Tag: Food

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Le Chaudron

Le Chaudron in Cassis

Translated, Le Chaudron means The Cauldron. I didn’t see any large, metal pot with a lid, but no worries. The food is tasty, no matter how it was cooked. And, with its open kitchen, maybe you can see the chef use one of those large, metal pots.

This is home cooking in a small bistro. Located on a side street, away from the main harbor area and the port, we sat and relaxed with a glass of wine as we decided what to eat.

After watching plates of food make their way to other diners, we made our choices. And, we weren’t disappointed. My husband’s fish was fresh and cooked to perfection…meaning it fell off the bones with just a little help. My first course of the chef’s special onion tart, squash terrine, and lightly dressed frisee salad almost filled me up. Almost.

Savory, tender pieces of chicken in a spicy, whole grain mustard and peppercorn sauce followed. Again, almost filled up. Until I remembered dessert came with my three-course meal.

Mango mousse on top of a crispy, shortbread crust filled in all the spots I had left. Nicely…very nicely.

French Rose from a nearby wine area known for its Roses accompanied every bite. It didn’t overpower anything. Yet, it stood up to all the tastes we had. A wonderful combination that I’ll try to recreate at home.

Wish me luck.

If You Go: Le Chaudron is located at 4 Rue Aldophe Thiers, 13260 Cassis, France. Reservations are suggested.

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We Found a Gem of a Place in France…Agay

At first glance, Agay, France could be a beach town in any number of countries.

There’s a mostly sandy beach dotted with beach towels, sun worshippers, and kids playing in the sand and water. Bright sun bounces off the clear blue water, creating a backdrop worthy of a postcard. Simple, fishing boats vie with yachts bobbing in the harbor of this sheltered natural bay.

Here’s where you know you’re not just at any beach. Dark red cliffs of the Massif de l’Esterel rise up out of the water, making the sand an interesting shade of red.

Water so clear and blue, this might give you a clue where you are. They don’t call it Cote d’Azur for no reason. This coastal resort is between Saint-Raphael and Theoule-sur-Mer. Cannes is not far away. Now, you get the picture. This is the south of France.

Village shops, cafes, restaurants, and water sports rentals line the street. This is a much smaller, quieter beach resort than its more famous neighbors up and down the coast.

Slightly off the beach is a restaurant I would recommend for lunch, dinner, drinks, dessert…or all of the above. Restaurant La Galere is worth looking for. Locals and visitors both love it here. You’ll find plenty of locals eating here. Always a good sign.

Just outside of Agay is a WWII Memorial to US soldiers involved in the defense of this part of France. Operation Dragoon is part of the forgotten invasion of Southern France. More about that in another review…

Why come to this small town along the famous coast? For starters, views here are just as magnificent as anywhere along the coast. Maybe better… For another reason, there aren’t as many tourists. Photo ops…they’re everywhere you turn. Seduction…this village will entice you to return.

Agay, France…you just have to experience it. Don’t forget to indulge at Le Galere. Trust me, it’s worth it.

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I’m Sharing A Secret

French Oven and Bakery

Some secrets are worth sharing. When we discovered this little slice of France right here in our own backyard…we decided we had to share.

delicious sandwich…turkey, avacado, tomato, baguette

The owner and chef, Yves Fournier, and his wife, Susie, grew up in a small village at the base of the French Alps. His love of baking is evident as you eat his pastries and listen to him talk about what he’s making. He told us he learned the ins and outs of pastry making from his father, who learned it from his father and grandfather. No wonder everything tastes so authentic.

A little background…Chef Yves came to San Diego as a pastry chef for the Le Meridien Hotel in 1992, worked for several 5-star hotels, and was the Executive Baking and Pastry Chef instructor for the San Diego Culinary Institute.

When he started a small pop-up out of his home, neighbors and friends encouraged him to open a bakery.

We are glad he did.

Everything looks so good. Better than than…it all tastes better than it looks.

One bite of an almond croissant, with just the right among of toasted almond slices and powdered sugar, beg to be devoured. Beignets practically melt in your mouth. Savory quiches are light, yet filling. And, the lemon tarts just have to be sampled.

Trust us when we say this secret spot needs to be checked out. You’ll thank us.

If You Go: French Oven is located at 10299 Scripps Ranch Trail, Suite E, San Diego.

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Wine Walk Through the Village…What’s Not to Love?

 

When staying in the Languedoc Roussillon area of France, and our host suggested we might like a ‘wine walk through a village’, we readily agreed. What foodie and wine lover wouldn’t like to have the opportunity to taste some of the 30 or 40 local wines, sample gourmet food prepared by an excellent chef, visit with wine makers and growers throughout the day, and experience a beautiful natural park near the village?

Sign us up…

Nestled between scrubland, ponds, and hills, the village of Peyriac de Mer sits on a diversity of soils, including limestone, chalk, and gravel. Combine those soils with the variety of microclimates found here and you have the perfect combination for enhancing the character of different grapes. Hence, producing exceptional wines.

So far, sounds amazing…

Ready for our wine tasting and gastronomic walk, we bundled up and headed off to meet our host. Since a pesky cold front was hanging around, we wore layers. I do mean layers. As we headed out onto a dock along the edge of the lake, the wind whipped up white caps and threatened to knock us into the choppy, gray water.

Quickly, we realized we were not walking through the delightful village, but up and around the lake, past an old, working salt flat, across a high ridge where the views of the Mediterranean were fantastic, and through the Nature Park. Walking shoes would have been appropriate for the six plus kilometer journey that took us up over 300 meters from where we started. The village…that’s where we ended.

What did we get into?

Another reason the wines here are special, is the wind. It contributes to soil ventilation, thus improving the quality of the wines. All well and good, unless you’re trying to walk along the top of the ridge as the wind is determined to blow you into one of the lakes below. I’m quite sure it could have blown me off the top and into the Mediterranean had I not been hanging on to my husband.

So, what did we think once we finished our ‘walk’ and headed into the village for coffee and sunshine?

Wines…they were fantastic. All of them. What’s not to like about a glass of Montfin Blanc from Chateau Montfin, a glass of Grenache Blanc from Chateau Fabre-Cordon, or a glass of Rose from Abbaye Sainte Eugenie? Visiting with the wine makers and growers, often the same person, made those glasses even more special. I almost hated to leave one wine stop and hike to the next one. Until I tasted the next group of wines, that is.

Food…also fantastic. Who wouldn’t want a piece of fresh, crusty bread with perfectly sliced beef carpaccio, copeaux or shavings of semi-soft goat cheese, and rosemary sprigs to pair with your glass of Carignena? Next stop, salmon gravelax, sprinkled with petit peas, and a dollop of lemon cream, and our choice of Grenache Blanc or Vent Marin Blanc. Of course the epaule or shoulder of lamb with sprigs of thyme, olive oil, and petardon peas was perfect with my glass of Mire la Mer. When we made it to the dessert stop, we were ready to be on flat ground again as we ate our crème caramel with candied oranges, beurre sale, and almonds. Paired with either a sweeter Musc’ito or a Banyuls Ame de pierre, a blend of Grenache, Grenache Blanc, and Grenache Gris made us smile as we headed to the village. We were in Heaven…and full.

The walk…incredible views, friendly people, knowledgeable wine growers, and even some hunters who offered homemade salami and saucisse. Yummy, beautiful, and nothing like we had ever done before.

Asked by our host if we would do this again…even with the weather, terrain, and wind as challenges. Absolutely. Why would we complain about being in the wonderful French countryside, eating delicious food, and drinking amazing wines?

After all, this was not any ordinary ‘wine walk’…it was so much better.