Orthez

Stuff

Escargot a little too local

Posted on

In Orthez, I took this photo of a local snail making his way across a rain-soaked bench.  If I was a more industrious sort, I would have captured this specimen, fed him on organic veggies, and kept him in captivity for a week to allow any toxins to flush out of his system, then simmered […]

Escargot a little too local Read More »

Slide 1

In Orthez, I took this photo of a local snail making his way across a rain-soaked bench.  If I was a more industrious sort, I would have captured this specimen, fed him on organic veggies, and kept him in captivity for a week to allow any toxins to flush out of his system, then simmered

Tagged , | Leave a Comment
Stuff

Sunday dinner in Orthez

Posted on

Here is a portrait of a farm raised chicken that I recently roasted for a Sunday dinner while spending time in France.   This tasty critter was raised, free range and natural, on a farm just outside of Orthez that also raises ducks,  pigeons and guinea hens (well, the pigeons probably have some limits on their

Sunday dinner in Orthez Read More »

Slide 1

Here is a portrait of a farm raised chicken that I recently roasted for a Sunday dinner while spending time in France.   This tasty critter was raised, free range and natural, on a farm just outside of Orthez that also raises ducks,  pigeons and guinea hens (well, the pigeons probably have some limits on their

Tagged , , | Leave a Comment
France

Petite Dejeuner in the Béarn

Posted on

When arriving in Orthez, our first stop, even before our house, is always our favorite  dairy,  Ferme Lait P’tit Béarnais.  A couple miles up the road from our house, this family-run organic farm features the output of their small troupe of 20 or so of the local tawny brown Bearnaise cows;  raw milk, sometime still

Petite Dejeuner in the Béarn Read More »

Slide 1

When arriving in Orthez, our first stop, even before our house, is always our favorite  dairy,  Ferme Lait P’tit Béarnais.  A couple miles up the road from our house, this family-run organic farm features the output of their small troupe of 20 or so of the local tawny brown Bearnaise cows;  raw milk, sometime still

Tagged , , , | Leave a Comment
Stuff

Creme fraiche and other delights

Posted on

Remember a post I wrote in January about making cauliflower gratin at the house in Orthez?  In that post, I mentioned that my inspiration for making that dish at that moment was a discussion with food writer Nancy Leson on the topic of crème fraiche  for an article she was working on. If you do

Creme fraiche and other delights Read More »

Remember a post I wrote in January about making cauliflower gratin at the house in Orthez?  In that post, I mentioned that my inspiration for making that dish at that moment was a discussion with food writer Nancy Leson on the topic of crème fraiche  for an article she was working on. If you do

Tagged , , , | Leave a Comment
Stuff

Our neighbor’s eggs

Posted on

The house next to ours in Orthez is what I would term a manor house;  that is, a grand old home in its own modestly sized park.  I am sure that the term ‘manor house’ implies something specific, but to my eyes,  it’s a manor house. Although it was originally built as the home for

Our neighbor’s eggs Read More »

Slide 1

The house next to ours in Orthez is what I would term a manor house;  that is, a grand old home in its own modestly sized park.  I am sure that the term ‘manor house’ implies something specific, but to my eyes,  it’s a manor house. Although it was originally built as the home for

Tagged , , | 2 Comments
Stuff

Pigeon des Landes roti en poele et sa salade verte

Posted on

A quick supper dish that really was an inspiration du marché as the French say…an inspiration from a farm stand at the Sunday market at Amou, a short drive north of Orthez in the adjacent region of Les Landes  Pigeon breast, legs, gizzard and heart, marinated with a bit of port wine, thyme and garlic, then

Pigeon des Landes roti en poele et sa salade verte Read More »

Slide 1

A quick supper dish that really was an inspiration du marché as the French say…an inspiration from a farm stand at the Sunday market at Amou, a short drive north of Orthez in the adjacent region of Les Landes  Pigeon breast, legs, gizzard and heart, marinated with a bit of port wine, thyme and garlic, then

Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments
Markets and Sources

Its Spring in the Béarn

Posted on

While Seattle waits for the Spring produce, spring arrived a few weeks ago in the Béarn.  Asparagus, both white and green and as thick as my thumb mark the apex of the season.  Strawberries (strawberries!  We will be waiting  weeks for then at home) from les Landes, 20 minutes north of Orthez in varieties with

Its Spring in the Béarn Read More »

Slide 1

While Seattle waits for the Spring produce, spring arrived a few weeks ago in the Béarn.  Asparagus, both white and green and as thick as my thumb mark the apex of the season.  Strawberries (strawberries!  We will be waiting  weeks for then at home) from les Landes, 20 minutes north of Orthez in varieties with

Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a Comment
Stuff

Ferme Bethanoun

Posted on

A Family Run farm Last week, I had a chance to visit another cheese producer in the Pyrenees of the French Basque countries (I say “another” because last Spring, I visited Ferme Kukulu which is just outside of the Basque town of Espelette).  Ferme Bethanoun produces farmhouse cheeses, including an AOC Ossau Iraty and sheep’s

Ferme Bethanoun Read More »

Slide 1

A Family Run farm Last week, I had a chance to visit another cheese producer in the Pyrenees of the French Basque countries (I say “another” because last Spring, I visited Ferme Kukulu which is just outside of the Basque town of Espelette).  Ferme Bethanoun produces farmhouse cheeses, including an AOC Ossau Iraty and sheep’s

Tagged , , , , | Leave a Comment
Stuff

Foie gras terrine: why not keep one around the house?

Posted on

On the lookout for Foie Gras On a Tuesday in November, the display of foie gras at the market in Orthez is an impressive sight.  Not that the market at Orthez is uniquely gifted with foie gras; at this time of the year,  most of the markets in the region are similarly gifted.  The holiday

Foie gras terrine: why not keep one around the house? Read More »

Slide 1

On the lookout for Foie Gras On a Tuesday in November, the display of foie gras at the market in Orthez is an impressive sight.  Not that the market at Orthez is uniquely gifted with foie gras; at this time of the year,  most of the markets in the region are similarly gifted.  The holiday

Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments
Stuff

Famous Trout

Posted on

The cold streams of the Pyrenees are renowned for the wonderful quality of the freshwater fish they produce.  For this reason, one can find the designation Truite de Banca in markets and on menus throughout the  the Southwest of Franc. The Branca trout are raised in stream-fed ponds in the mountain pass above Saint-Jean Pied

Famous Trout Read More »

Slide 1

The cold streams of the Pyrenees are renowned for the wonderful quality of the freshwater fish they produce.  For this reason, one can find the designation Truite de Banca in markets and on menus throughout the  the Southwest of Franc. The Branca trout are raised in stream-fed ponds in the mountain pass above Saint-Jean Pied

Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments
Scroll to Top