Orthez

First dinner in Orthez

On arriving at our home in Orthez, the first order of business is always a visit to the market.  Conveniently, we arrived just in time for the Saturday Market (the smaller of the two weekly markets featuring exclusively local farm product  (the big market day, that includes in addition to food,  a wide range of […]

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Slide 1

On arriving at our home in Orthez, the first order of business is always a visit to the market.  Conveniently, we arrived just in time for the Saturday Market (the smaller of the two weekly markets featuring exclusively local farm product  (the big market day, that includes in addition to food,  a wide range of

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Using every part of the walnut

One of the things I find most endearing about the the French is how they find a use for just about everything.  They were eating pigs, lambs and cows (among other critters) from “nose to tail” long before anyone had heard of the term in the U.S.  They use the leftovers from making wine to

Using every part of the walnut Read More »

Slide 1

One of the things I find most endearing about the the French is how they find a use for just about everything.  They were eating pigs, lambs and cows (among other critters) from “nose to tail” long before anyone had heard of the term in the U.S.  They use the leftovers from making wine to

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Good eating with a nice beurre blanc

Recently caught in the waters of the Gave de Pau near Orthez (gave = river in the local dialect):  A pike measuring almost 1 meter in length.  The feature article in the local newspaper SudOuest goes on to state that it has been an exceptional year for fishing in the gave with unusually high number

Good eating with a nice beurre blanc Read More »

Recently caught in the waters of the Gave de Pau near Orthez (gave = river in the local dialect):  A pike measuring almost 1 meter in length.  The feature article in the local newspaper SudOuest goes on to state that it has been an exceptional year for fishing in the gave with unusually high number

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Canning Tuna with Slow Foods Seattle

Slow Foods Seattle held their 2nd Annual Tuna Canning Workshop, directed by local fisherman Jeremy Brown on Sunday January 8, 2012.  This event caught my eye for a couple of reasons. First,  I am a big fan of preserved fish in all of its many forms.  Sardines, anchovies, octopus, tuna, herring, the whole world of

Canning Tuna with Slow Foods Seattle Read More »

Slide 1

Slow Foods Seattle held their 2nd Annual Tuna Canning Workshop, directed by local fisherman Jeremy Brown on Sunday January 8, 2012.  This event caught my eye for a couple of reasons. First,  I am a big fan of preserved fish in all of its many forms.  Sardines, anchovies, octopus, tuna, herring, the whole world of

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Garbure Béarnaise

The  region of the Béarn in the Pyrenees Atlantique has a rich culinary tradition, one that it shares in part with its neighbors.  To the north is Gascony, with its love all things duck, including the use of duck fat, confits and foie gras.  To the south and west are the Pays Basques, famous for

Garbure Béarnaise Read More »

The  region of the Béarn in the Pyrenees Atlantique has a rich culinary tradition, one that it shares in part with its neighbors.  To the north is Gascony, with its love all things duck, including the use of duck fat, confits and foie gras.  To the south and west are the Pays Basques, famous for

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Ossau Iraty

Wrapping paper used by Monsieur and Madame Andre CHAHON of Morlanne, near Pau.  I encountered their stand inside la Moutet at the Tuesday Market in Orthez, where they were offering a range of their raw milk sheep’s cheeses.  This sample came wrapped around a wedge of their 12 month old Ossau Iraty, which is perhaps

Ossau Iraty Read More »

Wrapping paper used by Monsieur and Madame Andre CHAHON of Morlanne, near Pau.  I encountered their stand inside la Moutet at the Tuesday Market in Orthez, where they were offering a range of their raw milk sheep’s cheeses.  This sample came wrapped around a wedge of their 12 month old Ossau Iraty, which is perhaps

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The Tuesday Market in Orthez

There are two market days every week in Orthez.  Outdoors Saturday, in the parking lot of la Moutet, is the local farmer’s market that features only the bounty of the surrounding countryside, including offerings from farmers, meat producers and culinary artisans (and also a large selection of plants, vegetable starts, trees and flowers from the

The Tuesday Market in Orthez Read More »

There are two market days every week in Orthez.  Outdoors Saturday, in the parking lot of la Moutet, is the local farmer’s market that features only the bounty of the surrounding countryside, including offerings from farmers, meat producers and culinary artisans (and also a large selection of plants, vegetable starts, trees and flowers from the

Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Orthez, and how we decided to buy a house there.

October 7: During a morning ride to Paris’ Gare Montparnasse, our taxi driver let us know that train service throughout  France was disrupted due to a work stoppage organized by train conductors to protest a recent  stabbing of one of their colleges.  The TGV to Bordeaux left on time but stopped without explanation several times

Orthez, and how we decided to buy a house there. Read More »

October 7: During a morning ride to Paris’ Gare Montparnasse, our taxi driver let us know that train service throughout  France was disrupted due to a work stoppage organized by train conductors to protest a recent  stabbing of one of their colleges.  The TGV to Bordeaux left on time but stopped without explanation several times

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Local Pumpkin to Compete in the Nationals

Monsieur Bergeroo of Orthez, in the Pyrénées Atlantique department (that’s right, the town were my wife and I have recently purchased a home for our retirement) is once again competing in the Concours National, the competition to find the largest pumpkin in France.  Evidently, the Bergeroo family is known for really big pumpkins; according to

Local Pumpkin to Compete in the Nationals Read More »

Monsieur Bergeroo of Orthez, in the Pyrénées Atlantique department (that’s right, the town were my wife and I have recently purchased a home for our retirement) is once again competing in the Concours National, the competition to find the largest pumpkin in France.  Evidently, the Bergeroo family is known for really big pumpkins; according to

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After a really big mushroom; a 4 pound tomato.

  Check out this photo, from la République des Pyrénées , the hometown newspaper in the town of Orthez where I hope some day to retire.  The summer rains that favored the growth of the really big mushroom have evidently given way to sunshine;  a resident in the nearby town of Lascar recently harvested a

After a really big mushroom; a 4 pound tomato. Read More »

  Check out this photo, from la République des Pyrénées , the hometown newspaper in the town of Orthez where I hope some day to retire.  The summer rains that favored the growth of the really big mushroom have evidently given way to sunshine;  a resident in the nearby town of Lascar recently harvested a

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