Wine & Chocolate in Onzain – Vin & chocolat à Onzain

We went to the local wine growers’ fair in Onzain today and met, amongst others, an oenologist who has returned to the family vineyard, three brothers who run their family vineyard together and a chocolate maker and her daughter. Nous sommes allés à la foire au vin à Onzain (touraine mesland) et avons fait connaissance, …

Postcard from Porto – São Miguel

Today we hired bikes and went for a ride along the seafront but the bikes weren’t wonderful and the bike path didn’t start until the lighthouse built in the 16th century, one of the oldest in Europe. We had lunch at the main port north of Matosinhos where there are lots of little restaurants with …

Abigail's Chocolates – Les chocolats d'Abigail

These stunningly beautiful chocolates are the creation of Abigail from Le Calabash cooking school in south Touraine. I don’t know how anyone can bear to eat them! Ces chocolats extraordinaires sont la création d’Abigail de Le Calabash, Petit Conservatoire de la Cuisine dans le sud de la Touraine. Je ne sais pas comment on peut …

Foie Gras for Christmas – Foie gras pour Noël

We usually make our foie gras for Christmas with friends who order and bring the foie gras. This year, they are in Australia so we tried a new local supplier in nearby Onzain. We’ll see the difference. D’habitude nous faisons notre foie gras pour noël avec des amis qui commandent et amènent le foie gras …

Some Aussie in France – Un peu d'Australie en France

Now that Damien is no longer selling his Grouëts biscuits at the market, I have had to find an alternative. Yesterday, while it was rather cold and rainy outside, I made a batch of Anzac biscuits, named after the Australia and New Zealnd Army Corps. They were first made by Australian women to send to …

Postcard #15 – Spissky Hrad, Slovakia

  Spissky castle in eastern Slovakia, one of the largest fortified sites in central Europe, can be seen from afar. It was built in the 12th century. Before 1464 it belonged to the kings of Hungary and resisted Tatar attacks in the 13th century. A gothic basilica was added during the 13th century and a …