Photo du Jour - Waiting...

Le Pic de Bugarach

Last week we took a little road trip down into the middle of nowhere, or more precisely, down into the middle of the Corbières.

It's an area of the Languedoc-Roussillon that I've never really been enamored with, though there are some producers making some spectacular cheeses and some pretty decent wine.  
Les Corbières, despite its ruggedly beautiful landscape and charming, picturesque villages, is a region shrouded in mystery. It also boasts a turbulent history and there always seems to be an ominous cloud hanging over the place.
(People who live in the Corbières will most likely disagree with me - all I can say is that it's just a feeling I get when I go there)



The region's most recent claim to fame, or infamy, is the tiny village of Bugarach and the Pic de Bugarach, which looms over the village.
Le Pic is the highest peak in the Corbières and there is a certain group of crazies people out there who believe that aliens are living in limestone caves at the base of the mountain.

Wait...it gets better...

They also think that when the Mayan calendar ends, on December 21, 2012, bringing on Armageddon and the end of human civilization, the Pic is a "special mountain" that will be saved from destruction. At the moment when it's all going to hell in a handbasket, the aliens will emerge from their caves and will invite the "lucky few" on to their spaceships, saving them from the certain death and destruction that is the fate of us poor souls left here on earth.

I have just one question: What are these people on? Pin It

La Fête du Fromage - Fromage Pur Chèvre Férmier

This is just the kind of cheese I needed on this hot, sticky summer day.

Fromage Pur Chèvre Férmier is a fresh, unpasteurized goat's cheese produced by a passionate young farmer in Thézan-les-Corbières, about 45 minutes due south of our village.
Les Corbières are a scenic, mountainous region of the Languedoc-Roussillon known for wine, remote villages and Cathar castles.

Over the years I've tasted several different cheeses that have been called chèvre férmier and each one has been totally unique and memorable.  There was the dense Chèvre Férmier from the Haut-Languedoc, the sublime Chèvre Fermier from Roquebrun, the seaweed covered Fromage de Chèvre Férmier from Brittany and the light and nutty Chèvre Férmier from the Pyrénées. 

This chèvre férmier is perfumed with mild almond and slightly sour and refreshing citrus flavors.  It has a velvety smooth, fine texture that melts in your mouth and is just perfect with fresh figs, peaches or grapes.

I would suggest a glass of rosé or a light, fruity red wine to pair with this cheese.

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Sunday Links

I am the girl of 100 lists.*

France. Food. Light. Two very talented people. A delicious photography workshop in Gascony.

France. Wine. Chocolate. Two great guys in Paris. A very tempting tasting.

A collection of inspired and bold ideas. And another place to feed my blank journal/paper product addiction.

Come to a little village in the Corbières for 3 étoiles!

Fresh ricotta. I keep saying I'm going to try making it, and now I definitely will. Must try this chèvre as well.


bon dimanche!



*curious if anyone get this reference? Pin It

Photo du Jour - Local Wine

Several bottles of Languedoc-Roussillon wine enjoyed by several people at lunch last Sunday.

Wine from les Corbières, la Clape (an unfortunate name, I know - but great wine) and from our village in le Minervois. Pin It

Photo du Jour - Fountain

A very stern faced fountain at the Abbaye de Fontfroide. Pin It