the early hours of the morning

The early hours of the morning

The French call them, Le petit matin Jose told me this with reference to the moisture forming on the inside of her tent when outside is colder than inside. What a great camper she is, though we do have her mattress from home in the camper plus her double thick duvet plus 3 cushions and 2 hold all bags. I love her for it. On arrival at the camp out comes the tent, and then in goes all the material to create her boudoir, as Annie would say brilliant

It is all going well, I love driving Gypsy woman. We roll through the wonderful French countryside with my 2 navigators. Tom Tom known as Auntie has different ideas to Jose so now and again Auntie gets a bit obstreperous.  She does speak English, pretty awful pronunciation in French for the place names (like me) but she will not convert to Kilometres. Can anyone help me on this please? Jose has found some wonderful of the beaten track stopping places, she has got me onto small roads climbing up to wonderful views really great, Gypsy women can do it all. So Far  

 Further Patty’s wagon alias Gypsy woman has still only cold water, up to now we have stayed on camping sites so that is okay. We stopped at 2 France Passion places but moved on. One was the parking place of the Cave from Monsieur Tissot . The other very nice in a sweet village but no one was around and we where in a sort of small field no vines to be seen. We felt we could not just plonk ourselves down. Next time we will. As yet not my dream camping does it exist.

Yes Joses house so in Nature, so peaceful, so away from everything, no wonder she loves it.

She sms me today she took 2.15 hours to mow the lawn. Quilt! I should have helped her.

 It may be difficult for me on my own to stop where there is no one, though I do love the idea. The campings are okay but not what my dream was/is. Now I am going to look for farm campings may a bit more in the country. The last one we passed had wigwams etc. I must get the feel of the right place to be.

We decide unanimously to drive back to a lovely place by the river in Quingley which we had passed on our way to Arbois so we where so where quite happy

We where on a culinary tour so we lunched at Jean Paul Jeunet 2 star Guide Michelin in Arbois, a favourite of Jose, it was delicious, quite light and modern. I can write the whole menu for you but it takes about 30 minutes. Delicious mackerel with a gelee of the local vin Jaune, not quite so nice to drink Jose calls it retsina, but she had a glass with the cheese I am BOB, so not for me. Then eggs in a sort of container from thinly sliced bread with mousserons and celery, then a delicious plate of small morsels of tete de veau and a delicious bitterballen ! Blette with a thin piece of lardo on top.

Cheese from the region. Then desert too much so we just tasted. I am still not quite a dessert person with all the bits on it.

After Arbois is was on to Vonnas with a few lovely stops on the way. We dressed ourselves up and of we went with Lady Penny in the dog buggy to a 3 star Michelin. They did not blink an eyelid, the pram was whisked away and we had drinks on the terrace, oh what an attention, discussions about the menu and a wine arrangement, you only live once and we loved every minute. I of course caused trouble, we where place in the furthermost salle, nice for lovers but not for us. So we asked to be moved YES in the middle of the restaurant. Fun to watch every one, and to save a long story short Jose and I have a photo with Monsieur George Blanc et son Fils. Why because I had a weeks stagier with George Blanc in 1983, so after Henri the beginning of my story. The food was divine, traditional but of such a quality. It was worth every moment and to share it with Jose a food lover 3 star was magnificent. It has been a long time since my last 3 star but I would say to you do it now and again. I once went to 3 star Michelins in 5 days I thought I would die too-------- much. But it was the trip of my life then just when I started LCF. What you call a speed course gourmet dining . Bocuse was one of the restaurants as was Alain Chapelle. We even danced the waltz in Bocuses special place where he collects organs and I was just 30. Littler did I know what was waiting for me .

What is that song in French I have no regrets !!!

Time to stop.

I am now alone Jose is working in her wonderful farmhouse a real second home before returning to Amsterdam, I dined with Joost last night at a 1 star Guide Michelin near Gerardmere and now Patje and Penny onwar we go ! My friends a dream is difficult to follow.  A moving second home can be exhausting.

Pat

Photos next time  when I have easy wifi. I stiil have not been able to buy a sim card for my beautiful I Pat /PAD . Help !!

Tarte au chocolat from George Blanc 

Ingredients :

125 g chocolate

100 g butter

50 g flour

150 g sugar

4 eggs

glace

100 g chocolate

80 g  cream

20 g butter

cacao

Method :

1.     Butter and flour a  18 cm  diameter moule a manqué (slooping sided cake tin ) Place a round  of greaseproof paper in the bottom of the form and grease and flour again

2.     Melt the chocolate au bain-marie (in a bowl over a pan  of hot water )with the butter

3.     Beat the eggs to a mousse like crème with the mixer

4.     Mix the sugar with the flour and stir this through the egg mixture  with the cooled melted chocolate .Pour into the mould .   

5.     Place the cake in the oven  (200°C)  and bake for 30 minutes

6.     Remove from the oven cool for a few minutes then turn out on to a cake rack

7.     Melt the chocolate for the glace with the butter au bain-marie, heat the cream and beat into the chocolate mixture

8.     Pour over the cake and using a palette knife smooth around the top and edges of the cake

9.     Make a pattern on the top of the cake with the palette knife like ripples of sand

10.  Sprinkle with cocoa if desired