Day 2302 (Wednesday) 27th September 2023
Today’s photos…
This is Monaco
and this is Nice beach with the Negresco hotel in the background.
It was summer hot today, 40C on the balcony
and there was a cruise ship in the bay so there were lots of tourists in town.
Huw had to get up early to clean the pool and move Ken’s car, then he went shopping and bought a warm poulet roti which we had for brunch. I have had some form requests from one of my schools and the amount of paperwork is overwhelming. Huw has been helping me a great deal and we thought it was over but I got an email this morning saying that something was wrong. I emailed the boss asking his advice and he phoned me and even though I don’t understand what’s going on I think it’s sorted…for now.
The market was in the square because of the cruise ship and it was pretty busy.
The road to the train station is still closed because of the landslide and we can’t park Kisbee 2 in our usual spot so now we park in Parking Wilson.
I spent an hour with young Oceane and Huw took me to Saint-Jean and picked me up. There were some beautiful flowers in their garden, the rest of the garden is a mess but these are lovely.
Havana and Jim, Oceane’s dogs, get excited every time someone knocks the door and Havana spent an hour licking my legs.
Even though it doesn’t feel like it yet here’s some ideas about what to cook in the autumn.
Nine delicious seasonal French dishes to try this autumn
A Frenchman looks for and collects ceps mushrooms in a plot of forest in 2018. (Photo by NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP)
The autumn is one of the best times for food-lovers in France, as the markets blossom with fresh and flavourful produce. Here's a look at some of the tastiest dishes you should try.
Mushrooms and truffles
Autumn is the perfect time to head out into the French countryside, where you can forage for mushrooms and - if you're lucky and know where to look - truffles. Many French pharmacies even offer mushroom-checking services so you can make sure your bounty is all safe to eat.
But if that still sounds like too much hard work, you don't need to get on your hands and knees to enjoy the autumnal fungi. Head to the market or look for good local restaurants serving seasonal specials.
A basket of truffles at a French market. Photo: Remy Gabalda/AFP
Venison stew (civet de chevreuil)
Autumn is also hunting season, and the perfect time to try out game. This rural French stew is perfect for cosy autumn evenings and best of all, venison is naturally low in fat making it a healthy choice. Typical recipes will call for a bottle of red wine, root vegetables, and mushrooms.
Truffade
What this dish from the Auvergne region lacks in Instagram appeal, it makes up for with its hearty taste. The truffade is a kind of thick potato pancake made with goose fat and Tome fraiche cheese. Meat-lovers can add bacon while vegetarians can swap out the goose fat for vegetable oil and serve it with a green salad.
Herring
Head to the northwest coast of France around November to experience festivals dedicated to the humble herring.
You'll discover more ways to prepare the fish than you ever thought possible, as well as have the chance to join in the celebratory spirit in these fishing towns. The largest herring festival is held in late November in Dieppe.
Fricassée
Nothing says autumnal comfort food better than a succulent stew, and fricassee is one of the quintessential recipes. Chicken is the meat most commonly used, but you can make the dish your own, cutting up and braising the meat before making a white sauce to cook it in.
Chestnuts
When October comes, the distinctive smell of roasting chestnuts fills the streets in France. It’s been a staple in the French diet for centuries, thanks to the abundance of forests which meant there was a good supply of chestnuts even for the poorest families.
If you want to try the best of the best, look out for either Châtaigne, Périgord, Limousin, Midi-Pyrénées or Châtaigne d'Ardèche for assured quality. As well as eating them straight from the bag you can buy from street sellers, you’ll also see them on menus in soups, sauces, desserts, and liqueurs.
Pumpkin pie
Americans in particular might be pleased to learn that pumpkin pie (tarte à la citrouille) is a speciality in France. It’s often served around All Saint’s Day (November 1st) and is particularly common in the centre of the country.
If you plan to make your own, be warned that canned pumpkin purée is often excruciatingly expensive in France, so why not do as the French do and buy the real deal fresh from your local market?
Galettes
A galette in France usually refers to a round, flat pastry cake, and in autumn you can indulge in a range of flavours such as apples, pears, or plums, all of which are in season.
In Brittany, however, it has a different meaning - the Breton galette is a kind of crepe, and equally delicious. Try them topped with salted caramel - the sauce has been a favourite in the region for centuries, ever since it was excluded from France's tax on salt in the 16th century - and it complements autumnal flavours perfectly.
Cider
Autumn isn’t all about the wine harvest - it’s also cider season, with apple and cider festivals across the country and particularly in Brittany and Normandy.
A great way to travel around the best spots is to follow the 40km circular Cider Route, through villages, meadows, farms, and of course, orchards aplenty. And many other towns and villages have their own apple and cider festivals, where you might be surprised to discover the variety of tastes on offer. As an alternative, try Normandy’s Calvados, a delicious apple-flavoured brandy.
I have found a website containing hundreds of French idioms so I will post a few every day.
To start with we have French idioms about love and relationships.
Literally: to have a struck of lightning
Meaning: In the world of French idioms, love can be rather painful and love at first sight is called “un coup de foudre”. You can also say that you have a “coup de foudre” for an object,
Meaning it unexpectedly and suddenly seduced you.
English counterpart: to fall in love at first sight, to fall madly in love
J’ai eu un véritable coup de foudre quand je l’ai vu.
When I saw him, it was love at first sight.
Le coup de foudre a été immédiat quand elle a entendu cette chanson.
She immediately fell in love with this song when she heard it.
Literally: to get dumped
Meaning: This idiom has the same meaning as “to get dumped” in English.
English counterpart: to get dumped
Tu as l’air triste, qu’est-ce qui se passe ? Je me suis fait larguer par mon copain.
You look sad, what’s going? My boyfriend dumped me.
“Se faire larguer” (to get dumped) is the passive form. But you can also say “larguer quelqu’un” (to dump someone).
Literally: to hit a rake
Meaning: You know that feeling when the person you’re interested in rejects you?
That’s what the French call “se prendre un râteau”.
English counterpart: to get knocked back
Nathan est triste, parce qu’il s’est pris un râteau.
Nathan is sad because he got knocked back.
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