"Noël en Provence" soon - two places left!

Here's what we have in store for this very special Provençal evening on December 6th: a presentation of Provence in winter, the magic of Christmas in southern climes, the history of the little “santons” and their fabrication, Provençal Christmas carols, extracts of films and literature by Marcel Pagnol as well as the study of local recipes.   There will be hands on culinary demonstration and preparation of the traditional dinner complete with the “13 desserts”.  Dinner will include: “Beaumes de Venise et canapés” as Apéritif, « Mesclun de salade aux noisettes et feuilletés de chèvre à la tapenade » for starters, « Filets de lotte et de rouget à la Provençale » as a main course served with a « Tian de légumes à la fondue d’oignons ».  We’ll serve « Les 13 desserts provençaux » for dessert of course. The wine will be « La Pierre du diable » from Côtes du Ventoux (2011).  Book today!

A touch of Provence this Christmas!

Although I do hate talking about Christmas so early I feel I have to let our friends and followers know that our next and last "French on your plate" workshop this year will take place on Thursday 6th of December and that it is already getting lots of bookings.  We have to limit numbers to a maximum fifteen, so do not miss out on this very special evening!  We plan on celebrating our traditional Provençal Christmas dinner for the fourth time in the splendid Lacanche kitchen at Cook's Barn.  Christine and I are really looking forward to sharing this event with you once more.  We will explore further the magical art and craft of "santons" making  and discover the displays of Nativity scenes all over Provence.  We will experience the very special way Christmas is celebrated there, its symbolism and culture which are so different from our Northern traditions. We will learn under Christine's expert guidance all there is to know about the preparation of the famous "Thirteen Desserts".  You will not only get a chance of enjoying a beautiful meal but practise your French in good and friendly company.  You will leave Cook's Barn with your head filled with joy and confidence and your arms with Made in Provence's goodies.

 

George Sand at Madingley…

and so were we all for the duration of a whole weekend.  We gathered in a cosy wood panelled room overlooking Madingley Hall's beautiful grounds shrouded in the autumn mist, reminiscent of a bygone time.

The setting was absolutely perfect for the theme of the weekend. The course took us back to provincial France in the middle of the XIXth century, in enchanting Nohant nestled in the heart of the  Berry where George Sand grew up, entertained the greatest of her contemporaries and where she died uttering her beautiful last words “ Laissez… verdure”.

Through photos, films, recordings of her correspondence, readings and various improvisations we managed to conjure up her presence… at least we felt, at times that we had managed to do so!  We learnt about her childhood in the Berry, her formative years in an English convent, the tragedies and the joys of a very tumultuous life, her relationship with her siblings,  her children, grandchildren, relationships with Musset, Chopin or Alexandre Manceau, her last love.
The participants were brilliant, imaginative, creative and full of mischief, but we were after all in Le Berry, the land of witchcraft and magic. So there were spooky stories in the mist and magical trees as beautiful as the ones George Sand planted to celebrate the birth of each of her children. There were lots of subtle remarks expressed, quite astute and profound analysis and criticism of her works made, comments on her lifestyle and the politics of the times.  We wrote and told stories in the style of "La mare au diable".
 
And from literary heights some switched to nonensical witticism. J. had us in stitches when she said that with a different hairstyle George Sand might have looked more beautiful and then we saw in the credits of the Saturday night film the name of her private hairdresser or was it that of the actress who played her part?   M. imagined that nowadays George Sand  would probably be staying up all night over her ipad consulting Facebook and Twitter.  What an entertaining and inspiring weekend that was! Thank you Madame George Sand!

Happy 30th Birthay to the Alliance française de Cambridge!

I had the great honour and privilege of being entrusted with the creation of a new branch of the Alliance française in Cambridge. Last Friday, October 19th 2012 the Alliance française de Cambridge celebrated 30 years of "French flavour" in the city.  As I could not attend the event in person due to the course on "George Sand" that I was leading at Madingley Hall on that night I thought I would write a letter to celebrate in my own way the happy years that I spent at its service and thank everyone who played a part in its success to this day. This will have to be in French for once.

Tout d’abord je voudrais exprimer ici mes regrets de ne pas avoir  pu être parmi les fidèles de l'Alliance française vendredi dernier pour célébrer 30 années d’amitié franco-britannique à Cambridge. Grâce à la magie de l’électronique je leur fais parvenir ces quelques lignes d’amitié et d’encouragement.   L’Alliance a vu le jour bien avant l’existence de l’internet et même d’Eurostar. C’est donc en s’appuyant exclusivement sur les contacts amicaux et humains qu’elle a prospéré et vibré de mille façons dans les moindres recoins de cette belle ville.  Je voudrais exprimer toute ma gratitude aux amis britanniques, membres des comités successifs qui ont soutenu notre action avec constance et bonne humeur, aux membres, aux étudiants qui nous ont fait confiance et aux professeurs dont certains ont passé 15, 18 ou 20 ans au service de l’association et à tous ceux qui ont fait de l’espace Alliance un petit coin de France, un espace d’échanges et d’amitié, véritable antichambre de l’Entente cordiale.

J’ai une pensée reconnaissante pour les artistes, chanteurs, acteurs, conférenciers, musiciens, écrivains, cinéastes et poètes invités par l’Alliance française, trop nombreux pour être nommés ici, qui ont apporté la culture française à notre public au fil des ans avec le soutien des services culturels de l'Ambassade de France à Londres ou de l'Institut français. Que des partenaires comme Churchill College, Kings College, Homerton College et tout particulièrement Trinity College ainsi que Parkside Community College, Hills Road Sixth Form College et quelques écoles privées locales soient aussi remerciés.

J’ajouterai que le soutien du « Arts» cinema, celui du City Council, de la Central Library et de la BBC locale ont joué une grande part dans le succès de l’Alliance.  Il en est de même pour les grandes compagnies locales qui ont eu recours à ses services pendant de longues années: Philips, Colgate Palmolive,   Nickerson Biocem, Agrevo, Customs and Excise, Andros et tant d’autres.

Sans eux, sans la passion, le dévouement et la compétence des uns et sans la confiance des autres, rien n’aurait pu se faire.  
Pour terminer, j’aimerais tout particulièrement remercier Jackie Lovett, la deuxième personne après moi à avoir cru au projet que m’avait confié la Fédération des Alliances françaises du Royaume  Uni : celui de créer une nouvelle branche de l’Alliance à Cambridge. 
En me recevant chez elle  un matin d’automne en 1981 et en m’entendant lui dire une phrase du style «  I have a dream…. »  elle a simplement répondu quelque chose  comme   « Sounds great, let’s give it a go…, another cup of tea love?” C’est ainsi que tout a commencé… Quelle aventure et quel bonheur!  Merci à tous !

Long live the spirit of the Alliance in Cambridge!  My warmest wishes to you all for another happy 30 years!

How about a weekend in Nohant?

There might be space for a couple more guests next week at Madingley Hall if you mention my name, who knows…We will be visiting George Sand’s beautiful house in Berry where she grew up and died in the 19th century.

We’ll learn about the life she led amongst family and friends as a woman and as an artist. Amongst the friends she entertained in Nohant were the likes of Balzac, Turgenev, Dumas, Flaubert, Chopin or Delacroix. She is the author of over a hundred novels, a massive correspondence, plays and newspapers articles. She was an accomplished musician, a gifted artist, a passionate social critic, a keen gardener and she made her own jam. Like Balzac and many other contemporary writers such as Dickens or George Eliot she wrote constantly, mostly during the night, sleeping throughout the morning and spending the rest of the day running the house and entertaining her illustrious guests.

Generous with her time and money she supported anyone in need and was called “la bonne dame de Nohant” by the villagers. Well, the place and its owner are definitely worth a detour and I am sure the participants will enjoy meeting her. Check the link for details about the course. 

You can also join Christine of Made in Provence and I at Cook's Barn on Thursday 18th October at 6pm for a "French on your plate" workshop on the Berry region, George Sand's homeland.

Article in Local Cambridge Press

Did you know our good friend Christine was interviewed at Cooks Barn by the Cambridge Journal over the summer?

In case you missed the August Edition, here is a link to view the full article and get a couple recipes - go to page 80!


Don't forget to join us and local Made in Provence celebrity, Christine, next month on Thursday the October 18^th at 6.30pm for our French on your Plate "Le Berry" workshop.

Et vive la Bourgogne!

What a great night that was! Our favourite number of participants once again, 14 including three delightful newcomers, gathered at Cook’s Barn for a celebration of all things from Burgundy: landscapes, wines, abbeys, beautiful architecture, celebrities and even escargots and moutarde. 

Time flew in the Mezzanine as we learnt about the Chanoine Kir, Colette’s life and works, the magnificent 174km long Canal du Nivernais, 

the “Hospices de Beaune”, Vercingétorix, the great Gaul chief surrendering to the Romans in Alésia and dropping his weapons on Julius Caesar’ feet, according to Goscinny’s version of facts in one of Astérix’s albums that is, ” La Grande Vadrouille” and the priceless “Lacanche” handcrafted cookers that have been actually assembled in Burgundy  for the last two centuries.  We happen to be able to use them at Cook’s Barn for the cookery demonstration of the workshop where they are on display.   What a perfect occasion to learn more about this family business and many equally fascinating facts about the region.   

The group then studied and prepared a few culinary specialties under Christine active and enthusiastic guidance!  The meal was enjoyed by all and the 4 hours’ workshop lasted well over 5 as we were having such fun!    

Keep an eye on the calendar and note of the date for our next meeting as numbers are limited.   

Our evening about “Le Berry” will take us in an intriguing part of la France profonde, in George Sand's and Chopin’s footsteps!  Book your place on October 18^th at 6.30pm.

Au pays de Rabelais et des soeurs Tatin...

Join us on the last “French on your plate” workshop before the summer break!  Come along and enjoy hearing and speaking French with us all evening in the beautiful and friendly surroundings of Cook’s Barn, join in the preparation of the meal and explore one of the most attractive parts of France: “The Loire Country”, its history, its traditions and culinary specialties. Christine and I are looking forward to welcoming you one more time!

Saturday 23^rd of June – 4pm to 8pm.   A few spaces still available! (£60 including tuition, documents, cookery demonstration and meal plus a glass of wine)

L'ami Prévert à Madingley

What a magical weekend at Madingley Hall that was.  The beautiful surroundings helped of course but so did being in the company of Jacques Prévert, the most celebrated of French poets of the XXth century (1900-1977).  Prévert sailed through life no matter how stormy his was, with style, his inimitable style, beaming with love, laughter and joie de vivre surrounded by the most celebrated artists of his time (most of them totally unknown then) such as Yves Tanguy, Desnos, André Breton, Aragon, Picasso, and scores of others forming around him “La bande à Prévert” .  He never took himself seriously but others did who gathered the poems he had written over the years, given to friends or sent to various magazines.  That compilation was published in 1945 under the title of “Paroles”, his first book that made him famous overnight.  The title was well chosen as “paroles” in French means “spoken words” and that’s exactly what Prévert did all his life, from childhood onwards. He talked, amused, entertained and inspired his family and friends constantly.  He also protested, contested, criticised and fought for his ideas, always with words.   Prévert wrote as he spoke and very eloquently at that, although the words were simple and the images poetic and moving.  He reached a wide audience immediately. His poems were set to music by Joseph Kosma and singers such as 
Yves Montand or Edith Piaf made them even more popular. 

Some songs were heard in Marcel Carné’s  most celebrated films “Les feuilles mortes” (known as “Autumn leaves”) for example and “Les enfants qui s’aiment” in “Les portes de la nuit”.  « Démons et merveilles »  in « Les visiteurs du soir ».  Prévert had also written the dialogues for these.  He had done so for another equally major film of the period: « Les Enfants du Paradis”.  People knew the songs and the films even when they didn’t know the name of Prévert.  These are only a few of his many accomplishments as he was altogether a playwright, an artist, a political activist, an entertainer, a poet and the most faithful of friends.   He spent most of his life in the heart of Paris in Saint-Germain de Prés where he was born and grew up in dire conditions. Friend of the great photographer Robert Doisneau who shared his long walks through Paris, he happens to be one of the most photographed celebrities in France.  “L’ami  Prévert” as he was called is the person we discovered at the weekend.  We were able to read, see and even hear him.  We read his poems and listened to his songs.  We watched his films and his beautiful cartoons, “Le petit soldat” and “Le roi et l’oiseau” made with Paul Grimault.  We set our eyes on his “collages” and found ourselves totally involved in creating our own poems and pictures.  He was such an inspiration to all! And then as Tim said at the end of the course, we left Madingley “ en sortant de la colle”, with a head full of music, images, words and birds and a heart filled with the memories of Jacques Prévert who would probably laugh at the thought of his having become a “classic”.

At our next gathering for an Intermediate French Course this time, to take place on July 14th (how appropriate!) we'll take a look at the way the French enjoy their holidays. For further details contact Madingley Hall directly.

Relaxing long weekend in rural France May 25th-28th 2012

Join us to relax in the rural peace of Mayenne at the end of May. The Mayenne is known throughout France (dare we say the world) for its food and wine. Being part of the Loire region, it also has a fair sprinkling of châteaux for good measure. The region is rich in history, culture and tradition. It has throughout the centuries managed to retain old fashioned values and is still to this date remained relatively unspoiled by modern life.

This residential weekend will take place in a pastoral landscape, at “Les Vallées”, near Le Mans where you will be able to experience the beautiful landscape, breathe, relax and improve your French at your own pace. 

The weekend will be led by an experienced tutor who specialises in “accelerated language learning” techniques and this should enable you to master a few mechanisms of the language quite rapidly. You will learn about local delicacies and partake in shopping and making regional dishes! No trip to France with The Way to France would be complete without excursions to local attractions, and being so close to Le Mans, we will be sure to go to Sunday Market and enjoy one of the best preserved medieval town centres in the whole of Europe. You will of course have heard of Le Mans because of the 24 hour races, but did you know that it used to be the papal centre of France and that many films such as "Le Mans" with Steve McQueen, "Cyrano" with Gérard Depardieu and "The Man in the Iron Mask" with Jeremy Irons and Leonardo DiCaprio were shot there? And of course you'll want try or enjoy if you are already the connoisseur "rillettes" from Le Mans! 

The language and cultural activities will be conducted in French and cater for all levels and abilities, though our hosts are English expats who have made their dream home in France. "Les Vallees" also has spa facilities on site and our programme will allow you plenty of time to make use of the facilities, or simply relax and enjoy a glass of wine in the gardens overlooking the stunning countryside.

Prices include full B&B for 3 nights' with meals and refreshments throughout the workshops and 20 hours of French language and culture tuition in a small group:

260€ per person sharing a room
305€ per person for a single room

165€ per person without accommodation, should you live locally or prefer to stay elsewhere.
 
Excludes travel expenses and outings, yet we can advise you on how to get there as you have the option of planes, trains and automobiles!

Contact us to find out more!