A WEEK OF WINE MUSIC & BBQ'S

view from our table at Monteton

Our second visit from friends & family has just come to an end. I love June we specifically try to have as many friends & family staying as possible, time to have lots of fun & laughter. This final visit coincided with France's week of music. Each town hosts a concert with live entertainment & of course all washed down with wine & delicious food. We kicked of on Wednesday night at Monteton, a little French gem hidden from the modern world, about 15 minutes from Chateau Perroterie.
 In the heart of this little village lies an ancient ruin of a Chateau. The owner & his son, lovers of music, keenly support musicians from all over the world. We had an evening of the most amazing jazz from a young up & coming jazz group with the unlikely name "Mr Chan & the Texas sluts" we dined on the terrace which over looks beautiful views. The bill was a meer 15 euros each for a 2 course meal wine & music - fab value.

Mr Chan & co

Friday was beer & pizzas at Regine's in Duras, followed by another jazz group who played at our neighbours, The Chaters vineyard. The night was free unless of course you wanted wine or a choice of a cheese platter or charcuterie platter. They are hoping to repeat this event every other Friday night throughout the summer.

singing for their dinner

Saturday was a must visit to St Foy La Grande, they have a Saturday market which is in the top 10 of markets in France. The girls had a great time spending their monies & their boyfriends monies at the many jewellery stalls. Each bar & cafe had buskers & musicians playing around the tables, so a few coffees & drinks had to be partaken of whilst feet were tapping along with the music.

Our son Gareth & his girlfriend Sindy

When we weren't out & about enjoying music, we took turns at out doing each other at the BBQ, how is it that men really excel at this cuisine, but thank god they do! then a lot of shouting at the Television with the football, Mauro one of our Italian friends nearly had a heartache when he thought his team would lose. 


My last news for this week is to do with our cute little cat "Chattoo" who has been renamed Dave! bizarrely he now only comes to his new name, family, what can I say! they are all flying home  & John & I return to tranquillity for a brief time, before our work begins in earnest till mid October.

Breads & Cakes

Breads & Cakes


When you mention bread to a French man, they are likely to lick their lips & sigh! 
Bread is probably one of the most important foods to the French.


A French household typically buys fresh breads twice a day. Under French law no preservatives may be added to the dough, as a result you will find it goes stale very quickly, but the taste is awesome. I have been told that no self respecting French person would consider eating left over bread. They prefer to purchase their evening bread later in the day, so they once again enjoy the pleasure of soft fresh bread.

Marilyn the owner on the left.

yummy pastries - which one?

Marilyn,s father the cake & pastry baker.

Another French law stipulates that each town must have at least one boulangerie open in each town 365 days of the year, how civilized is that! Each town will have more than one bakery shop, they decide with each other, which shop will take their day off, so as not too clash with each other. competition is strong with each bakers trying to outdo the other with the most unusual loaves & pretty pastries, a great deal of pride is at stake, also once they have the custom of a client they rarely swap to another unless quality slips. Breads & pastries are not cheap, but the French respect good food & are happy to pay for the best they can afford. 


When invited to lunch especially Sunday lunch, guests usually bring gateaux or handmade chocolates, so the hostess does not have to worry about dessert & treats to accompany coffee, how civilized.

Antonella,s birthday cake

Our son arrived yesterday along with 7 friends for a week of fun. One of the girls is celebrating her birthday whilst here, We called into our favourite boulangerie & Marilyn the owner organized a beautiful cake, taking all the strain off my shoulders, a guaranteed baking delight is assured. 

BEER & STRAWBERRIES

A follow on from yesterday's blog. I wanted a Suggestion of what beer would also pair well with strawberries. I asked my good friend Darren Packman a renowned beer expert to select some liquid nectar. He came up with two recommendations. The first is a Duvel, a Belgian strong ale a little like a champagne. Or following the chocolate route a big Imperial Stout. Sounds like a good plan!

Think Strawberries think summertime.

This juicy red fruit is actually not a fruit or a vegetable but a pseudo-fruit! The botanical explanation is a bit convoluted so I'll leave it at that.

As my strawberry patch is very new I won't be blessed with too many this year, but I do have some mature alpine strawberries which are so decorative & add to the prettiness of any dessert. I planted them for my grandson, he said they were just for the fairies to eat, but I do recall him helping himself too!

My neighbour very kindly gave us a basket of strawberries from her garden, intoxicatingly sweet & smelling of sunshine, I headed to the kitchen tout suite to create some fruity delights. First I made a simple sponge cake, sandwiched with lashings of strawberry jam. Then I made everyone's favourite, meringues topped with a dollop of cream & of course berries. Accompanied with a glass of purree'd strawberries, crushed ice & lemonade with a sprig of mint for colour. Alcohol & strawberries are a match made in heaven, just sliced & popped into ice cubes with water makes a very pretty addition to a jug of Pimms. I am particularly partial to a Kir Royale, strawberries Cassis & icy cold Champagne the height of decadence.  

Last night I made some home-made ice cream, I didn't get the chance to take a picture as it was demolished in 5 minutes flat. The list of what this versatile pseudo-fruit can be used is endless, & quite frankly just eaten individually is hard to beat. I do have a favourite salad which is simple but looks special, scatter some pretty lettuce on a plate with thin sliced fennel, smoked salmon ribbons, & sliced strawberries, dress with a raspberry vinaigrette & lots of ground black pepper to bring the flavour out of the strawberry yummy!