France

Petites Histoires

Over the years, I have been lucky enough to have eaten and drunk very well in France. Since my first visit in 1989, through the years of 1990-1991 when we lived in Paris, through frequent return visits after we were once again living in Seattle, until today, when we live full time in Orthez, some […]

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Over the years, I have been lucky enough to have eaten and drunk very well in France. Since my first visit in 1989, through the years of 1990-1991 when we lived in Paris, through frequent return visits after we were once again living in Seattle, until today, when we live full time in Orthez, some

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Pâte Albigeios

A long time favorite at Le Pichet, our Pâte Albigeois is a country-styl pâte made with pork and pork liver, scented with garlic, onions, cognac and spices. We serve it with grain mustard, cornichons and honey walnuts…honey and walnuts are two of the trademark artisan products of the region of the city of Albi, in

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Slide 1

A long time favorite at Le Pichet, our Pâte Albigeois is a country-styl pâte made with pork and pork liver, scented with garlic, onions, cognac and spices. We serve it with grain mustard, cornichons and honey walnuts…honey and walnuts are two of the trademark artisan products of the region of the city of Albi, in

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Haraneko Borda, Itxassou, France

In the Pays Basque, adding Borda to the name of an eating establishment signifies a rustic country inn. In Euskera, borda means barn and the original Bordas were kitchens set up in underused barns, often with the cooking done over wood-fired braziers and guests served at long rows of tables, outdoors when weather permitted. Although

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Slide 1

In the Pays Basque, adding Borda to the name of an eating establishment signifies a rustic country inn. In Euskera, borda means barn and the original Bordas were kitchens set up in underused barns, often with the cooking done over wood-fired braziers and guests served at long rows of tables, outdoors when weather permitted. Although

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La Legende, Sauveterre de Béarn, France

Combine a wine shop, a cafe, a natural wine bar, a hangout for locals that’s open from 10am to midnight and a restaurant where everything is made from scratch using ingredients gathered within 100 miles and what do you get? La Legende in Sauveterre de Bearn. On the face of it, Sauveterre de Béarn (population

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Slide 1

Combine a wine shop, a cafe, a natural wine bar, a hangout for locals that’s open from 10am to midnight and a restaurant where everything is made from scratch using ingredients gathered within 100 miles and what do you get? La Legende in Sauveterre de Bearn. On the face of it, Sauveterre de Béarn (population

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Pigeon cooked two ways, roasted breast and legs simmered with red wine

A pigeon purchased from a butcher in les Halles de Pau was the inspiration for this spring meal. This bird caught my eye because of its robust size (the butcher described it as assez pour deux, basically meaning it is a monster!) and because of its absolute freshness. Note that, when a bird still has

Pigeon cooked two ways, roasted breast and legs simmered with red wine Read More »

A pigeon purchased from a butcher in les Halles de Pau was the inspiration for this spring meal. This bird caught my eye because of its robust size (the butcher described it as assez pour deux, basically meaning it is a monster!) and because of its absolute freshness. Note that, when a bird still has

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Les Passionnés, Toulouse France

Les Passionés bills itself as a cave a manger, which functionally, means a wine shop where you can also get something to each beyond the charcuterie and cheese you find in a bar a vin. The description written on the restaurant’s facade, “Cafe du marché Vins d’artisans” gives a better idea of the restaurants ambitions,

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Slide 1

Les Passionés bills itself as a cave a manger, which functionally, means a wine shop where you can also get something to each beyond the charcuterie and cheese you find in a bar a vin. The description written on the restaurant’s facade, “Cafe du marché Vins d’artisans” gives a better idea of the restaurants ambitions,

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Fromagerie Écologique Agour Irati

In April 2019, I had the opportunity to visit the Fromagerie Ecologique Agour Irati located high up foothills of the Basque Pyrenees. A quick word about Agour (I also noticed it spelled Agur, which I believe is in Euskera, the Basque language? You Euskera speakers, correct me if I am wrong). If you are a

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In April 2019, I had the opportunity to visit the Fromagerie Ecologique Agour Irati located high up foothills of the Basque Pyrenees. A quick word about Agour (I also noticed it spelled Agur, which I believe is in Euskera, the Basque language? You Euskera speakers, correct me if I am wrong). If you are a

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Les Chèvres de Brassenx

There’s a new fromagerie in Orthez (officially in Argagnon but that is only about 4 minutes from Orthez). This is big news because 1) well things can move pretty slow in Orthez and it is therefore not that often that we arrive to find something totally new and unexpected has opened up and 2) goat

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There’s a new fromagerie in Orthez (officially in Argagnon but that is only about 4 minutes from Orthez). This is big news because 1) well things can move pretty slow in Orthez and it is therefore not that often that we arrive to find something totally new and unexpected has opened up and 2) goat

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New on the wall at Café Presse

Ah, it still gives us a warm feeling 6 months later! This photo of the World Champion 2018 French National Team, which now has a home on the wall near the back room at Café Presse, is the center fold-out from a copy of French newspaper L’Equipe.

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Ah, it still gives us a warm feeling 6 months later! This photo of the World Champion 2018 French National Team, which now has a home on the wall near the back room at Café Presse, is the center fold-out from a copy of French newspaper L’Equipe.

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