Auberge La Gaillotière

Auberge La Gaillotière is a traditional country inn and restaurant set in the vineyards of Château-Thébaud, led by Christèle and Benoît, who have valorised the region for more than 20 years; the house holds a Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand since 2011. The kitchen works with seasonal local suppliers — market vegetables, organic herbs from a neighbouring producer, goat and cow cheeses from nearby farms — and offers Val de Loire wines and organic beers; the auberge grows its own herbs, presses its own apple juice and bakes its bread with flour from a local mill. Menus range from weekday lunch formulas and a daily menu to multi-course set menus and a special scallop menu, with clear vegetarian and vegan options; the team produces many items in-house (terrine of duck foie gras, breads, preserves, cakes), offers take-away dishes and prepared products and stages occasional buffets such as a sweet-and-savoury brunch by reservation, and the house provides two on-site gîtes for overnight vineyard stays. A convivial, warm space close to nature, the property includes orchards, vines, a kitchen garden and animals; exposed stone, wood and steel frame views over the vineyards for a rustic yet refined atmosphere. Cooking is traditional French with a terroir-driven, seasonal and responsible approach; dishes are largely homemade and menus follow market arrivals and seasonal produce. Specialties include tuna tataki with roasted peanuts and satay sesame sauce; homemade duck foie gras terrine; brochette of scallops (Saint-Jacques); veal 'araignée' casserole with tarragon cream and prunes; filet of beef (Maulévrier origin) with green pepper; and ris de veau in morel cream.