Visit to Mira Brewery – Tuesday 5th March at 11.30

Visit to Mira Brewery – Tuesday 5th March at 11.30

The Mira brewery, based in La Teste-de-Buch for two years, won four gold medals and one silver medal at the World Beer Awards 2018 , which took place in London.

We will visit this large modern brewery and brasserie where our English guide will take us through the entire unique production of beers and soft drinks using the local eau de source with no nitrates or pesticides.

After our tour we will will have a tasting session in the restaurant followed by a three course lunch where we will enjoy local produce freshly cooked and served by charming and friendly staff.

The Brasserie is also very close to a huge new shopping centre for those shopaholics amongst us !

Booking

Price: 29.90€ which includes:

Brewery Tour (Meet at 11:30 )

  • Tasting – Either two 12.5 cl beers of your choice or one 25cl beer
  • 3 Course Lunch cooked using fresh local products
  • Wine
  • Coffee

(The normal price is 32€ for the visit and lunch but excludes both wine and coffee so our special BBC price 29.90€ including wine and coffee is excellent value. (Well negotiated by Avril! ) 

Booking

Please book direct with Avril whose contact details are here  (Please use your BBC password if prompted for a password)

Location

Brasserie Mira

180 avenue de l’Europe

33260 La Teste-de-Buch 

Please click here for a map

February 1st, 2019 | Category: 03 - March, 2019, Events, News, | Comments are closed

Atelier des Chefs: Bordeaux - Thursday 21st February

Atelier des Chefs: Bordeaux – Thursday 21st February at 13:00

We have organised several of these cooking workshops in the past and they are always good fun and very popular particularly the part at the end when everyone enjoys eating the results !

The workshop is at L’Atelier des Chefs which has eight establishments in major cities across France. Workshops are available for many different types of cooking and cater (excuse the pun!) for all levels of skil !

The workshop is in conjunction with the Costa Rican Institute of Tourism and involves a short introduction by the chef, in french, to learn how to prepare and cook the dish which will be Piquillos farcis et purée de patate douce. After the introduction you will prepare and cook the dish and then enjoy the results together in the adjacent dining area.

The ingredients are provided and dessert is included for 17€ excluding wine.  Or 22€ including wine

Where

L’Atelier des Chefs Bordeaux,  25 Rue Judaïque, 33000 BORDEAUX.  Please click here for a map

When

Thursday 21st February at 13:00. Please arrive a few minutes before.

Booking

ONLINE:

We use the Helloasso online payments system.

The Helloasso system adds a voluntary ‘tip’ called a ‘Pourboire’, at the page which summarises your payment.  If you do not wish to leave a tip, click ‘Modifier‘ and then click the feint box to the left of ‘Je ne souhaite pas laisser de pourboire‘. There is no obligation for you to add a tip.

Please have your bank card and mobile phone available. The number of the phone must be the one registered against your bank account and will be used by your bank to verify your payment.

To book online please click here

BY CHEQUE:

Alternatively if you prefer to pay by cheque, please send your cheque for 17€ per person excluding wine, 22€ per person including wine to Brian M, whose contact details are here.

No payments on the day. Cheques in advance please as the BBC has to confirm number and pay in advance of the day.

February 1st, 2019 | Category: 02 - February, 2019, Events, News | Comments are closed

Golf: Ardilouse Golf Course at Lacanau - Monday 18th February

Golf: Lacanau – Monday 18th February

URGENT ! URGENT !  Calling all golfers.

We aim to start our 2019 BBC golf season on Monday 18th February at the delightful Ardilouse course in Lacanau,

We need to have a minimum of 8 players to obtain a reduced fee of 36 euros (18 holes) and 24 euros (9 holes).

Tee off times at:

9.30 for 9 holes starting from the 10th hole

1.15pm for 18 holes starting from 1st hole.

This arrangement will allow us to have a group lunch about 12 noon,

Remember that non-players or friends of members are invited to walk the course or hire a « buggie »

Please note the terrain is basically flat and offers splendid views over the surrounding forest.

Booking

Please confirm your participation ASAP by contacting Patrick Sanderson by email or phone. Patrick’s contact details are in the Members area here (Please use your BBC password if a password is requested)

January 31st, 2019 | Category: 02 - February, 2019, Events, Golf, Walking | Comments are closed

Burns Night 2019

Burns Night at 19h00 on Saturday 26th January in Salle Gérard Philipe in Martignas

This is possibly the most popular event in the BBC calendar and it is extra special this year !

BOOKINGS CLOSE ON MONDAY 7th JANUARY

It’s that time when we celebrate the life of the great Scottish poet, Robert Burns and the BBC always celebrates in the best possible style !
Some would say he was the greatest Scottish poet ever to have lived, and measured by the number of parties held around the world every year to celebrate his anniversary, that could be true. However, it may also have something to do with the whisky, which always flows freely and helps to drown the ‘Haggis Beasty’ !

BOOKINGS FOR THIS EVENT CLOSE ON MONDAY 7th JANUARY

Our Burns Night will have the traditional menu will of smoked salmon, haggis, neeps, tatties and fruit tart together with wine and whisky at the inclusive price of 20€ for adults and 10€ for children. Entertainment will include the pipes, some Burns recitation and the traditional ‘Address to the Haggis’ ( together with its stabbing! ) followed by optional dancing for all.

Every year Burns Night is a BBC favourite but there are disappointments as it is always overbooked due to space limitations. Problem solved this year as we are delighted to be invited to join forces with the Martingas Jumellage Association. We have no space restrictions this year and the event will take place in the excellent events room in Martignas.

Martingas Jumellage

Martingas are twinned with Aboyne which is a historic village on the edge of the Highlands in Aberdeenshire, on the River Dee, midway between the Cairngorms National Park and Aberdeen.

Venue

Salle Gérard Philipe, 14 Avenue de Verdun, 33127 MARTIGNAS-SUR-JALLE ( map )

Menu

The menu will be as follows :

Aperitif : Punch

Starter: Smoked salmon, salad, slice of lemon and vinaigrette

Main course : Haggis, fresh mashed tatties and mashed neaps

Dessert: Apple and fruit tart

Coffee

Whisky, water and wine will be available.

Booking – Online

Booking deadline: Monday 7th January 2019.

20€ for adults and 10€ for children

We use the Helloasso online payments system.

The Helloasso system adds a voluntary ‘tip’ called a ‘Pourboire’, at the page which summarises your payment.  If you do not wish to leave a tip, click ‘Modifier‘ and then click the feint box to the left of ‘Je ne souhaite pas laisser de pourboire‘. There is no obligation for you to add a tip.

Please have your bank card and mobile phone available. The number of the phone must be the one registered against your bank account and will be used by your bank to verify your payment.

To pay online, please click here

Booking – Pay by Cheque

Booking deadline: Monday 7th January 2019.

Please post a cheque payable to BBC for 20€ per adult and 10€ per child to Cathy whose contact details are here

January 29th, 2019 | Category: 01 - January, 2019, Events, News, Party !, Scottish Country Dancing | Comments are closed

22019 Piet de Bie Memorial Walk: Vendays - Saturday, 9 February

2019 Piet de Bie Memorial Walk: Vendays — Saturday, 9th February

Ready for another brisk, bracing winter walk?

This year we will be meeting at the park bench in Vendays at around 10h45. Note, this is a change from what was originally announced.

There is off-road parking (Google Earth GPS coordinates : 45°21’24.00”N  1°05’23.00″ W) at the bench.  Please click here for a map.

Format for the day

The day will kick off with a “tailgate party” to keep first arrivals cheery and warm while waiting for everyone to gather, so come prepared with a thermos flask of hot coffee (or, whatever…). We will then offer a toast to Piet before we strike out on our walk (approximately 4-5 km)

Once back at our cars, we will motor to lunch at the “Marin” restaurant in Montalivet (18, avenue de l’Océan, 33930 Vendays-Montalivet, Telephone : 05 56 41 46 33).

Those going straight to the restaurant can plan to meet us at 13h00. If it is pelting down rain, we’ll skip the walking part and go straight to the restaurant after our bench-side gathering and toast.

Menu Options

Menu complet à 20€ avec un verre de vin et un café

(Complete menu at 20€ includes : entrée+plat+dessert, 1 glass of wine and coffee)

Entrée

“Velouté de potimarron et crème de châtaignes”

(Creamy Pumpkin Soup with chestnut cream)

Plats

“Filet de poisson du marché”

(Fish of the day)

ou

“Rôti de canard farci”

(Stuffed Roast Duck)

Dessert

“Tarte aux pommes”

(Apple Tart)

* * *

Other menu formulae are :

Entrée + Plat

or

Plat + Dessert

* * *

Or you may order from their regular menu on arrival

Booking

 When booking, please specify which main course (fish or duck) you would like if you are choosing one of the formulae (entrée+plat+dessert, entrée+plat, or plat+dessert),

or

If you prefer please specify in advance that you would like to order from the regular menu at the restaurant.

Please book direct, including your menu preferences, with Elizabeth whose contact details are here (Please use your BBC password if prompted for a password)

Driving directions to the walk

At the round-about in front of the church St. Seurin in Vendays,  take the first exit, the Route de Montalivet (D102), as if going to Piet’s house.

At the traffic light, continue on for 1.36 km and just after the “Hôtel Les Acacias” turn left onto Route de Pey Mayan.

Follow this for 800 m then turn right at the intersection with Route de Pointon.

Continue on the Route de Pointon for 400 m to the park bench where we will be leaving our cars (it’s at the junction with Route de Mérin).

If you run into any difficulties, you can try calling Elizabeth on 06 99 80 69 30 and if that fails, try Chris (06 98 49 24 14) or Deirdre (06 35 91 20 53). See you there!

January 25th, 2019 | Category: 02 - February, 2019, Events, News, Walking | Comments are closed

Châteaux and Vineyards Walk-and-lunch at Mérignac

Tuesday, January 15th 2019 BBC Châteaux and Vineyards Walk-and-lunch at Mérignac with Alain

Mérignac hosts a number of pleasant 18th and 19th century houses, some of which were or still are surrounded by vineyards producing fine Pessac-Léognan.  The day is organised in a flexible way, you are free to come to one, two or all activities.

Meeting Point

Meeting point and time: between 10 and 10.30 at the “Mérignac-centre” tram stop on the A tram line. There is a brasserie and café across rhe road.

Morning Walk

The morning walk will take us to the Mairie de Mérignac and its grounds, on to Parc Féau. If there is time, we’ll amble on to the Meltin’potes Caffé by the “Peychotte” A tram stop. If not we’ll hop onto tram A for 3 stops.

Lunch

Meltin’potes Caffé, 8 Allée des Conviviales, 33700 MERIGNAC

Aperitif, 3-course, wine and coffee 26€. This restaurant serves fresh cuisine du marché.

  • Punch maison.
  • Entrée:
    • Oeuf parfait, émulsion de parmesan et pétales de jambon fume
      OU Velouté de butternut et copeaux de foie gras
  • Plat:
    • Magret de canard cuisson basse température, pommes grenaille et jus au thym
    • OU Pavé de saumon, purée de petits pois et frites de patates douces, crème de basilic
  •  Dessert:
    • Entremet au chocolat lacté et croustillant de noix de pécan
    • OU Tartelette au citron meringuée
  • Vin:  Bordeaux rouge ou rosé
  • Café.
Afternoon Walk

The afternoon walk will take us to Châteaux Pique-Caillou, Chêne Vert, Fantaisie, Tour de Veyrines, chartreuse de Marbotin, back to a stop on the A tram line.

Booking – Online

We use the Helloasso online payments system.

The Helloasso system adds a voluntary ‘tip’ called a ‘Pourboire’, at the page which summarises your payment.  If you do not wish to leave a tip, click ‘Modifier‘ and then click the feint box to the left of ‘Je ne souhaite pas laisser de pourboire‘. There is no obligation for you to add a tip.

Please have your bank card, menu selections and mobile phone available. The number of the phone must be the one registered against your bank account and will be used by your bank to verify your payment.

To pay online, please click here

Booking – Via post

Alternatively post details of your menu selections with a cheque payable to BBC for 26€ per person to Alain whose contact details are here

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January 15th, 2019 | Category: 01 - January, 2019, Events, Walking | Comments are closed