Latest posts
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Sole Meuniere
When the plat du jour (the dish of the day) is sole meuniere, there is no discussion. A very simple dish, whole sole pan fried in a brown butter sauce finished with lemon and parsley, this is irresistible. Other highlights have included moules Roquefort (mussels in a Roquefort cheese sauce) and seiche al la plancha…
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A Bit of Trivia
One of the first things that strikes you about the Mediterranean is the colour of the water – an almost unreal, shimmering blue. It turns out the Mediterranean’s deep blue comes down to a mix of science and nature. The sea here is incredibly clear, with very few particles or algae floating around. That means…
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Relaxing at the Beach
I’m afraid the next few posts will be rather boring – we are happily settled on the Mediterranean coast and enjoying walking on the beach in the morning, eating far too much for lunch, swimming in the afternoon (it’s not true that you’ll get a cramp and drown if you don’t wait 30 minutes after…
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Tour de France
It is now Friday evening, and we have arrived in the Occitane region on the Mediterranean coast. Our last day in Provence was spent in the village of Menerbes where author Peter Mayle sought refuge after writing his very entertaining book “A Year in Provence” (highly recommended) and then paying the price of fame by…
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Santana
After a quiet weekend wandering around local markets, Monday was a step up in pace. In the morning, we drove to the Saint-Paul de Mausole, the (still working) asylum where Dr Theopile Peyrone treated Vincent Van Gough during his 12 month period of internment. I have added pictures of his office, and Van Gogh’s room…
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Cassis
Today we decided to drive to the seaside town of Cassis, just south of Marseille, and have lunch at a little place that we have been to before and love. We sat under the red awnings you can see on the right in the photograph. Took “the road less travelled” on the way home, via…
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Cherry Clafoutis
I’m not a great fan of deserts; however, cherry clafoutis is an exception. We look forward to buying fresh cherries and making this delicious tart which is just cherries steeped in Kirsch (a cherry liqueur) and baked in a dense custard with almond meal. Yesterday we caught up with one of the local truffle farmers…
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The Pace of Provence
It hasn’t taken us long to settle into the relaxed pace of Provence. An early start in the morning to the nearest market (the picture is from Gordes), home by late morning, a swim, a glass of wine, and some cooking in the afternoon. It’s very hard to take! Meals have very much been guided…
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Catchup
We spent our last evening in Paris just wandering and ended up at a restaurant we had been to once before – Le Vent D’Armor – and managed to get a table without a reservation. Pretty lucky, since there are only eight. Sunday morning, we were up early to catch our train to Montpellier and…
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Last Day in Paris
It’s Friday, and our last day in Paris. Yesterday we walked through the very classy Montparnasse district and found a restaurant for lunch that is famous for being one of Ernest Hemmingway’s favourite watering holes (there’s a brass plaque at the bar where he used to sit and write). The picture is of a different…