Hungry any one?

Since arriving in Cabrerets we have been wined and dined by many of our ‘old friends’ and also new ones. 

Our first meal was in Toulouse with our French friends and six of their guests.  The meal was to be conducted mainly in French, which originally caused us slight panic, but this quickly disappeared along with the many glasses of top quality wines that were offered during the dinner.  Entrée was served in the parlor, French Champagne served from the most beautiful ice bucket with a gold garland, grilled octopus, calamari and prawns slightly coated in a mild Spanish chilli, sliced salami, home made foie gras pate, melon cut into cubes and served with tooth picks.  We then moved to the table for the main course, lamb and prune tagine served with crusty, delicious baguettes that dropped millions of crumbs when broken open with your hands, but it is the French way!  Next the cheese is served, five of the gooiest, smelliest and divine tasting cheeses I have ever laid eyes on.  I watched the other French women to make sure I’m eating my meal, as the French would do, only the slightest sliver of each cheese is selected, the cheese course is always served with crisp lettuce leaves marinated with olive oil and lemon juice. Dessert is brought to the table with great fanfare, gateau’s, chocolate éclairs, vanilla slices, soft choux pastry dusted with icing sugar and a rich dark chocolate cake its enough to send you weak at the knees.  After we have finished a  30-year-old Armagnac is offered along with dark rich espresso coffees.  One of the guest moves to the piano and plays beautiful French music, which in turn encourages the rest of the guest to burst into song, Ian and I sit back and again pinch ourselves that we have been honoured to have shared in such an evening.

Our next meal was shared with new friends Ken and Robyn in the Maison Blanc.  Candles, crystal glasses and delicate serviettes adorned the table.  A casual meal of pig trotters followed by sautéed beef and vegetables, plenty of wine and great conversation made for a wonderful evening. 

This was closely followed by a meal served at Philippe’s house, eight other guests joined us for dinner, a martini for an aperitif, sliced salami with hazelnuts, a more casual table setting adorned this table but the meal certainly was not, poached salmon topped with a poached egg and hollandaise sauce, potatoes finely grated and lightly fried in duck fat. Panna cotta soft and delicate, a sauce of ginger and honey drizzled over the top and served with delicate biscuits decorated with a mint leaf and a slight dusting of icing sugar completed this wonderful meal.

Next stop back to Maison Blanc, this time we were joined by friends of Ken and Robyn, really interesting people who now live half a year in Hong Kong and the other half here in South West France.  Chicken casserole, sautéed potatoes and petit pois, plenty of wine and great conversation made for a very pleasant evening.

Saturday night and its aperitifs at Rogers and Sarah’s house, champagne flows along with the conversation, new acquaintances are made, and further dinner dates are booked……Life here is one long dinner party,  encore.