A bottle of wine to remember

You just never know what is going to happen when you go for a "dégustation" chez Maison Guilhot and the last wine/food pairing night was no different. We tasted a delightful range from Bourgogne to Roussillon and Lucien Salani, Propriétaire Récoltant aux Balmettes, regaled us with stories and anecdotes of his life making wine. We were treated to gastronomical delights from the fabulous Bruno Léger and Georges juggled all the balls in the air with wit and contagious enthusiasm, as usual.
The surprise of the night , knocked us all for 6 and we all insisted that Georges keep it for himself but nothing would stop him sharing his bottle of 1924 Bouchard père et fils. An 87 year old bottle of wine was shared among us. It's hard to explain what drinking wine this old felt like - without wanting to sound pompous, it was a truly momentous moment. It really did feel like drinking a bit of history.
The smell of the wine was so powerful, like walking into an old french bar heavy with cigarette smoke with mouldy carpets and curtains. It tasted good, not rancid at all, almost like a strong Banyuls or tawny port. We were all transported back to 1924, imagining the hands that harvested the grapes and made the wine in a France recovering from the first world war and hopeful for the future and all the things that have happened since while this bottle has been languishing in someone's cellar.
A bottle of wine to remember on one's deathbed .. Merci encore Georges!

Beef bourguignon without the Burgundy

Meant to post this for Paddys Day, but here you go ...
Beef Bourguignon is a fabulous french stew which is a fool proof recipe and a perfect dinner party dish when you've got a gang to feed.
However, if you replace the burgundy with guinness, for a real Irish twist, the result is a lush creamy stew that goes down really well with mashed spuds and a glass of red.
Here's my fav recipe :

Prep time: 15 min - Cook time: 3 hours


2 big onions, chopped
2 large carrots, sliced in rounds
Olive oil
1 packet of lardons( bacon bits)
I kilo of stewing beef, cut small
1 can guinness
Mixed dried herbs
2 garlic clove, peeled
1/2 kilo mushrooms, sliced
salt and pepper

In a large heavy pot cook the onions and carrots in the oil on medium heat until soft, about 8 minutes.
Add the bacon and continue cooking and stirring for 8 minutes.
Add the meat and cook, turning several times, until browned on all sides. Sprinkle the meat with salt and pepper. Add the herbs, the garlic and the guinness. Cover, turn down the heat, and let simmer for at least two hours.
Meanwhile cook the mushrooms in oil until soft and add to the stew after about two hours.
Simmer until meat tender.
Serve with mashed spuds sprinkled with fresh parsley.

Et voilà! Bonne Appetit!

Dublin - Perpignan direct flights

Hurray hurray! The new flights with Aer Lingus commenced today, from Dublin to Perpignan direct - the first time we have had direct flights from Ireland into Perpignan.
Let's hope that they are a success and continue for a long time - at a quick glance today, there are some bargains to be had - one can fly out aller retour for less than 85euros all inclusive in May. Perfect timing for my 40th birthday bash!!!
Aer Lingus is the posh older sister of Ryanair and I'm looking forward to trying out their swish A320s. It's very good news for Perpignan.

Humble in Victory, Gracious in Defeat

If I had a euro for every French person who has asked me to please beat the English next weekend and rob them of their Grand Chelem victory, I'd be a rich woman. Bruised and Humiliated after being beaten by the Italians and the English, you could not really say that the French are gracious in defeat....

Marc Lièvremont, France's rugby coach, who should really be looking at getting his marching orders after being beaten by the hungry Italians, has this to say about HIS team

They are lacking in courage. They are good guys but cursed with what is obviously cowardice," said Lievremont.

"They betrayed us, they have betrayed me and they have betrayed the French national team shirt."
"In terms of the tactics deployed, it defied belief. I did not recognise anything in their performance that we had worked on.
"Do you really think that I told them to play as they did against Italy? I was ashamed. I do not have the impression we asked them to walk on the moon. I do not ask for complicated things.
"This match was an hallucination. I do not want to absolve myself of blame but they invented things on the pitch."

Of course, this was the French coach who kindly did Johnstons pre match job for him ahead of the French English rugby clash last weekend with this 'inciteful" message for the English team:

"We don't like them and it's better to say that than be hypocritical. We respect them - well in my case at least I respect them. But you couldn't say we have the slightest thing in common with them. We appreciate our Italian cousins with whom we share the same quality of life. We appreciate the Celts and their conviviality and then among all these nations we have one huge thing in common. We all don't like the English! It is also what gives you strength against the English, more than just because of rugby. This insular country, who always drape themselves in the national flag, their hymns, their chants, their traditions."

Contrast this with the Italians reaction to their win against France and the obvious mutual respect the players and their South African coach have for each other
After the Italians historic win on Saturday, The Italian captain, the number eight Sergio Parrisse, rushed to his coach’s side – “He’s the only coach who believed in us,” he said, “I want to dedicate this victory to him”
Italian coach, Pallet, from South Africa, with a very impressive rugby history had this to say
 “This is my biggest win ever as a coach. I am more proud of this success than of all those with Stade France and with South Africa." Aw, twould bring a tear to your eye...

Anyway, according to my French neighbours here in Rugby Mad Catalan Country, it's up to us, les Irlandais, to beat the English next weekend... gulp!
C'Mon Ireland!

A match made in heaven...

.. Or Maison Guilhot to be exact.

There are many fantastic things about living where we do in France and one of them is living slap bang in the largest vineyard in the world. The Languedoc Roussillon produces more wine than any other region in the world. There are over 50,000 vine growers and nearly 3000 private vineyards in the Region. Plenty of serious good wines to choose from and plenty of good locally grown and produced food to match those delicious wines too.

During the week, I had the honour of being at a food and wine matching soirée hosted by George Guilhot, Maison Guilhot and Bruno Leger of Lycée Hôtelier Léon Blum.

Marie Pierre Piquemal of Domaine PIQUEMAL, d'Espira de l'Agly introduced us to her sumptious selection of wines which Bruno matched to the following menu :

Muscat Sec : Tartine de beurre d'algue

Terres Grillées Blanc : Topinambour de Saint Jacques

Le chant des Frères Rouge : Foie gras poivre

Colline Oubliée Rouge : Hamburger de Canard,et son ketchup de betterave

CRV Galatée : Boeuf carotte en cassolette

Muscat de Rivesaltes : Compote orange amère, riz au lait.

Far from being a stuffy wine matching exercise, Marie Pierre Piquemal regaled us with stories and the banter and chat flowed along with the wines. Bruno and Georges had obviously diligently done their homework and the food and wine married each other perfectly; each mouthful a true taste sensation.. nom nom nom, looking forward to the next one already!!!

Georges independent wine cave is situated in the heart of Perpignan at 13 place des poilus. He regularly holds wine and food tasting soirées and stocks his favourite wines from the Roussillon and all over France.

An address not to be missed on your visit to Perpignan. Georges also speaks perfect English.

Anti Ride Régime

The kids and I headed to the park after school on Friday , the weather was so lovely , we decided to spend an hour enjoying the last rays of sunshine on a fine February day.
I was delighted when another Mom plonked herself down beside me on the bench and started chatting in a friendly manner. Turns out she was a wolf in sheeps clothing and lulled me into a false sense of security, swapping tips and gossip about the neighbourhood, best boulangerie, where to get best fruit and veg, blah blah, comforting Mom talk, she got me nice and relaxed before she went for the jugular
"You are about the same age as me, yes? 40?"
"Ummm" yes, I mutter " Still hanging on to my 30s though, hoho"
"You know you should really be doing an anti wrinkle diet. I am an expert on this. Look at my skin compared to yours. You would not have those crows feet and bags under your eyes if you follow my advice"
"Gulp, really?" I stammer. Well, what does one say?
" Yes, you too could look like me" she brazenly tells me

So here's the diet Isabelle recommended :

Eat lots of :
Fruit and Veg
Water and Green Tea
Nuts, esp almonds
Olive Oil
Oily fish
Dark chocolate

Avoid
Coffee
Red Meat
White bread
Potatoes
Cakes and sugary things
Too much alcohol

Ok , nothing radical there. Then she advises that I use Clarins Anti Ride Lift - that would REALLY help all those lines on my forehead disappear.
If I had balls, I would have felt kicked in them, on ther other hand, if I had balls, I would have told her where to shove it!
My buddies reckon that she was a Clarins undercover agent, sent out to target Moms in parks, preferably those sensitive ones , turning 40 this year!
So, when I pulled myself together and we'd said our farewells ( ravie de vous avoir rencontrée , my arse!), I dragged my sorry butt back home where my delightful daughter drew a lovely picture of me ( awwww) with a deep furrow in the middle of my forehead!!! Argghhh

So, it's the new diet and Clarins anti wrinkle treatment for me for one month. Before and After photos to follow.
And it that doesn't work, I want BOTOX for my birthday....

Dying to be thin

"How do they stay so thin?" It's a question I've been asked a thousand times since moving here 9 years ago .. The truth, I believe, is that the French are generally lucky in the gene ( and jean) department with slender hips and frames, they smoke incessantly and really do keep an eye on everything that goes past their lips. They also indulge in slimming aids and tablets. Alot. They are obsessed with their weight and openly talk about what procedures they have had done, what diets they are on and what pills they are popping.

Isabelle Caro, a French actress and model whose skeletal photos shocked the world in 2007, tragically died in late 2010, another victim to the desire to be skin and bone. Caro obtained a certain amount of fame around this time as she spoke out about her struggle with her eating disorder and campaigned to increase awareness about anorexia.
However, her photos had the adverse affect and many pro-ana sites blossomed in line with her notoriety. Pro-ana websites are pro-anorexic dedicated sites and are quite frankly, scary places to visit where anorexics cheer each other on with every ounce lost. Caro has become something of a heroine here, a martyr to the ultimate goal of these , predominately, young girls.

The drug "mediator", given in France to obese people and to people with diabetes is now known to be responsible for at least 500 deaths. Prescribed to healthy women as well, who wanted to lose a few kilos, this drug, with lethal side effects, has been widely available in France for the last 30 years. The minister for health pressed panic buttons in late 2010 when he recommended that anyone who had taken the drug must immediately visit their doctor.
There are legal proceedings commencing against the pharmaceutical company and it looks like this scandal is only going to get bigger and nastier as time goes on.

En France, one can never be too rich or too thin? Not much good if you're 6 feet under though..

It's the end of the world as we know it ...

Ok, That was my anthem after my first child was born but there is quite a large group of esoterics who beleive that the world will end on 21 December 2012, ending a 5,125-year-long cycle in the ancient Maya calendar.
Many people beleive that a tiny village in Aude, the South of France, close to where I live, offers refuge from the 2012 apocalypse and are flocking to the village of less than 200 inhabitants. Apparently , many American travel agents are selling packages to Bugarach ( one way tickets, we would assume) and the locals are getting very jittery in anticipation of the influx of New Age Nutters.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, some of the pilgrims believe that there are aliens existing in the core of the mountain near Bugarach and when the world implodes, the aliens will take their followers on the mountain with them to "safety"
The mayor has requested that the army be on standby to cope with the tide of UFOists who will certainly be flocking to the Pic de Bugarach for the 21 December, 2012.
I'm off there shortly to see if I can spot E.T. and friends and will report back. In the meantime, this whole idea ties in perfectly with my New Years Resolution which is to make 2011 a YES YEAR. Carpe Diem and all that .. especially with the aliens imminent attack!!!

Flirting in France

Is flirting,either face to face or using a social network like facebook or sending SMS's by your mobile, being unfaithful? Eva Longoria seems to think so and is divorcing her French husband of 7 years , basketball player Tony Parker, for flirting by SMS with a girl that he had never had any relations with.

In France , where flirting is a national past-time and it's considered rude not to flirt, this is sending shockwaves throughout the country. Flirting is as natural to French men and women as breathing and is, most of the time, tongue in cheek, harmless complimentary chit chat that adds a little skip to your step. Now, I don't know how saucy or x-rated Tony Parkers text messages were, causing Eva to pull the plug, but I'd wager there are quite a few french men deleting messages on their phones and facebook accounts as I type!

In the small village where I live, my baker calls me " la grande belle", my Catalan butcher ( female) calls me " la bella nena" my students in English class ( all over 70) have all proposed to me and flirt outrageously with me non stop.
Nearly every transaction involves a bit of flirtatious french flattery and indeed flirting properly is a skill in France which should be perfected if you expect to get good service / the best table in a restaurant or a discount on a purchase. Flirting in France does not mean you want to jump into her/his knickers, flirting is just fun, lightening up your day.
My fair blue eyed sister is a master of flirting ( she takes after our Mother!) and I can only stand back in admiration as she has the French male eating out of her proferred hand!
Recently, we were organising a tour for a group of 20 people. On telephoning the bus company ,we were told that the bus we had booked weeks in advance was unavailable. Full stop. No amount of wheedling would sway them. "That's it", my sister Suz announced, "this calls for action." She changed from jeans and tee shirt into a smart skirt, killer heels and sprayed herself with some coco chanel. Half an hour later, she returned from the bus depot, triumphant : José, our bus man, not only had found a bus, but, had given it to Suz for half price AND he wanted to come on the tour!!! He regularly emails her now with flirtatious emails.
A bit of harmless and healthy fun? Perhaps. But Eva aint buying it!

One Man's Junk ...

.. Is another man's treasure

The vide grenier ( empty your attic ) epitomises this old saying here in France where every town holds his own 'car boot sale' at least once or twice a year. This weekend, one of the local vide greniers was on in Port Vendres, where my sister lives , so we headed off bright and early on Sunday morning to snag a few bargains.

The whole quay in Port Vendres was jammed with stalls selling everything from antiques, to clothes, old teddy bears, games, jewellery and everything else under the sun as people jostled for bargains and children ran around giddy, testing out prams, bikes and used toys.
The atmosphere was fabulous, a real family day out, with stallholders sharing their impromptu pique-niques (avec du vin of course), punters negotiating good naturedly and everyone enjoying picking up a good bargain. All this against the back drop of the yachts bobbing in the quay, the piercing blue sky and the quaint shop fronts of Port Vendres.
I managed to snaffle a pair of brand new ski boots for my daughter for 50cents, a funky unused retro handbag for a euro and some English books going for a song.
Now, that's what I call retail therapy!!!

Check out http://www.vide-greniers.org/ for a full list of vide greniers