Provence from Fayence outwards

Baguette recipe

Fraise brings my attention to this classy recipe for baguettes: Moukraines à la glaviouse. I am sure that moukraines are popular with the Monsois, my locals.

Cassoulet recipe for 100

A few friends drop by unexpectedly and suddenly you find yourself cooking for 100. Holy moly! How about whipping up a quick cassoulet? Just add 6 ducks, 3 bottles of dry white wine, 2 geese, 3 legs of lamb etc. etc.

Read how to sling that 100-person cassoulet together on CD Kitchen: "just whip one up". I guess a large vat will come in handy, but it just says two large pots.

Paintings of Provence

If you're in Montreal, you might take a look at a gallery of paintings of Provence at this exhibition "Right under the Sun: Landscape in Provence, from Classicism to Modernism (1750-1930)," Sept. 22, 2005-Jan. 8, 2006, at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.

I liked Cezanne's "Houses in Provence" and Monet's "Antibes", which I sneakily link to here. Plus, if you follow the link, there's lots of commentary if you like a bit of analysis.

Holiday reads

The official Time Magazine Top 100 novels of all time list. Read them all on your next holiday in Provence. (OK - the link is tenuous).

Mons en Provence vs. Lanarkshire

I have got it all wrong. Instead of opting for a charrming, rural Mas in Mons-en-Provence, I should have invested in Lanarkshire (somewhere in Scotland for non-British readers), according to the Daily Record. Because of a 36% house price hike, "the massive increases mean the Lanarkshire town is rivalling places such as the Cote D'Azur in France as THE place to live." Except the sun. And the scent of lavender. And all the other things that Provence has to offer.

I am really not going to argue.

Oustau de Baumaniere

Two star Michelin chef Jean-Andre Charial from the highly successful Oustau de Baumaniere has been fined for selling a blend of cheap Spanish olive oil and lamp oil under a label claiming the mixture came from a famous olive-growing region in France.

I have always been suspicious of the old horse/cow switch, myself.

Grand Hotel du Cap-Ferrat

Michael Winner at large in Cap-Ferrat, blowing £1,774.65 in the Grand, polishing off his meal "with a perfectly textured passion fruit soufflé."

I am saving hard.

Peille - village perché

Found this photo chez Gem, with the commentary:

"We climbed all the way to the top, and didn't meet anyone on the way. We were very surprised not to see any stores; no boulangerie, no restaurant, nothing but a closed-for-the-season inn. On the other hand, we did see lots and lots of cats. "

Better inland than on the coast, any day.

Divorce in Provence

From the Times Online:

Jane Greenwood, an artist, moved to Montcuq from the Côte d’Azur a year and a half ago. “I left my husband,” she confides. “And the removal man told me that all the women that leave their husbands in Provence end up in the Lot. I thought I may as well try it.” Greenwood had spent seven years in a village between Cannes and Grasse. “It was just getting wrecked (by development),” she adds. “The fabulous light that all the artists went there for is still there, but Arcadia it is not.”

Beware, women, of leaving your men - it could all end horribly wrong in the Lot!

A Good Year by Peter Mayle

I am reading the flimsy tome "A good year" by Peter Mayle at present. It's about a city clicker who gets sacked but miraculously inherits a run-down bastice avec vineyard. I purchased it along with Tender is the Night (set on the Riviera) for my summer reading (yes, I am way behind). I am jealous because it's all a bit trivial, following the incredibly popular "year in provence" format. And it's just over 200 double-spaced pages.

What's more, Ridley (Alien and Gladiator) is turning it into a movie starring big, strong Russell Crowe shot near my friend Clifford's house, or so he claims. I can't wait to hear Monsieur Crowe's french.

Recently, I have discovered 73 year old Mary (Murph) who is running a weblog which keeps us uptodate with the whole movie and its production. She's a huuuuge Crowe fan. Good for you, Mary.

Saddam's provence villas

I had no idea Saddam had a brace of big showy villas in Provence: one in Cannes (worth £8m) and one apparently delapidating away in Grasse. All that remains in Cannes is a gold four-poster bed and gold bathroom taps. Iraq wants 'em back. We say, sell them to the Russians, like the Chateau de Croe (gone to Mr. Abramovich).

Tortoise Creek

I am so excited: my first podcast about Provence. It's from San Francisco and it's all about - guess what - a vineyard in Languedoc (West Provence <g>) called, fabulously, Tortoise Creek. The man in the podcast uses all those exquisite wine guru words like "tar notes", "cherry tobacco" and pronounces Syrah "sirraaaah".

Tortoise Creek is also run by Brits - Janie and Mel Master - who learned their trade in Sonoma, before setting up Tortoise Creek.

I am now gagging to buy their wines.

Mesclun

I could have sworn mesclun was just a jumble of mixed salad leaves. I'm very partial to picking up a bag or two at the market in Fayence on saturday mornings, stuffed into a recycled red-and-white striped bag. Doused with (for an easy cheat) ready-made vinaigrette. Now, I am embarrassed to discover that Kiwis have rumbled the hard facts:

Mesclun or "salade de mesclun" comes from the old Provencal verb to mix. Mesclun traditionally consisted of a freshly picked selection of baby green leaves from the kitchen garden and wild greens harvested from the fields.

While mesclun is characterised by using baby greens, it the the tangy taste of peppery and bitter plants that gives it a special piquancy."

I got it all mixed up.

Noreva anti-wrinkle jam

I received a lot of enquiries about Noreva's Norelift anti-wrinkle jam resulting from a previous post which covered the alleged Provence company's amazingage-defying jam (e.g. Telegraph article). So, I decided to track it down, as a labour of love (not that I have a direct need myself). It proved incredibly difficult. Numerous searches later, I unearthed a French review of Noreva Norelift. The cross-sell refers another product altogether. Winos and Foodies comment trail reveals disappointed seekers for Noreva's cosmetic nectar: I picture time eroding their faces as they scour the globe for the marmalade. I sense an Internet spoof of epic proportions.

Then I find the company: Noreva is based in Auvergne. I find it is up for some kind of industry award - Cosmeeting.  I make contact with Noreva's product manager, Mlle. Baume, the one who said: "found that many women are fed up with popping beauty pills or capsules so we decided to come up with something new. Using a jam-like substance means we can give them the anti-wrinkle and antioxidant substances in a greater concentration." And here's the answer: "Notre produit est distribué en France et dans les réseaux des pharmacies. Vous pouvez donc vous le procurer uniquement sur le territoire français. Il n’est pas disponible sur Internet pour le moment." Aw, shucks.

Anyone in the Provence area, however, can purchase Noreva's gear at  Pharmacie Coutiere - Marmara Centre Commercial Champion 83120 Ste Maxime. I was hoping for something closer to Fayence.

Gauloises, au revoir

Gauloises are no more. They have been filtered, weeded and stubbed out. Gone in a puff of smoke. Even the website is "est momentanément indisponible." I was moved to tears by Jonathan Maslow's elegy for the cigarette. Having given up on at least four occasions, I was tempted back at least by the distinctive, dark, stubby things. I even had the T-shirt.

Join my "save the Gitanes" campaign.

French Riviera

Found this photo on a website whose only purpose is to attract search engine traffic. What most people have to failed to realise is just how quickly the mountains begin behind Cannes and Nice, and yet, like leeches, they all cling to those crowded beaches.

Provence Rouge

Folk from Boston are salivating at Provence reds: "Only about 16% of Provencal wines are red, and they are among the most flavorful and reasonable of the French wines, selling for $10 to $25. Curiously, considering the ripeness and intensity the area's climate gives the grapes, most are light enough to match well with grilled fish, meats, and tomato-based fish stews." Pheeew. That's a lot to pay, methinks.

Tomatoes and Pesto

Multi-coloured tomatoes from Mont Ventoux, courtesy Meanwhile. "Well, we have basil in the garden, some pine nuts in the cupboard and I think there is some parmesan still in the fridge. I'll see what I can knock up."

Truffle price shocker

Just the 1,000 Euros then per kilo for Provence's black diamonds. Locals blame the weather, says the Telegraph. "It did not rain from late April until now and the Mistral wind was very strong, which dried out the soil even more." And then there's the cheap, tasteless imports.

What's worse is that none will be left for Christmas: "Qu'ils mangent du foie gras."

Matisse

Matisse makes it big in Latvia. Love the potted history. "Matisse’s celebration of bright colors reached its peak in 1917 when he began to spend time on the French Riviera." Me, I like bright colours too.