Summer Reds

An ode to the end of summer.

Des Steaks

My kiwi mates would've been shocked at the lack of sophistication in this mini bbq for 2 but the steaks were perfect.

Oh and I can't take credit for cooking the galette in the last post - only for the shot!

La Complète

The Overlander

A short piece about The Overlander train journey I took while back in New Zealand is over on the Kinfolk journal.

Les Fruits de Mer

Back from New Zealand at the weekend it seemed a good way to counter my wish to be back in a kiwi summer, by having a seafood lunch at Les Halles in Sète.
The crumbed oysters were delicous & the tiny glasses of white wine just enough for soothing a jetlagged head.

A shaky start to 2012

I love the way Christmas is extended well into January here in France. I'm not going to be here for the galettes at epiphany this year but I am going to be enjoying the kiwi summer in New Zealand for a few weeks.

I'm flying out to visit family & friends in a few days time & will be spending time in Christchurch. This city has been through so much last year after the devastating February earthquake and the literally thousands of aftershocks throughout the rest of 2010. They had another couple of big shocks just before Christmas, resulting in a very shaky New Year. I hope that 2012 brings better times for the city.

Le Bouchon

It was thanks to this post by Molly, that we had one of the most memorable meals in a long time on a recent trip to Lyon.

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BBQ for 2

I've been looking back through my films from the summer & found these shots from an evening in the Aveyron.

Brunswick House Café

Brunswick House Cafe is an 18th century mansion sandwiched between all the horrible new apartment developments along the river at Vauhall Bridge. It's a gem and completely unique.
You can read the Time Out review here.
I hadn't realised how much I'd missed eating these little Portuguese custard tarts in the second to last shot. I used to have them regularly while living in South London as it's an area with a big Portuguese community.

Sicilian Granita

Limone

Mandorla - made from almonds.

A killer choccolatta granita.

Limone with flecks of lemon rind.

Pistachio and mandorla- a favourite with the locals.

Gelsi - a blackcurrant flavoured granita.


We were told to try granitas made from local Catanian flavours.
So there was a lot of limone sampling, much pistachio, a fair amount of mandorla and sadly, only one taste of gelsi.

a glass of sicilian sunshine

Oranges from the property we were staying at, freshly squeezed by hand + pastries from Roberto's*, equals a pretty perfect summer breakfast.

* post about Roberto to follow.

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