A Charmed Life?

When I traveled to California for my nephew's wedding last October, something happened that really made me think.
At a 'meet and greet' event before the big day, I was introduced to a member of the bride's family. As soon as she realized who I was she said, "Oh, you're Aunt Jenny* from France! I hear you lead a very charmed life."

Well, you could have knocked me over with a feather.

I plastered a big smile on my face and responded with the appropriate, "Very nice to meet you. Yes, I live in France," all the while thinking to myself, "A charmed life? Is she joking?"

La Fête du Fromage - Le Curé Nantais

Those three words...affiné au Muscadet...made my heart skip a beat.

Whenever I see a French cheese label that includes the word "affiné," I know I'll love it. Affiné means that the cheese has been ripened, bathed, washed, rubbed or wrapped in spirits, wine, herbs, nuts, even the crushed grapes left after wine making, all of which creates an intoxicating depth of flavor.

Le Curé Nantais is a soft, chewy, unpasteurized cow's milk cheese produced in Pornic, in the western Loire. This particular variety has been repeatedly washed in the local white wine, Muscadet, for three weeks.

Its medium strong flavor is an intriguing mix of mild spices, mushrooms, creamy butter and salt. I thought it was sublime!

Enjoy with a glass of, you guessed it, Muscadet.


A few more examples of cheeses matured in wine, beer, etc.
le Cameau
Vieux-Boulogne
Trappe Echourgnac
Brin d'Amour

Photo du Jour - Curves

Such beautiful curves!
Taken at the 14th century Château de Perdiguier in the Languedoc.



Submitted to Your Sunday Best, hosted by A Rural Journal.

La Conversation

Yesterday, totally out of the blue, my husband said to me, "honey, your idea that we should move to France was the best idea you've ever had."

I couldn't agree more.

Announcing the Winner!

I'm happy to announce that the winner of one of my favorite cookbooks, At Home in Provence, by Patricia Wells, is #52, Yael, from Hope it Will Rain.
Félicitations!

A huge thank you to everyone who entered!

French Cookbook Giveaway - Update

I just realized that at the time I've picked to choose a winner for the At Home in Provence cookbook giveaway tomorrow, I'll be at work!

So I'm extending the giveaway until 9pm Paris time, Wednesday, June 22.

Photo du Jour - Secret

An open gate invited me in.
Then I saw the cave like tunnel and the stairway. How could I resist?
Dodging the cobwebs I went in and climbed up. A secret garden!
Off to one side I found a statue of Mary. Tucked under a tree was an old fireplace mantle and in another corner, this dilapidated, empty greenhouse.


Don't forget! Only two days left to win a copy of Patricia Well's cookbook, At Home in Provence.


My submission to Your Sunday Best, hosted by A Rural Journal.

Photo du Jour - Jewel Like

I've always had a thing for frogs, lizards, newts, turtles, etc.
This handsome fellow, an Ocellated Lizard according to my friend Mark, lives in the garden where I work.
He (she?) is quite shy so I had to be super stealthy and quick with my camera. I think he (she?) needs a name. Any ideas?

My Favorite Books about France and a Giveaway

Being a life long Francophile, avid reader and cookbook addict lover means that my bookshelves are literally overflowing with books about France.

Books about French regions and travel, French cookbooks, French phrase books (which now pretty much just gather dust), Paris food guides, memoirs written by people living in France, French restaurant guides, French maps...
You get the idea.

I have many, many favorites. If I had to narrow them down to just a few, these are the 10 that would be on my French themed Desert Island Books list.

Photo du Jour - le Café?

An old, shuttered up home in the center of our village.
I don't know its history but am not sure it was really a café. It doesn't have the appearance of a café front, so it seems to me that the owners just playfully painted the sign above the door.


This week's contribution to Your Sunday Best, hosted by A Rural Journal.

Saturday Links from France

France, cheese and life in the Languedoc in my Franco File Friday interview with Lindsey.

Sometimes you just have to stop and enjoy the view.

Hot where you are? Try some Sorbet au Citron and you'll instantly feel cooler.

For all that's going on in Provence, look no further...

While she ruminates about which job to take, Camille shares a fantastic pickle recipe with her readers.

A perfect seaside dream. 



One of my favorite cherry recipes.

Another delicious, quintessentially French one.

Et une autre recette. (en français)

France Magazine

 

France Magazine has included an article about me in their July 2011 issue. I'm truly honored! And I have to say that seeing my name in print for the first time is very exciting!

Click on the photo for a larger image.

PARIS, paris by David Downie

In general I'm not a very wordy writer, so my review of PARIS, paris: Journey into the City of Light by David Downie isn't going to ramble on and on.

Instead I'll simply tell you that I didn't just read this book...I savored it. 
Each and every chapter.



I got lost in it.

Reading PARIS, paris is the opportunity to see Paris through the eyes of someone who adores her - for her beauty, her uniqueness and even her flaws. It is wandering through Paris at night and through often overlooked quartiers. It is seeing the cracks in her often perfectly depicted veneer. It is learning about her quirky history and getting to know some of her characters.
It is experiencing Paris through someone who is deeply connected to her.

I love Paris. Now thanks to Mr. Downie, I love her even more.

If would like to order your copy through Amazon, there are coupons available here.

La Fête du Fromage - Briquette de l'Angoumois

Well, it's official.
After several years of tasting French cheese for la Fête du Fromage, it appears that I've exhausted almost every single cheese supply in a 60 mile radius. I've been to the village markets and to les Halles in Narbonne and Béziers, and I've done all the driving around the region to visit the small farms.

The obvious next step was to find a website or two that would deliver some French cheese right to my door. So that's exactly what I did.

Photo du Jour - Waiting For a Train

Waiting to pick up my husband from the 20:17 train in Narbonne.
I've been to this station dozens of times, but it wasn't until I took this photo that I noticed the station was painted pink!