Come on a journey
with me, we are off to spend a most glorious day in the French countryside.
Rug up it’s a bit
chilly today, and it has been raining all night!! The car is warm and dry as we
head out into the green lush woodland.
We are heading to a Vide Grenier and a long lunch, the woodland is a
blush with wild flowers, on the way home we will stop and pick a few to
brighten up the dinner table. Look deep
into the woods, timid deer can be seen peering through the undergrowth, a wild
hare darts across the field, and a rabbit hops along the roadside. A farmer rugged up appears from the forest
with his treasures of woodland snails proudly tucked under his arm, his lunch
is going to be tres bon.
We have arrived at
the Vide Grenier, a bit wet but it doesn’t dampen our spirits there are
bargains to be had. The stallholders are
huddled under umbrellas, drinking flasks of coffee perhaps with an added drop
of Ricard! Look can you see that pewter
teapot hidden deep inside that cardboard box, only three euros, a must
have. Laughter can be heard; beautiful
French accents cry out across the square, pinch yourself you are really
here. Roses have burst into full bloom
climbing up every wall and cascading over balconies adding bright colour to the
dull day. Keep a look out we need
another mirror, browse through every stall, engage in conversation and barter
at every chance. On the back of a
trailer getting rather damp is a beautiful ornate golden mirror made in Italy,
only ten euros, if we must, another purchase.
Are you cold yet? I think its
time for a very long lunch.
Lets make our way
through the village to a small Auberge named Lou Bourdie owned by Monique. As we open the front door the warmth of the
open log fire welcomes us inside, our damp coats are whisked away as we are
shown to our table. Lou Bourdie is a
traditional French restaurant, which we soon discover has featured in the ‘Jamie
Oliver Does’ TV series and cookbook.
Photos proudly displayed on the walls showing Jamie and his crew
filming, we are extremely lucky as one of the recipes featured in his cookbook
is on offer today.
The plat du jour only
25 euros consists of wild mushroom soup, so dark in colour almost charcoal, the
aroma so exquisite. The soup is brought
to the table in a large terrine, just help yourself, and don’t forget to use
the crusty bread to wipe your bowl clean when finished. If you want to be really French, pour a
little of your wine in the last drop of soup and then drink straight from your
bowl. The French usually do not start
drinking wine until after the soup course.
Roast Beef arrives; remember if
you order red meat in France, it can basically walk off your plate, courgette
gratin and the inevitable delicious sautéed potatoes, a pichet or two of rose completes
the main course. Cheese, yes that
wonderful gooey smelly goaty French stuff is followed by pastis gateau, a
divine pastry dessert with hundreds of layers of filo pastry coated in rum. Lets order coffee and sit back by the log
fire and relax awhile. Pleasant
conversation with Monique the owner, she is quite a character; you can
certainly see why Jamie and his team picked this place to feature in his show.
Time to wind our
way back home, but not before stopping on top of the cliff to pick wild
flowers, nothing but the sound of birds singing can be heard, woodland spreads
out before us as far as the eye can see.
Its been a truly blissful day, every time I look into the mirror now
proudly mounted on the wall above the poule I will remember this wonderful day
spent somewhere deep within the woodlands of Southwest France.
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