Kadoura - La Rochelle
By Arnd
Ars-en-Ré - La Rochelle - Bordeaux
We actually only wanted to go to La Rochelle. But at perhaps 20 kilometres away, it was too close for a day's drive.
So we asked ChatGPT, which I was just getting to know as a new travel guide...
Is Bordeaux more interesting and more beautiful than La Rochelle?
The answer was quite clear and not very helpful:
Bordeaux and La Rochelle are both interesting cities in France with their own unique characteristics.
Bordeaux is a larger city known for its impressive architecture and world-famous wine. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site with many museums, art galleries and theatres. There's also a vibrant food and wine scene. It's a lively city with plenty to see and do.
La Rochelle is smaller and has a more relaxed atmosphere. It's a harbour city with many historical buildings, including three medieval towers that dominate the port. There are also beautiful beaches nearby and the Aquarium La Rochelle, one of the largest aquariums in Europe.
The choice between the two really depends on what you're looking for. If you prefer a lively city with many cultural activities and excellent wine, Bordeaux might be the better choice. If you prefer a more relaxed coastal city with historical charm, La Rochelle could be more attractive.
ChatGPT, 29.05.2023
That was interesting. But we could have guessed that and it didn't really help. After the hotel fiasco from the day before, we settled on what we thought was a lovely apartment in Bordeaux, and with that the decision was made — we'd only see La Rochelle in passing.
La Rochelle?!
In the old harbour of La Rochelle, Josh found — with a Google Maps rating of 4.6 — Restaurant Kadoura. There I enjoyed a delicious sea bream ceviche as a starter and a superb tuna tataki as my main course. Both dishes were really good — the ceviche was perfectly balanced and the flavours harmonised wonderfully. The tataki met my expectations. But let me also tell you about my impressions of the service.
Ceviche to Start:
Perfectly balanced sea bream ceviche. The culinary journey began with an absolutely stunning ceviche. The dish not only looked gorgeous but tasted incredible. The fish was super fresh and practically melted on the tongue. The marinade with lemon, onions and a subtle hint of chilli was perfectly balanced. Every bite was a feast for the palate. The flavours complemented each other beautifully and refreshed the palate. I couldn't have imagined a better starter!
Raw Fish, Round Two
Next came the tuna tataki and it didn't disappoint. The tuna was of the highest quality and only marinated and seared. The thin slices were accompanied by a spicy sauce that added extra depth of flavour. The consistency of the tuna was just right — tender and juicy. Although the tataki met my expectations, I might have wished for a little surprise to give it that extra special touch.
The Service
Friendly. But rushed. Not really attentive. Perhaps too few staff on this Whit Monday in La Rochelle for the number of tables. But certainly not a highlight for Restaurant Kadoura. It seemed they were under a lot of stress and had no time to chat with guests or make recommendations. A bit more warmth and attention would definitely have improved the experience. Still, I have to be fair and say the service was efficient and dishes were served quickly.
4 out of 5 Stars for Restaurant Kadoura in La Rochelle
In summary, I'd give Restaurant Kadoura in La Rochelle 4 out of 5 stars if I had stars to give. The perfectly balanced sea bream ceviche and the excellent tuna tataki were definite highlights of my visit. The flavours were simply delicious and harmonised perfectly. It's a shame the service was somewhat impersonal and rushed, but hey, the food made up for it. If you're in La Rochelle, definitely check out Kadoura and try the ceviche and tataki — it's worth it!
And How Was Bordeaux?
With a heavy heart we left La Rochelle — we'd already booked the accommodation in Bordeaux. And — long story short — ChatGPT had been very positive about Bordeaux too. Even if the insistent mention of drinking wine revealed a certain endearing helplessness. But nothing helped; Bordeaux just wasn't our thing.
The accommodation, the Hôtel Particulier with a fantastic location in the city, certainly had old-building charm. But that was partly because it clearly hadn't been thoroughly renovated in quite some time. We had an apartment with two bedrooms, neither of which had windows. Both had doors to a sort of conservatory, which in turn had a floor made of thin glass. That showed cracks in several places. Hmm... There was always the lingering worry that the apartment might become a maisonette through structural collapse. I needed to chill the next day; Josh explored the city. But our opinion from the evening didn't change...
If you think we're complete philistines, do write in the comments what we missed in Bordeaux.