Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

,

Du Pain sur la Planche

  Du Pain sur la Planche

 

When you come to Provence to visit, we will taste our way through the countryside.

We will do breakfast at a cafe,

lunch at a bistro,

tea at a salon du the,

an aperitif at a bar,

dinner at a typical French restaurant, and if you have room…

we will have dessert too.

I will translate the menu if you do not read French. Though I must tell you I will translate meat dishes as: cow, pig, duck, horse… Cote du Boeuf: is a side of cow, okay?

But when it comes to the desserts, you will lick my face with happiness, even if I do not share. I will translate each dessert down to the speck of sugar detail.

You will have lavender creme brulee and I will have tarte tatin with vanilla bean ice cream.

 

 

Lucy and sandra

 

When you come to France please wear elastic band pants. Be prepared to walk, talk, and eat.

"Eat! No, do not say that… do not say, eat to describe dining. Say: Dine." French Husband corrects me, and adds, "And the brocante?"

"And we will go to the brocante after we pig out." I add with my lovely twang.

 

 

 

French restaurant lunch

 

 

Because as much as I love the brocante, I love to do the food thing more, can you believe that?

We will go to the grocery store, the bakery, and the market…

And at the brocante we will buy dishes, linen napkins, silverware and glasses.

 

Lunch italian in france

When you come to visit me in Provence please bring:

Maple syrup, Johnson's baby powder, and Burt Bee's lip gloss.

I thought I might as well throw that in.

When you come to France what do you want to taste first?

 

 

Note:

Mary, Lucy, Sandra and I had olives, cheese, bread and wine for dinner, because we had lunch at "Du Pain sur la Planche" and honestly, we were happily, deliciously stuffed. You might say….We had alot on our plate.

 

Comments

40 responses to “Du Pain sur la Planche”

  1. Kiki

    love it, love it, love it…..
    There is only ONE everlasting mystery in all this; just HOW can the French stay so slim and lean with all that delicious food??? I yesterday had to do some very taxing shopping (Leroy Merlin not that you think it was Gallerie Lafayette….) and by 1.30 I was so ‘dead’ that I fell into a comfy chair at their restaurant and had ‘just’ the ‘plate of the day’ – I can honestly tell you if they had forgotten the course, I would have been dying happily just with their crusty, wonderful, fresh and slightly warm bread they served before the gratin au saumon arrived!!! I literally stuffed myself with it…. Delirious food!!!!
    Thank you Corey, for making me smile(and hungry!!! At 10.30 in the morning)

    Reply
  2. Katiebell

    Oh Corey, and Yann,
    I cant wait to visit oneday. I will want to have a hot chocolate in a breakfast bowl, (as I have just had here actually) with a croissant to dip in it!
    I will bring you something 🙂
    Katiebell x

    Reply
  3. Karen at Pas Grand-Chose

    Food poetry for the soul! And I’m happy to read that you’ve squeezed in some brocantes between eating, ‘cos that hopefully means some things will find their way into your shop soon! :))

    Reply
  4. mopsy

    that Italian lunch thingy looked great…please tell us what it was made of…like to have it tonight during our SNOW (again) storm thanks

    Reply
  5. Everton Terrace

    I want to try dessert first. What pure luxury it would be to be roaming France with you as an interpreter and guide – seriously I think I’m putting that on my bucket list! Cheese bread and wine for dinner sound about perfect to me.

    Reply
  6. Paulita

    My friend Noreen says she has never visited a place for the food. She has never been to France.

    Reply
  7. Sissy

    How funny Corey that you asked for things from America! When we lived in the Netherlands,we asked for visitors to bring us miracle whip,SOFT toilet paper and Ziploc freezer bags.
    I do not understand how French women stay so thin with all that delicious food. My French friends tell me it is because they don’t eat in between meals.
    I will definitely bring you what you asked for!

    Reply
  8. Jackie

    I am so excited! How does April sound? Late April…or the first week of May???
    jackie
    bliss farm antiques

    Reply
  9. marlis

    When I come, I’ll bring your list! What is the first item on my list.. pate de fois gras, escargots avec un baguette, carambars(if they still make those) and violettes pastilles.

    Reply
  10. Debra

    C, I let myself dream for a second that you were only talking to me . . .and, that we were planning my trip. All things I want to do; cafes, brocante, patisserie, boulangerie with your wise knowledge by my side.
    I will bring your requested items; and, I think the first thing I would want would be a glass of champagne to toast your gracious hospitality!

    Reply
  11. Lisa

    You might want to spruce up your guest room because at least 1/2 of your readers are looking at flights now 🙂 When I come to visit you: I will bring you your list, I will wear my stretchy pants, and the first thing I want to eat is a fresh baked, still warm from the boulangerie oven baguette!
    Guess who just decided to bake bread today? Thanks to you I will need to wear my stretchy pants today! 😉

    Reply
  12. Janell West

    Corey,
    Your description of dinner made me smile in memory at the many times my Greek grandfather made a meal of Feta Cheese. And Kalamata Olives drizzled with olive oil. I don’t remember him using a fork — instead he scooped up bites with a large hunk of French bread — which was torn rather than sliced.
    Simple and delicious — the food and the memory.
    Today I go to the dry-cleaners to meet the old man who once knew my grandfather. The thought of our meeting excites me as much as someday visiting Provence.
    Janell

    Reply
  13. Star

    Oh this sounds delightful! The bread there sounds so good that I think I could get along with bread and butter the whole time I was there (until you distract me with dessert…and then I’m lost to the sweets). Mmmmmm.

    Reply
  14. Jillayne

    Corey, Corey – don’t forget we come with suitcases onlly half full – that is a small list! The first thing I would want is wine and cheese and bread.
    Your friends look like they are having a marvellous time!

    Reply
  15. Patt

    And don’t forget the tortillia’s

    Reply
  16. Hillary

    Oh how i would love to come and eat with you for a whole week. One day I will come see you and get fat!!! It will be so much fun!!
    Now I will be good and go eat some cottage cheese but dream of french menus!

    Reply
  17. Marilyn

    We must have driven right by this restaurant and didn’t know to stop. Sniff! Love baguettes, croissants, and macarons. I would be so happy to come again and bring the things on your list.

    Reply
  18. LaurieSF

    Taste first? Black truffles..

    Reply
  19. Paula S In New Mexico

    My first taste would be of a glorious glass of wine!
    I’d bring your list, plus tortillas (corn and flour) and chocolate chips.

    Reply
  20. Jenny N

    Greedily and happily i say “I want to taste it all” ….Provence as you describe and share it is simply a feast for the senses. This is so fun. My only question: What to bring your dear FH?

    Reply
  21. Jenna

    I want to taste the food first, then the drinks. Enjoy your holiday ladies.

    Reply
  22. Chris Wittmann

    What I love about the French is how they make a celebration of food and truly take time to enjoy it. I cannot even imagine stopping at so many different places to partake of so many different meals! Sounds heavenly, and all great food too, not junk. I’m afraid if I ever was to visit France I’d be eating my way around the country!

    Reply
  23. Kathie B

    You realize some of us are liable to show up someday, don’t you? Especially because pure maple syrup is produced right here in SW Pennsylvania, just two counties away from where we live 😉

    Reply
  24. Kathie B

    Oh, and nowadays there are four non-stop flights a week between PIT and CDG. Sure hope my abstract for that Paris conference is accepted…

    Reply
  25. Cheryl ~ Casual Cottage Chic

    Any and all the pastries!! Yummy 😉 Pastries for breakfast, lunch, with tea in the afternoon and again after dinner. Oh, and lots of fresh bread! Oink, oink…lol!

    Reply
  26. pattyg

    What a sweet post!Irresistable the thought of all that fun and spontaneity with a wonderful guide!

    Reply
  27. Elaine L.

    I would be happy to try any recommendations. When I visited France, on a tour, it was so rushed that I had to make the choice between eating and seeing. The seeing won out, so I can’t say that I truly had the opportunity to savor the food.
    I would love to visit you one day!
    ~elaine~

    Reply
  28. Rita Darnell

    i will probably never make it to france. i will however ship all the maple syrup, baby powder and burt’s bee’s lip gloss you want. just say the word. such a small request from a girl so far from home. :♥)

    Reply
  29. Danna

    Oh….I’m so jealous!! Du Pain sur la Planche is one of our favorite restaurants in all of France…..and we adore Jean Louis and his beautiful daughter! I get the assiette royan almost every time!!! When our boys were at the college in Coustellet we ate there twice a week. Next time you go, please tell him that Danna and Brian from Texas send their best.

    Reply
  30. Joanny

    Oh how simply divine! I don’t eat cow, or duck, or swine, but do love the sweet taste of the fruit of the earth baked in a Tarte Tatin upside down.
    lovely,
    joanny

    Reply
  31. Picnics in Provence

    I am lucky enough to have a business taking small, luxurious gourmet food and wine tours to Provence 4 or 5 times per year and I always pack my stretchy pants! I’ts ALL about tasting our way through the countryside, the wines, the cheeses – right now I would kill for a chilled glass of Domaine du Mourchon rose, some olives from Nyons and some fresh Brebis or Epoisses – a bit hard to find in Australia!. The patisserie, I love creme brulee a la lavande, tomatoes plucked warm from the vine with fleur du sel, basil flowers and organic basil flower oil. Have you ever tried white peaches with a sprinkling of fleur du sel, olive oil and a splash of Poire Willem! Simply divine. I could go on…….and on……..and on………

    Reply
  32. Paula

    I am just a simple girl at heart and love the French butter, so butter, bread and cheese for me please, oh and a salad, they tast so different in France. Maple syrup, johnstns baby powder and burt’s bees lip gloss bought, but Corey you did’t say when I should visit! Are you free in March? 🙂

    Reply
  33. Kelly

    So cute! I love this post. I love food, too!
    Your husband’s correction is awesome.
    The french are so romantic with their words.

    Reply
  34. Melisa Green

    Corey, I would love to send you something that I believe is even better than Burt’s Bees! How would I do that?
    Have a beautiful day – you make me miss France so much!

    Reply
  35. Michelle M in KY

    Dear Corey…
    I would love to come to France and visit…even dream about it. Antiquing (the brocante) is so my thing. We have a small antiques store here in Kentucky and love to attend all of the shows during the Fall, Spring and Summer months. There are no shows in the Winter for they say it’s too cold. I say, wear more clothes. I’m dreaming that when I am able to come to France…that you will still be willing to have me and explain the menu, translate the dialogue, and maybe even wipe the drool off of my chin. Thinking of it is such a great daydream. Right now though, I must concentrate of my five year old finishing Kindergarten and finish preparing my now four year old twins to enter Pre-school. so, it may be awhile…I hope the invite will always be there for I will have suitcases of Johnson’s Baby Powder and Burt’s Bee’s by the tub for you. By the way…now I’m hungry!

    Reply
  36. Brenda

    Whew! If I was not already stuffed with pasta tonight, I would be drooling!
    Your wonderful post makes me want to pack my suitcases within suitcases and come visit! You sound like the perfect host! Whatever you would like from here, just say the word and it shall be done!
    Brenda @ Kindred Hearts

    Reply
  37. LIz

    Maple syrup and wild rice. These were my host gifts when traveling in France. Hadn’t thought about Burt’s Bees lip gloss…which I’m addicted to…have about 10 tubes stashed around.

    Reply
  38. Sharon Penney-Morrison

    Bread, Olive, Tomato’s, Cheese….and good wine. The only way to eat in France.

    Reply
  39. Franca Bollo

    Just plant Franca face down in a place of profiteroles. Squizizito!

    Reply
  40. tinnitus treatment

    I need to demonstrate my appreciation of your producing skill and also capacity to make viewer, browse the whole issue on the end. I?¡¥d want to read much more of your respective blogs and also to create about my opinions with you.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions