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My French Platter Replenished: Book Review

A Journey to a Dream Life in France

Today I have a treat for you with a book extract from author Annemarie Rawson from her new book 'My French Platter Replenished'. This delightful memoir from Annemarie Rawson is the second book in her 'My French Platter' series. Annemarie's first book 'My French Platter' tells the story of how she, and her husband Steve, leave their life in New Zealand to manage a 15th century farmhouse in France. Little do they know that they will end up living in filth, rely on dilapidated equipment and deal with a belligerent boss. During this period they lived near Brens.

Annemarie's second book (cover pictured above) 'My French Platter Replenished' takes the reader on a further journey of their life in France whilst working in Lisle-sur-Tarn at Domaine de Mènerque and later at Combe de Merigot, near Gaillac. We get to meet more friends, experience their woes and joys and also to try out the recipes that Annemarie shares. I love the recipes that are a bonus find at the end of both books. I'm sure you'll love trying them out for yourself.

Moncontour-de-Bretagne – Perfectly Picturesque

Moncontour-de-Bretagne

Our family has always loved Moncontour as it was one of the numerous towns we explored on the first Christmas holidays we spent in France after buying our home. There's more to see and love about Moncontour-de-Bretagne than first meets the eye, so read on and find out more about this perfectly picturesque town in Brittany.

Perfectly Picturesque Moncontour-de-Bretagne

Moncontour-de-Bretagne is a fortified town perched on a rocky escarpment at the meeting of two small rivers in the Côtes d'Armor region of northwestern Brittany (department 22). It is between the two other charming towns of Lamballe and Saint-Brieuc (one of my closest major town centres).

A Guide to Mont-Saint Michel Abbey

What do you think of when someone mentions the region of Normandy? Do you imagine the world famous Mont-Saint Michel with its high rock dwellings, fluctuating tides and peaceful grazing sheep. And why not, it's a stunning site that draws many people to Normandy.

The people of the Middle Ages believed that Mont-Saint Michel was a representation of the heavenly Jerusalem on earth, an image of Paradise. I think many of us would agree that photos of the sun setting on the Mount or grazing sheep upon the marshes still looks a bit like Paradise!

A French Collection Podcast Is Launched

Announcing the Launch of our New Podcast 'A French Collection'

And so after much procrastinating and rumination, I've finally done what I've been talking to my inner circle about for ages, and launched the podcast of A French Collection.

If you, like me, love to listen to Podcasts and audio books while you drive or take your daily exercise, then our podcast is for you. Listening on the go about living in France, travel discussions, interviews with authors and special guests, book reviews and more, our podcast will save you reading time and entertain you.

New 2021 Trends in Purchasing Property in France

New 2021 Trends in Purchasing Property in France

Are you thinking of purchasing property in France and wondering if the pandemic has affected the property market? Have you been wondering what the new trends are for 2021? We wanted to find out more also, so we chatted with Joanna Leggett, Marketing Director at Leggett Immobilier, the leading international estate agency in France. Joanna tells us how buyer demands have shifted due to the pandemic and where the new “hot spots” are in France.

How the Pandemic is Shaping Demand

"Wealthy investors see lasting life changes after Covid-19" was the headline to a research paper published by UBS Wealth Management recently. The report shows how buyer needs have shifted dramatically and helps us gaze into the crystal ball, to see what is in store for the French property market in the coming years. Three quarters of those polled said that they anticipate permanent lifestyle shifts and, of course, property is central to how this change will be implemented.

French Onion Soup Recipe

After writing our last post on the 'Onion Johnny' of Brittany, it seemed only fitting to write a post on the delicious and traditional soup - French onion soup. Whether you belong to the camp of crediting the creation of onion soup to Paris or the camp that believes it to be a Lyonnais invention, this recipe will satisfy your hunger.

We will also put aside for a moment the debate on when to add the bread, and whether the onions are coarsely sliced or puréed, and say that this recipe is one option (it has been inspired by a number of different recipes I've tried), and it has proved to be a mouth-watering winter option at our house as my boys have grown older. I hope you enjoy it also!

Onion Johnny of Brittany

Onion Johnnies making their deliveries. Pic: La Maison des Johnnies et L'Oignon de Roscoff

A Breton Tradition - The Onion Johnny

Have you ever heard of an 'Onion Johnny'? It's the name given to Breton farmers and agricultural labourers who travelled on bicycles selling the distinctive pink onions grown in Brittany to their neighbours in Great Britain. Onion Johnnies went door to door selling their fresh produce to anyone who would buy.

Tying the strings of onions to their bikes allowed them freedom to travel about wherever they could make sales and they were a regular sight on the streets of Britain. Travelling from the Channel ports they even made their way regularly to Orkneys and the Shetlands high up north.

The strings were securely tied to their bikes and because they weighed kilos the strings needed to be strong. There is a system to tying the onions on the string with the onions plaited into a tress, in order of size. The largest onion at the end is referred to as penn kapiten – the Captain.

The Way of St James – Camino de Santiago

Saint Jean de Port - St James Way - Camino de Santiago

Have you ever thought of walking the Way of Saint James or Camino de Santiago?

The term "The Way of St James" or the Camino de Santiago, is not actually one path (chemin), but rather it describes many Christian pilgrimage routes, dating from medieval times that journey from various locations in Europe, to the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. It is here, in this cathedral, that the remains of St James the Apostle are said to lie in rest. For the Christian faith, it is a most sacred site, and second only to Rome for pilgrim travel. - Pilgrimage Traveler

Walking the Chemin de Saint-Jacques-du-Puy

The four main pilgrim routes in France are known by their starting points and today we take a look at the Chemin de Saint-Jacques-du-Puy (which starts in Le-Puy-en-Velay as the name suggests) and ends at Saint-Jean-de-Port and also the Chemin de Compostelle. This is a popular path and we are grateful to Sharon Warren for sharing her insider knowledge about these paths having walked them many times.

« Previous Page

My French Platter Replenished: Book Review

A Journey to a Dream Life in France

Moncontour-de-Bretagne – Perfectly Picturesque

Moncontour-de-Bretagne

A Guide to Mont-Saint Michel Abbey

A French Collection Podcast Is Launched

Announcing the Launch of our New Podcast 'A French Collection'

New 2021 Trends in Purchasing Property in France

New 2021 Trends in Purchasing Property in France

How the Pandemic is Shaping Demand

French Onion Soup Recipe

French Onion Soup Recipe

Onion Johnny of Brittany

A Breton Tradition - The Onion Johnny

The Way of St James – Camino de Santiago

Have you ever thought of walking the Way of Saint James or Camino de Santiago?

Walking the Chemin de Saint-Jacques-du-Puy

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