Jardin des Sens

It has been a long wait, but years after the project was first announced, Jacques and Laurent Pourcel have inaugurated their Garden of Senses within the superb 17C walls of the Richer de Belleval Hotel. Beneath imposing ceiling frescoes, we happily re-sampled the culinary skill of the Montpellier twins in which every detail is puzzled and preened over as they finetune Gallic recipes adding their hallmark creativity. Each dish is a culinary masterpiece, illustrated by a frosted tart of Costebelle tomatoes served with herbs, or the mouth-wateringly tender Occitania lamb, spring vegetables and tarragon condiment… Richer de Belleval, botanist and founder of Montpellier’s botanic gardens, would most certainly have appreciated this gourmet score that aims to keep Montpellier at the cutting-edge of France’s culinary scene.