on the edge – looking out over Roussillon
I’m just short of a week since arriving in France, having travelled from Toulouse in the South West of France, through cassoulet country, onto oysters and then olives, goat, lamb and herbs in St Remy de Provence where I will be until tomorrow morning. Some French fries, and pizza, a dish I never associated with the South of France before, have also been added to the mix. And strawberries, the first of the spring harvest. They are glorious!
strawberries in Aix en Provence
Geographically, foods aren’t isolated to a region or necessarily ‘best eaten’ in specific areas to attain the oft futile goal of authenticity, but I have tried to eat the foods from the source (like oysters that are grown and harvested in Bouzigues, €14 for 12 huge, plump beauties).
Bouzigues
I researched that Castelnaudary claims that cassoulet was invented in the town and so I went to sample some there. I’ve made (well, technically we assisted the patissier) 10 kg of nougat using almonds from Provence, a product that’s both insanely expensive and one they’re really proud of here and saw my first one day old spring lamb.
a town called Castelnaudary
Waiter, there’s a cassoulet above my head! In Toulouse
So far we’ve met warm and interesting people, a few madmen and the odd genius too.
flowers at market in Coustellet
We will be headed to the lesser known Verte region tomorrow and I’m excited to see what (foods) and stories await.
I have been sharing my adventures and stretching the limits of my data package on Instagram, Vine and Facebook – do say hello!
If you want to know more about Vine, and a 101 on how to, read my post here.
Here’s a compilation of my week on Vine – my 6 second videos, in a 3 minute montage:
http://youtu.be/L9gOVugVYn0
Amazing trip as always endjoy & keep us all posted. & we must chat when you get back
Hey Usha. Thanks for the comments and on FB. hope you are well.
South France is in my top future destinations – but only when lavender blooms. After onion soup I’m not a big fan of their cuisine, honestly, how can you call ‘soup’ a bowl of melted cheese?! 😉
You are going to get me in so much trouble! Only publish this because I love you 😉 But, there are dishes, less heavy that they are known for: simple peasant food: fresh goats cheese baked and served on seasoned salad leaves, lots of vegetables, lamb (which I love), fish, in bouillabaisse or grilled, oysters. Pesto and tapenade. Apple pie. Macaroons…..To food traveller like me, it’s heaven. I know you know, Gata 😉
Coustellet! I was there last June – what a fabulous market it is. The cherries I bought there still linger in the memory…
The fruit! One of the best parts about these old-school markets.