make their products, this soup has no additives, preservatives or animal products or by-products. It’s a really great soup to enjoy on a cold day as it warms you up immediately and is perfect served with some sourdough toast!
Conserverie des Saveurs Rillettes de bar au Beurre Blanc
These seabass rillettes are made even more gourmet and delicious by the addition of the rich white butter sauce, a regional speciality known as Beurre Nantais. It has a creamy, savoury and smooth texture that’s popular served as an appetizer with a glass of Muscadet and it went down well with both my mum and my sister.
Saint-Guénolé Paletes Bretons du Borg de Bats
Moving onto some of the sweet products in the box, I was delighted to find a packet of traditional Breton palets which are a cousin to the hugely popular Breton galette. These crisp, golden biscuits are incredibly sweet and moreish with a melt-in-your-mouth texture thanks to being made with 25% pure butter. A really indulgent treat!
L’Atelier Bernard Marot Duo Caramel Beurre Salé
Although Nantes is not technically part of Brittany anymore, La Gourmet Box still wanted to include this typical Breton sweet which is one of the most indulgent and sweetest things that I’ve ever tasted! This smooth caramel butter has a salty tang to it and can be enjoyed straight out of the jar with a spoon or spread onto pancakes or crepes. Amazing!
Les Bocaux Locos Rilletes de Cochon aux Salicornes de Marais Salants
Here we have another spread, this time made with free-range pork rillettes and Guérande samphire (also known as salty sea asparagus). Produced locally in collaboration with regional chefs, this was voted the favourite out of all of this month’s spreads by my mum and sister who loved the fresh meaty consistency with the salty sea flavours.
Maître Chocolatier Castellane Nantes Petis Beurres
For a proper traditional Nantes sweet treat, these small butter biscuits are a childhood favourite for many, yet it’s difficult to find ones that are still made to an authentic recipe. Thankfully, these have been expertly sourced from a local Nantes bakery and are seriously moreish with a sweet crunch!
