For the 9th consecutive year, our neighbourhood, Les Grouets, held a bread-baking day at part of the French national fête du pain celebrations. Norbert, the owner of the century-old wood-fired oven, starts heating it four days beforehand. Local children bring along their brioches on Friday but the main celebration is on Sunday. I took along two …
Category Archives: Culinary specialities
The Biscuit Truck – Le Type H à biscuits
At the market on Saturday in Blois, we were delighted to see that Damien, our favourite biscuit maker – his Sablés des Grouets are very moorish – has a new biscuit tin. And not just any tin.The Citroën H Van, Type H, H-Type or HY is a light truck (or delivery van) produced by Citroën between 1948 …
The Horse Butcher's – La boucherie chevaline
I am not a consumer of horse meat. I was given it once when I arrived in France without being told what it was and have not eaten it since. The writing on the windows also says that the butcher sells veal, porc and lamb. The sign says veal liver, rabbit thighs and beef tongue. We didn’t …
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The Biscuit Tin – La boîte à biscuits
Our very favourite pure butter home-made shortbread biscuits – Les Grouets Sablés – now have their own tin (small and large size) decorated with the Loire Valley châteaux. You can buy your own at the Louis XII market in Blois on a Saturday or Amboise market on a Sunday. Bon appétit! Nos gâteaux secs préférés pur beurre …
Crepes and Vouvray Anyone? Qui veut des crêpes et du vouvray?
A little late for chandeleur admittedly, but this was the first opportunity after the flu to get together with our neighbours for crêpes and vouvray, the local natural sparkling wine. Chandeleur or, more popularly, “la fête des crèpes” is held on 2nd February, 40 days after Christmas. One explanation is that it celebrates the presentation of Christ at …
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The Menagerie – La Ménagerie
Anyone who has been in France in January will be familiar with the Kings’ Cake (galette des rois) with its lucky tokens. This is my collection so far this year. Voici ce que j’ai trouvé dans la galette des rois cette année. Les hippopotames sont nouveaux !
Saucisson All Sorts
You know you’re in Sologne when you see deer and wild boar saucisson on the market! On sait qu’on est en Sologne lorsqu’on voit du saucisson au cerf, chevreuil et sanglier sur le marché!
Chocolat Gourmand
Hot chocolate and little goodies for afternoon tea at Max Vauché’s in Bracieux, the local chocolate maestro. The hot chocolat was a little disappointing though. Chocolat chaud et gourmandises au goûter chez Max Vauché à Bracieux, réputé le meilleur chocolatier du coin. Le chocolat chaud était un peu decevant.
No ice-cream in winter – Pas de glace en hiver
On the other side of the square from Rodolphe’s in Vendôme, we have the Saint Martin bar, but it’s closed. I guess there isn’t much opening for ice-cream in winter! Note the sculptures on the uprights. De l’autre côté de la place, face à Rodolphe à Vendôme, se trouve le bar Saint Martin, mais il …
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Crèpes chez Rodolphe
If the cakes inside hadn’t looked so good, we might have tried these crèpes outside Rodolophe’s pâtisserie in Vendôme. Si les pâtisseries à l’intérieur n’avaient pas eu l’air si tentant, nous aurions déguster ces crèpes à l’extérieur de la pâtisserie Rodolphe à Vendôme.