Gourmet menu, music and festive spirit: the Chouette Guinguette from Chez Poulette is back in Vendargues

With this tavern, Christophe Espinasse has created a place with a festive and relaxed spirit. -DR

The Montpellier residents of the Wepa Wepa group launched this new season with a good dose of energy. – F.A.

Une ambiance de fête de village au beau milieu de la zone industrielle de Salaison, à Vendargues : un lieu insolite à découvrir. – F. A.

La guinguette de la brasserie Chez Poulette, sur la zone de Salaison, à Vendargues, a lancé ce mercredi 24 avril sa 3e saison, dans une ambiance festive portée par le groupe montpelliérain Wepa Wepa.

The mildness of spring was not yet there, but the atmosphere, certainly, yes! The crazy energy of the Montpellier group Wepa Wepa launched the Chouette Guinguette season at Chez Poulette, Wednesday April 24 in Vendargues. For the third year, Christophe Espinasse's brasserie, in the Salaison industrial zone, is transforming its garden into a village square lit with lanterns, with wooden tables and benches, sofas made from recycled pallets. Without forgetting a stage within reach of the public. An original and endearing place, open from Tuesday to Saturday, from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., until October.

Charcuterie, grilled pluma, seared octopus

The menu is gourmet, generous, with good 100% French products: sausage from the Bessières family, in Chirac in Lozère, Lacaune ham from the Millas charcuterie, in Murat-sur-Vèbre, in Tarn or IGP Bayonne. But also, a whole series of dishes to share: razor clams with coriander, grilled Bigorre black pork pluma and galabar, duck hearts with parsley. Sea side: octopus tentacle snacked with soy and sesame and Belle-Iloise sardines from Quiberon.

"By creating this tavern, I rediscovered my profession", enthuses Christophe Espinasse , trained by chef Xavier Denamur, a homemade activist chef, and based here for seven years. "I lived in Nogent-sur-Marne and I dreamed of creating a tavern. Here the spirit is relaxed and festive. People are happy and we come to work with the banana!" The regulars of Chez Poulette, a friendly restaurant, well known to workers in the Salaison area, are there, but not only that. "The tavern also attracts a different clientele, many from Montpellier. It's rare to find a relaxed place that only offers homemade." And local, even on the drinks menu: artisanal pastis, local whiskey Cevennes.

Salsa, swing, karaoke

Throughout the season, theme evenings will follow one another: "Every Wednesday and Thursday, producers come to taste their &nbsp ;wines, the first Saturdays of the month are salsa, the second, DJ, the third, swing and the fourth, karaoke", announces the owner. A darts game will soon be added to the pétanque field which is back in action. And on the music side, meet every Wednesday evening with groups from the region, for an eclectic program.

La Chouette Guinguette de Chez Poulette, 475 avenue des Bigos in Vendargues. From April to October, Tuesday to Saturday evening, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Savory tapas of 4 € at 10 €. Desserts at 4.50 euros. Glass of wine of 3.50 € at 7 €. Bottles of 19 € at 42 €. Beers from 3.20 € the 25 cl.