Upcoming Events and Holidays
For our Markets of New England and Swedish Midsommarmiddag, please press here.
For Picnic in the Park, see below.
Le Tour de France – Bistro Style
Welcome to Beacon Hill Hotel & Bistro’s "Le Tour de France -- Bistro Style." Every Monday through Thursday until July, BHHB offers dinner guests a special prix fixe menu showcasing the cuisine of particular region in France, highlighting a stage ridden by a particular Tour de France rider. Each successive two weeks, we will ride a stage in a different region. This year's Tour focuses on the exploits of the legendary Eddy “the Cannibal” Merckx, considered the greatest rider in the history of the Tour.
Eddy Merckx and the Pyrénées
Eddy Merckx was still young, but no longer a neophyte when he arrived for his third Tour de France in 1971. At the age of 26, the Belgian had conquered almost every milestone in the world of “cyclisme,” including the Tour de France both times he had entered it. The French loved him at the outset, but resentment had grown at the way Merckx was winning everything. The title on the cover of Paris-Match read: “Is Merckx going to kill the Tour?” Infuriated by the attention and money that Merckx commanded, several top riders, led by Luis Ocaña, created an unofficial alliance in order to defeat Merckx. It was working. The beleaguered Cannibal was in the unfamiliar position of trailing substantially in the overall classification. He had lost in the Alps. Even following an almost superhuman stage ending in Marseille, Eddy still trailed the race leader Ocaña by 7m32s, a veritable ocean of time between them.
The 14th stage, from Revel to Luchon in the Pyrénées, represented Merckx’s last true opportunity to wrest the lead from Ocaña’s grip. What transpired would become legend, written of, debated and argued about in the cafés of France for years to come.
The sky had turned the color of ink. On the Col de Mente, hail and rain flooded the road. Chany wrote: “Merckx attacked in a rage several times, out of the saddle and bent over his bars, Ocaña in his wake. He multiplied the attacks, changed from one side of the road to the other ceaselessly to get Ocaña off his wheel, but in vain.” Unable to shake off Ocaña on the way up, Merckx tried to do so on the way down. The storm broke at the summit.
“Worse than a storm; it was a cataclysm… Hail fell, visibility was zero, brakes no longer worked; riders were taking the descent with their feet on the road to slow them." Merckx missed a bend, hit a low wall and fell. He got up straight away but two spectators had gone to help him. Ocaña ran into them and crashed heavily. Zoetemelk, not far behind, punctured and was unable to avoid Ocaña, hitting him at high speed. Then two other riders who had been following by a few seconds hit Ocaña as well. His shoulder was badly injured.
Merckx fell twice more while descending the mountain before hearing what had happened behind him. Ocaña's fall forced him out of the race; Merckx became the new leader. Out of respect for Ocaña, Merckx refused to go to the ceremony at the end of the stage, and refused wear the yellow jersey the next stage. Eddy Merckx went on to win his third consecutive Tour de France.
Tour de France Pyrénées Menu
Wild Watercress Velouté with Claytonia and Verjus
2009 Mas de la Dame La Stèle Blanc (Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provençe)
***
Rohan Duck Duo with Du Puy Lentils and Asparagus
2008 Mont Tauch, Fitou (Languedoc-Roussillon)
***
Roquefort with Stone Fruits, Honeycomb and Cranberry Walnut Bread
2007 Les Clos de Paulliles Banuyls (Banyuls)
Two courses $33 / Three courses $39
Optional Wine Pairing Supplement: $10 per glass
Picnic in the Park -- What better way to enjoy a leisurely summer day or evening than eating bistro-fare al fresco? Guests need only call 1-hour ahead to place their order "Picnic Style," and your lunch will be tucked away in a rustic picnic basket along with a blanket for leisurely picnic-dining just steps away at the Public Garden, Boston Common, the Esplanade or any destination of your choosing. Grab that special someone and get outside! Available Monday through Friday from 11:30AM to 3:00PM, and during our dinner hours seven nights a week.
The lunch menu is as follows:
Picnic Menu
Baby Lettuces with Radish, Cucumber and Shallot Vinaigrette 9
Grilled Chicken Salad with Chèvre, Hazelnuts, and Buttermilk Vinaigrette 12
Steak Salad with Romaine, Walnuts, Blue Cheese and Cabernet Vinaigrette 18
Frisée Salad with Bacon, Poached Egg and Anchovy Vinaigrette 12
Lentil and Farro Presse with Arugula, Spiced Yogurt and Red Pepper Salad 14
Grilled Sirloin Burger with Kosher Dill Pickle and French Fries 15
Maine Crab Roll with Spiced Crème Fraîche and French Fries 15
Croque Madame with Smoked Ham, Béchamel, Farm Egg and French Fries 14
Picnic in the Park Dinner Menu
See our normal dinner menu here