French la Vie

 

 

Our friends Camy and John, who we met years ago through blogging, decided that when they retired they were moving to France, and they did this year. They sold their home and possessions in Colorado for a place in Provence.

 

After the brocante they invited us for a very late lunch, which equalled to a very early dinner, what is that American saying two birds with one stone? 

Camy said that since John retired he has allowed his passion for cooking to take over the kitchen. I imaged French Husband taking over the kitchen… Pasta with butter, rice with onions, or baguette with camembert… yes it could be worse, but it could be better. 

Apple, radish, and fennel salad recipe can be found here:

Tasting Table

 

 

 

 

 

 

As John cooked and Camy served the delicious apero, I had a flashback to when I first arrived in France, Yann and I went out to dinner, when the waiter came to take our order…

Pretending I knew how to speak French I blurted that I did not eat meat, and could he suggest something for us. Beaming with pride that my broken, heavily accented French had caused the waiter's left side of his mouth to turn up, I thought he smiled and waited for his response. Instead he simply clicked his heels and said, "Alors?"

French Husband leaned across the table, grabbed my hand as if the moment were intimate and holy, I felt a rush inside… but my bubble burst when he said, "Corey, you told the waiter, that you do not eat food."

Moving to France as French Husband's bride was not easy for me, Camy and John seem to have slipped right in with such grace, I admire that about them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Camy set the table with some of her brocante finds:

Bistro wine glasses,

a confiture jar repurposed as a candle holder,

and recently they started collecting antique silverware.

 

Friends, food, and brocante.

Yum.

 

 

 

 

 

The first words one usually learns within the first breath in a foreign country have to do with food, and since France is known for good food the words are endless and delicious.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fresh goat cheese "bouchons":

Thyme,

Piment,

Poivre

and

Curry.

 

 

 

 

Grilled vegetables with fish and artichokes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you Camy and John, it was a lovely late lunch-early dinner.

xxx