I Like theTrend in 2012

Despite the "super-freeze" going on in Provence at the moment ...
 .....  the New Year began with a spectacular, sunny and warm day.  We had spent the previous day strolling through the markets at some of our favorite towns, beginning with Pernes les Fontaines and then onto Isle sur la Sorgue, where the Antiques market was going on.

We made our way to the Antiques vendors, through the bright and festive streets of  Isle sur la Sorgue completely involved in what the French describe as Lecher les Vitrines, window shopping ... but literally translated: licking the windows. 

They were all beautifully decorated from the Insurance Office to the Toy Shop - everyone was involved in the season.  Music was piped throughout the whole town creating an inviting and happy atmosphere. 

One of our favorites for a Cafe au Lait - the Cafe de France in Isle sur la Sorgue

We stopped by the Cafe de France which was well decorated for the season, and packed with groups of friends in animated conversation.  After a nice warm cafe au lait we kept going to the Antiques Market and spent most of the afternoon there.

The sun sets at around 5pm in Provence at this time of year...  we decided to to go to the Chapel of St. Roch, where Pere Pierre our neighbor was saying Mass at 6pm.  The little Chapel was light and warm, with a small Nativity in one corner.  It's always nice to attend Mass locally and see many of our neighbors - services in Sablet are usually on Saturday evenings.  In the Summer, they are at the Church of Nazaire, next door to Maison des Pelerins, but during the Winter, they are held in the Chapel of St. Roch.

The Chapel of St Roch - built by the grateful Sabletains, after the Plague of 1721 ravaged the area,
but  left  Sablet untouched

After Mass we had arranged to have aperitifs with friends before dinner at Les Abeilles.  It was so good to be back at this time of year, when there really is more time to spend with friends.  During our aperitifs, they asked if we were going to the Village LOTO the next evening (New Year's Day). It was a fundraiser for the volunteer Fire Department of Sablet.  We didn't even know what LOTO was... but they said it was a lot of fun and we could attend in the Cafe des Sports  instead of the Stadium (which was usually very crowded) - and we could enjoy a glass of wine!

    A bright, sunny New Year's Day - the Cafe des Sports decorated for the holiday season

OK - we would go - and at the appointed time after a glorious New Year's Day, we made our way down to the Cafe to join about thirty others who had chosen that location to play..  LOTO is like Bingo.  The cards they use date back to the 1950's and they have a little pull down tab, so that you can easily pull the little shade down over each number that is called out.  Our host (at the Cafe) was receiving the numbers via cell phone from the Stadium, where about two hundred plus people were assembled.  The prizes were numerous and ranged from two Pizzas and a bottle of wine to a digital camera or large flat screen TV.

Our friend had said that she would love the large screen TV, so we laid out the cards and listened intently.  Lots of prizes were called and the depending on where the winner was we would hear cheers or "Oh's" sounding more like a downcast "uuhh."


The next prize announced was the digital camera ... we talked and covered numbers as it went along.  Before I knew it, Gerard, my husband had only one number to go for the camera ... and the next number was... yes! ... he won the Camera, one of the two top prizes.  That was a nice way to start the New Year ... but that's not where it ends.  More games went on accompanied by "uuhhs", until it was time for the TV.  As the numbers were called our friend (who wanted the TV), filled up her card and now she had only one number to go.  After three more calls, yes! She won!  Can you believe it?  Our table won both of the top prizes.  Now... that's the way to start the New Year!

"The Winners"

But... it doesn't end here.....  Right after we arrived home, a friend invited us to a fundraising "Crab Feed" for their local Yacht Club.  We went along and as usual, bought the requisite number of raffle tickets for the prizes stacked on a very large table.  After a great dinner of fresh crab, the drawing started and we were not really paying attention - not expecting to win anything.  We went all the way through the drawing and as we expected - nothing.  We were at the very last prize, and the number was called .... not paying attention.  It was called again, and I thought,"just a minute that sounds familiar".  I checked my tickets and yes - we had won a very  large (magnum) bottle of red wine from the Napa Valley!


I definitely like this 2012 trend .... and wish all our readers the same.

Here's a comment and pictures from one of our "les Pelerins" guests who has shared his wonderful photography with us before  - thanks so much Dave we always enjoy seeing your beautiful pics!

Chere Marianne:  I just read your 2012 blog page and noted the picture of the toy store in L'Ile.  Here is mine from Vaison.

 

I also think this picture of Sablet shows Maison des Pelerins.  I think Maison is the long house below the church steeple with the kitchen window with its blue shutters to the right, the dining room window (likewise), and the two upstairs bedroom windows visible.
Rgds,  Dave Condeff


You are absolutely correct Dave - that is Maison with the blue shutters - from left to right, they are the two bedroom windows, the dining room window and the kitchen window.  Love the views from them!

Truffle Away!

It's that crisp, delicious time of year again!    

Truffles are on everyone's mind (including mine) ...  Truffles in Foie Gras... "Truffled"  Boudin Blanc sausage... "Truffled" Cheese ... and then of course, the old favorites ... Omlette aux truffes.

Our own truffle!  The dish is  three inches in diameter.

What a delightful surprise when our neighbor in Sablet came to the door with a fresh truffle - one of the truffles they had just gathered at another friend's truffle oak forest in the Luberon.  With just one truffle of about 1.25 inches in diameter we enjoyed two great meals - one delicious dinner main course of scrambled eggs topped with shaved truffle, and our last lunch at Maison des Pelerins before leaving to come back to California. A hot, toasted baguette, spread with demi-sel butter from Normandy and covered with mounds of shaved, Luberon black truffle!  

It felt completely decadent to be eating truffles on toast - such a great idea, which came from our neighbor.  The fragrance and nuttiness of freshly grated or shaved truffles only intensifies when it is combined with hot foods.

Creamy scrambled eggs with shaved truffles - yum!

Truffles were definitely on New Year's Eve Menus .....
This delicious dish (below), is the Chosson des Truffes we were treated to at Les Abeilles on New Year's Eve - a steamy black truffle wrapped in ham and baked in buttery puff pastry!

Double yum - Chosson des Truffes

As you cross the bridge into Richeranches, this "panneau" makes sure visitors know of the Saturday Truffle Markets

Truffle Market goers crowd the narrow streets of the small village on cold Saturday mornings between November and March - some for serious negotiations - some to witness the whole spectacle

The Friday Market in Carpentras and the Saturday Market in Richeranches have buyer's from Restaurants throughout France and beyond bidding for these little "black diamonds".  During the week after New Year's, "les truffes" were selling in Paris for 3,000.00 Euros per Kilo!

The "Black Diamonds are carefully weighed as a fraction of an ounce either way can add or subtract lots of money!

Is it any wonder that the weighing of these delicious little morsels is take so seriously by both buyers and sellers!

Truffles in are carefully stored in their bags

Carefully cocooned in cloth or plastic bags, the truffle exchange goes to the very knowledgeable buyers from growers who carefully watch over and tend their truffle oak woods which dot the countryside throughout the Luberon and the Vaucluse.  It is a labor of love for the first ten years which is the time it takes before the first truffles begin to appear on the roots of the host trees. 

One of the truffle oak forests you see as you travel through the Vaucluse (this one on the Plan de Dieu).

A stand of young oak trees near Richeranches - it takes about ten years for the first crop of truffles to appear.

Truffles in church?    Bien Sur!   .....you know that Gourmets throughout the world take truffles very seriously when you hear that there is a Mass specially dedicated to the "Rabasse".


In Richeranches, the third Sunday of January each year sees the well known  (and well attended),
Truffle Mass.

The small "Eglise Notre Dame de Richeranches" is packed for the Truffle Mass

Dedicated to St. Anthony who is the patron saint of truffle growers, this mass has grown so much in popularity that the tiny Church cannot possibly accommodate all who wish to attend.  A giant TV screen is set up outside in the courtyard of the Knights Templar Commandery so that visitors to Richeranches can join in the ceremony.  The Mass is said in the old Provencal language, during which the truffles are blessed and prayers are offered for a successful truffle harvest.  When it is time for the collection, the baskets are filled with truffles, and the church fills with the aroma of the "black diamond" also known as les truffes, rabasse or by its botanical name, Tuber Melanosporum.

The Truffle Auction after Mass takes place outside the Mairie

Members of the "Conferrerie du Diamante Noir et de la Grastronomie" (the Confraternity of the Black Diamond and Gastronomy), play an important role in the day's ceremonies as they join in the procession out of the church with the priest out into the square and make their way to the Mairie (Town Hall), where they officiate at the Auction.

The Conferrerie  offers an aperitif to all those who attend the festivities, followed by a truffle based lunch - a sought after event which requires a ticket.

Truffle Auction

Many of the attendees who are do not stay for the lunch, take advantage of the "Truffle Menus" offered at Restaurants throughout the area ...... just take a look at the Menu offered by our own Les Abeilles in Sablet!

Bon Apetit!

Menu truffes 2012

L’œuf de poule poché, truffé

(Truffled poached egg)

Foie gras de canard poêlé sur endives braisées aux truffes

(Foie gras served with braised Belgium Endives and truffles)

Noix de Saint Jacques, sauce

iodée de l'huître à la truffe

(Scallops with Oyster and Truffle sauce)

Granité … Noilly-Prat – citron vert

(Granita of Noilly-Prat Vermouth and Lime)

Poularde aux truffes, sauce suprême

pommes de terre écrasées

(Truffled Chicken with sauce Supreme)

Coulommiers parfumé à la rabasse, quelques feuilles de roquettes

(Coulommiers cheese - from the Seine-et-Marne region flavored with truffles, served with rouquette)

Entremet à la mandarine et « diamant noir »

(Dessert of Mandarins and "black diamonds")

valable de janvier 2012 au 3 mars 2012

90,00 € personne sans boissons

Many thanks to Chef Johannes Sailer for the pictures of the Truffle Mass two Sundays ago
                                                               - Merci Chef!

CLICK HERE for a map and directions from Sablet to Richeranches

How Do You Know It's Getting Close to New Year's Eve In Provence?

From Sablet - Provence  ...... Happy New Year!  Bonne Annee!   

2012 started off with a spectacular sunny and Springlike day that had several of our neighbors enjoying their terraces in the sunshine.

During the past week, the signs of New Year's preparation and festive spirit have been unmistakable, and I think the best way to enjoy the mood of Provence during this time is to notice the signs of season .......

 

St Sylvestre - as New Year's Eve is commonly known - 

In our Village, colored lights and festive decorations brighten up the village square, 

as Sabletains do their last minute shopping and preparations for the celebration  "Revellion" with friends and family in a few hours.

In the shops .. you know it's getting close to party time when .....  Foie Gras fills the refrigerator cabinets ..... there is always a crowd around the seafood section ... especially for oysters ... Champagnes of all grades and prices fill the shelves ...

... When you're not sure if you're looking at Cabbages, Roses or Cacti 
.... but they all glitter!

 

At the Markets ..... Stallholders toast the end of the day with Champagne ...

 

 

.... and some of the nine courses of Dinner at Les Abeilles look like this ....

Amuse Bouche ... 

 

Chausson des Truffe, demi-glace - fragrant black truffles in  buttery puff pastry served

with demi-glace

 

Brisures de Homard dans une salade aux argumes -succulent Lobster tail and Citrus salad ...

 

Medaillon de Lotte lie-de-vin ....Medaillon of Monkfish in a rich wine & demi-glace sauce ...

 

Granite au Nouilly-Prat et citron vert ..... Nouilly-Prat Vermouth and Lime Granita

.... at this point, I was firmly focused on food and fun, thus missed photographing the next two courses of Lievre a la Royale .... Hare served in a rich red wine reduction sauce followed by Filet Mignon de Porc aux Prunes ....  Pork Fillet perfectly cooked with red wine and prunes... 

Almost forgot ... also didn't photograph the cheese course ... Brillat-Savarin et endive braisee

But this got my attention!

       Desert!  Trilogie d'Ananas - Pineapple ... Caramalized ... Sorbet .. and .. Bavarois

But ..... that was not all!  It was all followed by Mignardises!!!!!!  

Tiny, delicious tuiles & cakes ..... 

I think I rolled all the way home - so - 

It must be time for the world's most favorite New Year's Resolution!

Here's to a Spectacular 2012!

                  

Jetlag

Some time ago, I came across a great article on Fodor's blog about the10 best ways to avoid jetlag.
I started to write about it and .....
having spent many sleepless nights, I  decided to add a few of my own favorite ideas on battling Jetlag..... So .... some of these are in Fodor's article and  many are my own experiences. Hope they help with your next trip...

With the Christmas and New Year Holiday travel season coming into  full swing, it's important to make the most of the time you have at your destination(s).  Laying awake in the middle of the night, waking up at 2am - 3am and being drowsy all day while you should be out enjoying your destination is enough to make anyone irritable - irritability being one symptom of jetlag.

1.
 Start your anti-jetlag campaign even before you board your flight.
 During the week before your travel, start to adjust your internal clock.  Gradually shift your sleeping and eating times to coincide with your destination. Then once you arrive, it will be easier to adapt to the local time.  For instance, traveling from California to France which is nine hours ahead - start by going to bed a little earlier and  waking up a little earlier each day to put yourself closer to French time.  Doing that will also adjust your eating times to work better when you arrive.




2.
 Pack well ahead of time and try to be as organized as possible.  Making a list of "must take items" helps quite a lot and cuts down on the stress of getting away. 
  Dealing with all the details at the last minute really takes its toll on the first few days of vacation.

3.
  If you have an afternoon or evening flight, and it is at all possible, try taking some time to relax  before your flight.  Having a massage, if possible is a real help.
It helps you to relax and gives a jump start into your vacation - as soon as you board.


4.
  Overnight flights help - as you can have dinner soon after take off and then go to sleep.  Depending on the number of time zones you cross, you will usually arrive at your destination in the morning - much easier to start your daily routine.


5.
  During the flight ..... Stay hydrated. 
Drink at least 8ozs of water for each hour of your flight - even if you are not thirsty.

6.
   If you wear contact lenses, clean them thoroughly before your flight,
and use eye drops while you're in the air. 
When you sleep, you may want to remove your lenses.
 
7.
  Your carry on pack should include:
 a bottle of moisturizing lotion, lip balm
and hydrating spray with essential oils (not just water), to spritz your face with. 
Be sure to use it inflight  - and please note that all liquids must be TSA compliant. .

8.
 Limit or avoid alcohol in flight. 
Cabin air dehydrates and altitude exaggerates the effects of alcohol
(a rule of thumb is one drink in the air equals two to three on the ground). 
Make sure you drink at least one glass of water to each alcoholic beverage,
as a drink might help to relax you, but it can also worsen the effects of jetlag. 

9.
 Try to sleep on the plane - especially important when you are traveling overnight
or when you're flying from west to east.  
Don't forget eye shades and neck support pillow.
 It's also good to include a shawl as one of your clothing layers
 - to double as a blanket for keeping you warm when sleeping.




10.
 After arrival, go out for a walk
 - get plenty of sunlight which helps to reset your body clock to your new surroundings.


11.
  At your destination, try to do activities appropriate for that time of day. 
Try to stay awake until bedtime.
 
12.
  When you go out for your walk, do a little shopping.  Pick up a few snacks,  fruits and drinks - it sometimes helps if you wake up in the middle of the night and it's dinnertime back home. 
Having  a quick snack when you wake up, often helps you to get back to sleep.



13.

Now ..... if having done all of this ... you still wake up in the early hours of the morning and can't get back to sleep  .... be sure to have a good book!

Most of all ... relax, enjoy ...... Bon Voyage and Bonnes Vacances!  Joyeux Noel! ..... Bonne Annee!

 

Christmas Decorations in Provence

In Paris, standing by the Arc de Triomphe looking down the Champs Elysees towards the Place de la Concorde at Christmastime,  the scene is magical! The trees on each side of the grand boulevard glitter with lights, and the Christmas trees and reindeer in snow scenes glitter at intersections along the way.  At the other end of  lighted Ferris Wheel near the Place de la Concorde completes the picture, while richly decorated shop windows along the way adds to the festive atmosphere.  Shoppers and visitors to Paris, line the sidewalks until late into the evening.

I have always loved this scene of the Champs Elysees at Christmas, but sadly this is not my picture, I found it on a great blog - blog.paris-on-demand.com

Welcome to Avignon Christmas Market in the Place de l'Horloge

 

  Avignon and its Place de l'Horloge bordered by sidewalk restaurants and completely filled with the wooden chalet Chrismas Market.  As you make your way towards the Town Hall, the streams of lights and  beautiful Carousel is quite breath taking.

but.....

What is 10 meters tall, glowing red and white, and sits in the middle of a Roundabout, at a busy freeway off ramp in Avignon?

Thanks Corinne for this great photo!  www.leFestindeCorinne.fr

 Pere Noel  ....  of Course!

I couldn't resist this picture that one of my Facebook friends, le Festin de Corinne ** posted last week - and she very kindly gave me permission to post here. 

Hard to miss  -  a 33ft tall Santa Claus or le Pere Noel, as he is known in France, sitting in the middle of the Rond Point (Roundabout), leading to one of Avignon's busiest Shopping 

Malls - the Centre Commerciale at Le Pontet.

Can you imagine the delight on the faces of children when they see this display?

The Cours Mirabeau under a canopy of lights for its entire length from the fountain all the way to the center of town

In Aix-en-Provence - the "Paris of the South", the beautiful Cours Mirabeau - Aix's grand boulevard is lit by a canopy of lights from the (grand) fountain at its beginning, all the way to end in the town's shopping/dining district. Both sides of the boulevard are lined with little wooden chalets - all a part of the Aix Christmas Market,  that stay open well into the evening.  The town bustles with restaurants full of diners and the shop windows sparkle with colored lights that decorate their displays.

Trees are lighted in the Place du Montfort - Vaison la Romaine

In the smaller towns such as Vaison la Romaine and Carpentras, trees are lighted, shop windows decorated and there are lots of street decorations - But -  in the small villages of  Provence, it's the residents who make decorating their village very much a community activity.

Beginning in early December, you see groups of neighbors placing red hand made bows and other decorations on street signs and buildings. I was amazed at the community spirit, as I watched a group of residents decorating their corner of the road between Vacqueyras and Sablet with bows and holly one evening in early December.  They were having so much  fun - talking and laughing, as they made their way down the road hanging bows and attaching sprigs of holly as they went. The owners of  the row of houses on that main street, had pinned bows on shutters and all the way along their front fences and placed their Christmas trees by the front windows so that the twinkling lights could be seen from the road, while the town had a set of lights greeting towns visitors with "Joyeuses Fetes" (Happy Holidays).

Madame Bonnet our Fleuriste in Sablet always has a pretty display of Christmas plants and flower arrangements

In our village of Sablet, there is a lighted Christmas tree in the Village Square right outside the Maison de Retraite (Retirement Home), and local artists decorate the shop windows with Christmas bells, holly, Christmas trees and ribbons. 

At the Boulangerie in Sablet, there's always a great selection of Christmas breads and pastries

In Sablet, the Cafe des Sports and Pizza Comme Di have their windows colorfully decorated, inviting Patrons to come join into the festivities

In Seguret, our closest neighboring village, shop windows are also decorated and residents decorate their homes on the outside, to add to the festive atmosphere  in the village.

In Seguret, residents along the main street in the village decorate the exteriors with garlands, bows and a lighted star.

Seguret - homes in the main street decorate their windows with garlands and hang decorations on the potted plants outside.

 The thing that I enjoy most of all about Christmas in Provence, is spending time with our friends and neighbors.  Provence is great in the Summer, lots of activity and bustle, but in the Winter and around Christmas time, there is time to relax.  It seems that every evening we were with a group of neighbors who invited us to join them for aperitif or dinner or in one case a birthday party.  It is a great time to wind down and have fun with family and friends, great food and great wine.

Joyeux Noel!

**Le Festin de Corinne - Corinne is a chef who specializes in Provencal Cuisine and holds cooking classes in Mazan, a village near Sablet.  Corinne also is available as a personal chef if you would like to treat yourself to a very special dinner "chez vous" when you are in Provence, or .... have a cooking class in your home (or vacation home). You can learn more about Corinne and find some wonderful recipes at her website: www.leFestindeCorinne.fr