We bailed reasonably early this morning, we were taking JC to the Saturday markets in Beaune. My second visit has confirmed that these markets are my favourite in the world, I just love them, JC thought they were pretty special tool. We wandered the aisles together, I am the up and down the aisles kind of girl and JC was a little more random, we are funny creatures aren't we. JR snapped some great pics, forever memories of our time together. AJ was still snoozing back at home so I chose him a coconut flavoured lollipop from the Indian Summer Sky stall, selling the products of Provence.
JC was searching for ingredients for his special dinner of 'painted chicken', he will cook it for us tomorrow. He bought lovely petit echalot grises, a milder echalot than the ones we are used to back home. We took in the smell of ripe melons, and after consultation with the guy selling them, JC decided on the 'melon quersy' which is strong in flavour and sweet as sweet can be, it will be perfect for his salad. He walked the market imagining and creating a new vinaigrette and bought rosy pink peppercorns to add. After much discussion with Madame at the chicken stall, he settled on a plump bird and two extra thighs and legs to be put away until tomorrows dinner.
JC had given Madame at the chicken shop my mobile number as he was asking about ordering a butchers block, not long after we left her, my phone rang, "Come back to the shop", she said, "You have left your chicken feet behind". So we did.
We came home armed with warm, crusty bread and a basket brimming with fresh ingredients. JR and JC moved the table into the garden under the shade of a tree and there we all sat, AJ had already cut a length off the fresh bread and enjoyed it with butter. I layed the tables with olives and stuffed baby peppers, artichoke creme and caviar d'aubergine. I put the washed rind cheese from the Abbaye on a plate with a wedge of comte and we were set. JC sat at the table and created his special salad from the market supplies. In it, he put lettuce, cubes of sweet melon, a scattering of pink peppercorns, finely sliced echalot, and a dressing of verjuice, olive oil, Guerande Fleur de Sel and ground pepper. It was the perfect lunch, sitting in the garden under the trees, the pool sparkled in the sunshine and we were all happy.
JR fell asleep on the grass, JC went to lie down with a book, AJ retreated to his room, I ate a few Belgian truffles before retreating to mine. Before I knew it, it was 6.30, I had slept the afternoon away.
JR fell asleep on the grass, JC went to lie down with a book, AJ retreated to his room, I ate a few Belgian truffles before retreating to mine. Before I knew it, it was 6.30, I had slept the afternoon away.
I hurried to get ready as we had a dinner reservation in the next village at 8. JR and JC took off in the car to shoot a few frames together and came back with some beauties. JR is loving having a partner in crime for his photography and I am loving having a fellow foodie around, it is great.
Dinner at La Garaudiere was lovely. Owned by M. et Mme Guillemenot, they specialise in 'cuisson a la braise', a big indoor, wood fired BBQ grill which was a great focal point in the timber beamed diningroom. I enjoyed a salade fermiere, a farmers salad, loaded with lardons and crowned with a perfectly poached egg. My main course was beef cheek, slowly cooked in red wine with baby onions. The beef cheek was missing its usual gelatanous properties, it was a little solid rather than fork tender but came with deep well developed flavours, all that was needed was a little sprinkle of salt. My creme brulee came with a delicate vanilla undertone and was smooth as smooth can be.
