Title – Name
La Ferme de la Ruchotte
Scope / Sector / Industry
Gastronomy
Country / Region
France, Burgundy
Why is it good practice?
La Ferme de la Ruchotte is a unique gastronomic destination in the Burgundy region, famous for its organic farm, vegetable garden, orchard and animals. Offering fine dining based on French tradition and emphasizing the “farm to table” philosophy, it is an example of a rural restaurant that operates in harmony with the environment and the local community.
How is it applied?
Ferme de La Ruchotte is a restaurant on a plateau at an altitude of 1.738 feet, about nine miles from Beaune, Burgundy. It is housed in a French farmhouse that includes a farm, vegetable garden and orchard and is run by the famous Michelin-starred chef Fred Ménager. The restaurant has been operating since 2001 and is known for its 100% organic French cuisine. The restaurant’s main goal is to utilize local ingredients of excellent quality in its meals, focusing on seasonal organic cuisine and creating a special gastronomic experience based on the “farm to table” philosophy.
The restaurant emphasizes and promotes the so-called “French Cuisine Bourgeoise”, a traditional style of middle-class home cooking. Combined with fine dining French cuisine creates a special dining experience inspired by local tradition. The restaurant’s menu is characterized by its high quality and environmental sustainability, as a result of which it changes daily, following the continuous flow of the season and the life cycle of the animals. Specifically, once the daily harvest is collected, the chef creates unique dishes and pays the utmost respect to animal and plant biodiversity. Products that do not come from the farm are sourced from selected local suppliers.
The restaurant’s vegetable garden provides all the products needed for the daily menu. It is almost completely self-sufficient and grows lettuce, carrots, leeks, radishes, celery, beetroot, peppers, wild asparagus, peppers, wild bear’s garlic and much more. The orchard, on the other hand, is planted with pear, apple, peach and cherry trees.
As for the restaurant’s farm, it is home to over 1.500 animals such as rare breeds of poultry and Noir de Bigorre pigs. One of the restaurant’s main goals is to revive forgotten, endangered or almost extinct breeds and to manage the farm and its gardens in a way that promotes biodiversity. Its goal is to provide the best living conditions for its animals to ensure their overall well-being, feeding them only organic food and giving them space to roam. Homeopathic treatments are utilized for any illnesses that arise. Permaculture techniques are used for poultry production.
The Ferme de La Ruchotte restaurant offers special culinary experiences to its customers. Its daily menu includes a unique 5-course gourmet meal and some occasional suggestions based on the chef’s discoveries. In addition, special tasting menus have been created that are prepared on specific days throughout the year. These tasting experiences are:
“Vol-au-Vent”: The tasting menu consists of 9 courses and is held only 12 times a year on predetermined dates that are published on the restaurant’s official website. This particular menu honors the style of French home cooking of the middle class of the 18th century and highlights it with elements of fine dining cuisine and seasonal products. Ethically sourced meat and a range of organic products make up the dishes on the menu.
“Ragout de Homard de l’Île de Sein”: This tasting menu consists of 4 courses and is only held 7 times a year on predetermined dates published on the restaurant’s official website. This particular menu honors the lobster from the Île de Sein.
“La Table Secrète du Chef”: It is a special gastronomic experience that is offered after reservation. Specifically, next to the restaurant’s kitchen, a special space has been created where the chef’s future dishes are conceived, created and tasted with his team. It is also the space where new vintages of Burgundy wines are selected to enrich the restaurant’s cellar. This private lobby of the restaurant is a meeting point for many political and artistic figures, as well as many international musicians who appreciate not only the discretion but also the relaxed atmosphere and the quality of the food and wine it offers. This space is now available to the public (for a fee), where they can enjoy a series of gastronomic “surprises” and various gifts (apron, book, knife, etc.) throughout the meal.
In addition to the above, there is the possibility of creating personalized dishes adapted to dietary needs (e.g., vegetarian and vegan dishes, gluten or lactose free, etc.), upon prior notification.
As the restaurant is located in one of the most popular wine destinations in the world, along the famous “Wine Trail”, near Beaune, it has a rich cellar with famous wines. Its cellar hosts more than 2,000 bottles from 350 vineyards, with a strong focus on selected organic or biodynamic vineyards. The labels of all wines in the cellar are displayed on the restaurant’s official website.
It is important to mention that in the context of promoting local gastronomy, the restaurant also promotes other restaurants in the wider area that one can visit, while suggestions for local accommodations are also given.
Furthermore, due to the high demand for the farm’s organic products, the restaurant has created an online shop where anyone can buy them. In fact, some of the best restaurants in France buy products from the restaurant’s organic farm. At the same time, the online store includes products that are not produced by the farm itself, but that are in line with the restaurant’s founding philosophies. These are often small batches of artisanal items made by local professionals. Finally, menu packages can be booked in the online store while gift vouchers can be purchased, allowing the customer to give a gift of a gastronomic experience.
Where is it applied?
The Ferme de La Ruchotte restaurant addressed to those who want to enjoy an authentic gastronomic experience, based on French tradition with elements of fine dining cuisine. However, it is particularly aimed at those who want to experience a restaurant that operates according to the standards of sustainable management with respect for the life cycle of animals and the seasonality of food.
When did it applied?
La Ferme de la Ruchotte began operating in 2001.
Results
The Ferme de La Ruchotte restaurant is awarded a Michelin star and is certified for the organic farming practiced on its farm. It has also gained recognition from the press, as well as from specialized restaurant and tourist guides.
Other Information
The official website of La Ferme de la Ruchotte is: https://www.lafermedelaruchotte.com/en/
