One of the many cultural pleasures of travelling on a Fields of Fire Battlefield Tour is the opportunity to discover a wonderful dining experience and new food. Dave and I are very experienced travellers and have had many memorable meals around the world. Then we had a meal at Le Fossile, in Lille. Dining should elicit experience and now we eagerly recommend this restaurant to our travel clients. Our appetizer was extraordinary. I have just discovered Foie Gras de Canard and while in France, chefs prepare this delight in many creative ways. Le Fossile serves it with an onion marmalade, the ubiquitous fresh French baguette on a slate plate. Simple. Delicious. We had steak as our main and on two visits now, this is cooked to prefection, with a Chanteclerc mushroom sauce, accompanied by a local greens salad and ratatouille. As I have eaten grass-fed steak in Argentina and Kobe beef in Japan, it takes some doing for a chef to impress me. It has a robust Scotch collection but that isn't what really got our attention. Dave sampled his birthday year of their century old Bas Laubade Armagnac collection. As we were on our Return to Vimy Tour, I scouted out their war years' selection. The current owner is the friendly, professional grandson of Le Fossile's founder - who liked fossils. Treat yourself to a meal here and handily it is open at 7PM for early diners - reservations recommended for weekends. Locals and lucky tourists dine at Le Fossile. 60 Rue Saint-Etienne, 59000 Lille, France; +33 3 20 54 29 82
A warm ambiance greets you as you step into Le Fossile.
Slices of Foie Gras or Foie Gras de Canard et ses Oignons Confits du Chef. Simple. Delicious.
Since 1888, more than a century of Armagnac - enjoy a glass after your dinner.
Scotch for every taste - blends and single malts top the bar.
From our window table in Le Fossile, we watch a game of petanque underway.