On our winter holidays.......

Time for our winter break and as last year we return to South Africa where we can find the nearest existence to France as possible with great food, fine wine and wonderful scenary as well as friendly people.

We are starting in Franschhoek staying in the aptly named Maison Chablis. Franschhoek , we are grateful to the 277 French, known as Huguenots who landed in the Cape of good Hope in 1685 and were given land by the Dutch colonial government creating this gorgeous French Corner.

Our chambre D'hote Maison Chablis

Franschhoek 

The main street is lined with boutique's and many fine restaurant's, a number of which are feel obliged to try!

Ain't no sunshine...........

I was out running this morning, trying to beat the impending rain fall! sometimes the sky is not blue !

The rain won!

A winter lunch

One of the many things we love about France is the importance of lunch. Another thing that we have taken from our move here is the wonderful people we have met and become friends with.

And what is better on a January day than a four hour lunch.

We started with home smoked Salmon fillet with tapenade toast, for main course an onion tarte tatin, pictured above.

accompanied by a bean and artichoke salad. 

our friends David & Jane have an eye for setting the ambience!

Cheese course, we were being spoilt!

And dessert followed, winter fruits with chartreuse ice cream.

Delicious!

Winter in the Luberon

It's not so bad!

Lovely sun rise on a frosty morning

Our lemon tree is producing a good crop - G&T anyone?

The balmy (or barmy ) weather continues

The end of December and early January have remained under high pressure with dry weather, for a few nights the  temperatures fell to as low as minus 6 with clear skies by night and day when it warmed to about 11 or 12 although it felt warmer.  However we have experienced some incredibly mild days, yesterday it was 18 in the shade mid afternoon and today in full sun our thermometer hit 38 degrees. Quite extrordinary compared to our experience in years gone by.

So on a perfect Sunday walking is order of the day and we set off for a pleasant 7k traversing up Chemin de Romanet into the hills and back to the village giving outstanding views.

There was only one thing for it on return, a glass of rose!

perfect boxing day walk

A simple hours walk from home taking in the village, the windmill, then up to the reservoir, behind the chateau, and back down to the village and home.  Views that we never tire of. 

One smart pussy cat!

A little taste of Christmas

IIt's Christmas Eve, first stop to the Boulangerie to collect the bread order. It's a busy day with lots of pre orders especially for the buche de Noel, pictured below. Some people have larger orders than others!

Then down to Le Clerc where we buy our fish, the traditional Christmas Eve dinner comprises of a sea food platter notably shell fish with oysters, prawns, crab, smoked salmon and Bulot

Fresh crab and lobster `s, we witnessed one on the floor making an escape - yes they are still alive At this stage!

The tradition in Provence is to take 13 desserts, small, like a tasting menu, whilst on Christmas day after the traditional dinner its the buch de Noël , although I confess we will be going for a traditional Christmas pudding from the UK

And finally a kiss under the mistletoe! Happy Cristmas !

The Luberon Valley

Driving to Marseiile airport this morning I couldn't resist stopping to picture the mist in the valley. In the sun on our terrace it was 13 degrees whilst on the road between Joucas and Gordes just 3degrees. 

December morning

A beautiful morning in Provence just 3 days before Christmas 

It's beginning to feel like Christmas!

Despite clear skies and unseasonal warm sunshine the decorations are up in the village

 

Lunch on a winters day

Autumn has been a tad gloomy in Provence this year with frequent rainy days and unusually mild temperatures. We have missed the normal cold crisp days and blue skies.

But with such fine restaurants as Le Bistrot de Lagarde open there are worse ways to cheer one self up and meet friends!

Low clouds linger in the valley whilst the Lavender looks quite different to its summer spectacle.

Exquisitely executed food is served here, the mixed entrees are a great way to start, then we had balls stuffed with banon goats cheese served on a lovely salad, followed by this excellent dish of prime cod served with a carrot risotto, ginger and foam.

Le Bistrot de Lagarde won a well deserved Michelin star this year, the couple who run it, 

Lloyd Tropeano and his wife Laetitia are passionate about the food and service. 

A simple yet tasty dessert of rhubarb tart.

The lunch menu starts at 23€ for three courses or there is the a la carte starting at 38€. Excellent local wines from chateau Eydin start at 9€ for a half litre pichet.

The restaurant will be closed from 14th december until mid March for a well earned break, make sure you book in advance for next year!

What ever the weather you`ll be smiling when you experience the food, value and service at Le  bistrot de lagarde