Time does fly... it's "Noël en Provence" once more!

We are getting close to Christmas at full speed..... but hold on, not so fast, let's slow down and take a few moments to enjoy the magic of a Provençal Christmas first. This will be our third celebration of one of the most original and inspiring version of the day (the night rather).  On Thursday the 8th of December in the beautiful setting of Cook's Barn we shall enjoy once more the stories, the carols, the little Santons, the famous desserts and other culinary specialties that make Christmas so different and so special in Provence.  The evening is already booked by a number of participants but I am sure we can accommodate a couple more people.  What better way to practise your French than spend the evening in our company, discover the beauty of the Provence landscapes in winter, the traditional local tales, the Provençal culture through literature and films.  There will be music and cookery demonstrations as well as "blind" tastings.  The meal will include a "Salade de Noël" followed by "Filets de rougets à la tapenade et au confit de tomates" along the traditional Christmas "Gratin de cardes".  The 13 desserts will be shared and wishes made by all.  There will lots of Provençal wine to go with it.

This will be our last workshop this year and Christine and I will make it very special. The topic will make it very "Christmassy" and very French! Our way of saying thank you to you all for following "The Way To France" this year and wishing you a very Joyeux Noël! Moreover our friend Thirza Vallois will be visiting us on the night and that should prove to be a real treat too. Not only is she renowned for her books on Paris but her knowledge of France in general and Provence in particular will be a real asset to this workshop.
Hurry and book for the last places left.  Looking forward to welcoming you there!Look forward to 2012... we will be offering new workshops, including some more orientated towards language practise and some taking place on Saturdays.
Keep an eye on the the calendar!

We discovered the region of the French Alps and much more …

 

What an enjoyable night that was for our group of fourteen participants last Thursday! We first set our eyes on the stunning views of and from the Mont Blanc, the Alpine lakes and rocky needles around it which make the Alps region so attractive to millions of tourists. We admired the wintry snowy slopes as well as the luscious green meadows of the present times and realised how beautiful the Alps are in all seasons.  

One can only imagine the first visitors in the XIXth century stumbling over the ice in long dresses and straw hats. The first rock climbers and budding alpinists were English for the great majority.  We also discovered the history of the oldest European dynasty: the Duchy of Savoy.  This part of France only became French in 1860! There was a mention of Eugène Labiche’s beloved comedy recounting the adventures of Monsieur Perrichon in Chamonix at La belle Époque, the legend of the imaginary “dahu", that mountaineering version of the Loch Ness Monster and other equally interesting Savoyard stories.   

To get into the spirit of things our group sang the traditional “Vieux chalet” and Line Renaud’s unforgettable “Etoile des neiges” and prior to moving into the gastronomic part of the evening we learnt more about the first alpinists who conquered so many summits, giving their name to a pass or peak such as the great alpinist George Mallory or James Eccles.  George Mallory who disappeared in the Himalayas in 1924 replied famously to the journalist asking him why he wanted to climb Mount Everest  "because it is there". Like a number of these famous figures he had studied locally at Magdelene College.   So has Geoffrey Winthrop Young who practised rock climbing on the walls of Cambridge Colleges first and wrote a humorous guide “The Roof Climbers Guide to Trinity" (1899) and of course Sir John Ruskin whose name can be read on a medalion fixed to the rock where he used to sit in Chamonix to admire the Alps in between serious explorations: "La pierre à Ruskin".  An article by Cynthia Gamble on John Ruskin and Viollet-le-Duc  makes a very interesting reading about the man and his passion for the Alps.  

Last but not least the study of the recipes for the evening enabled us to learn not only how to serve the Raclette or make a Tarte aux myrtilles but the true meaning of "Occupez vous de vos oignons" or most importantly "ne mélangez pas les torchons avec les serviettes" which is commonly used in conversation outside the kitchen.   

As always, the meal that followed was quite memorable as a dozen bottles of champagne miraculously appeared on the table to celebrate someone's special bithday.  Note that this won't happen again unless you insist!!!  Cook's Barn, as always was actually the perfect venue for such an occasion I must say. Situated on the old Newmarket Road parallel to the A14, it is within a few minutes from Cambridge. So there's an idea for you...  

Now, if you wish to join one of these exciting evenings make sure you book a space well in advance.  "Noël en Provence" on December 8th is proving to be quite popular but we still have a few places to offer.   Keep an eye on The Way To France calendar... Looking forward to welcoming you soon!