Scenery, Sculpture, Friends and Food

Today was a bit out of the ordinary, in that 4 acquaintances from Winston-Salem passed through our little corner of France. We met them early this morning in Pont en Royan where we were able to watch the early morning traffic jam in this one lane village. Huge construction trucks and the miniature French cars were having quite the challenge of getting themselves wedged down the little pig path through town. Quite the spectacle. We easily spotted our friends in their brand new Mercedes which they will then ship back to Winston-Salem after they eat and drink their way around France. After a quick sight see of Pont en Royan and the ancient houses that hang out over the river, we headed up the gorge to a favorite stop of mine. We visited the home/sculpture garden of Tineke Bot who is Dutch but has lived and created in France for many years. She is an incredible artist and her garden sprinkled with her work is just phenomenal. Then our friends headed to the 3 star restaurant in Valence where the chef is the ONLY woman in France to have three stars - Ann Sophie Pic. We know they had a lunch to remember. We on the other hand, stopped at one of our favorite haunts in Aubrive (the Virginia group visited this spot!). Though this is far from a 3 star hang out, it too was a lunch to remember! It is like being in a sit com. The place has a personality of its own - worth the journey to see and experience. Of course it is family run - husband cooks, wife serves. The food was very tasty, but receiving the bread from the other occupied table of farmers was a bit curious to say the least. Not sure what kind of health rating that would earn. Oh well, another day in France! And ... the comedy continued. Enters one very "special" little man as they French would say. He was carrying a flat of what appeared to be black truffles. But on closer inspection it turned out to be "peche de vigne". Now we too had to inquire further, only to be introduced to purple peaches. They grow wild and ripen this late in the season. The little man took us to his little white truck (so french), and there we found, dried (but REAL) mushrooms, garlic, purple peaches and freshly made apple juice. Needless to say, we came home w/ parcels of all except the apple juice - the little man had been drinking out of the last remaining bottle of juice and I had enough of the shared food concept for the day!!


PS For those who don't know, our little corner of France is a huge walnut growing area and this is harvest week! Walnuts and tractors are everywhere! We get walnuts on food, in food, beside food, you name it and we have walnuts. Walker and I visited the regional Walnut Museum yesterday and we learned a ton about growing, harvesting and even the world market for walnuts. The walnuts are regulated by the A.O.C just as French wine and cheese. The next walnut you eat may be from right here in our neighborhood. Bon appetit!