Showing posts with label The good life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The good life. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Lunch in Paris: Moules et frites

Moules marinière: Probably the most common and internationally recognisable recipe, Moules marinière includes white wine, shallots, parsley and butter to cook the mussels.


While walking down the Boulevard Saint Germain, in Paris last Summer I decided to stop for a bite to eat. Unlike other big city dwellers, Parisians still view the midday lunch break as an important daily ritual. One of my favorite dishes to eat in France is Moules-frites or Moules et frites, a popular main dish of mussels and fries originating in Belgium but also popular in France and in the rest of Northern Europe. In both Belgium and France, moules-frites are available in most restaurants. According to a survey conducted by TNS, moules-frites was identified as the second favourite dish in France, receiving a vote of 20 percent, narrowly losing to magret de canard which received 21 percent.



Since it was such a lovely day in Paris, I decided to eat outside so I could which people on the famous Boulevard Saint Germain.

My view during lunch. 

To start a nice fresh Salad

As a dish, the moules and the frites are usually served on separate plates or dishes so that the fries do not become moist. Often, the moules are served in the same pan and stock used to cook them. A second pan or dish is generally also provided in which the mussels' shells can be left once the mussels themselves have been eaten.

Moules marinière: Probably the most common and internationally recognisable recipe, Moules marinière includes white wine, shallots, parsley and butter to cook the mussels.

A delish Crème brûlée for dessert all washed down with French white wine. 


Monday, April 25, 2016

Lunch with my French friend Bastien in Arcachon, France.

My French friend Bastien enjoying our lunch overlooking the sea! 

During my month long vacation in France last Summer I decided to go to Bordeaux France for a week, I loved Bordeaux so much I decided to stay for two weeks! I rented a wonderful apt in a 18th century building in the heart of old Bordeaux, During my stay I invited French friends to come and stay with me in the wonderful two level apt. My good friend Bastien was one of them. In return he invited me to come over to Arcachon, France for the day, a hour trains ride from Bordeaux. The day was a little overcast but still nice. He first showed me the Dune du Pyla (often also spelled Dune du Pilat). The biggest in Europe. After a lovely walk around the village of Arcachon we stop for lunch at one of the many little restaurants overlooking the beach. 

Our lunch was the wonderful fish on mashed potatoes with wine. 



After lunch for dessert we had wonderful ice cream and walked the beach! 

Arcachon is a seaside town in southwest France that's known for oyster harvesting. Its 4 districts are named after the seasons. The Ville d'Été (summer) quarter is home to shopping streets, the town’s sandy main beach and a casino in the 19th-century Château Deganne. Ville d’Hiver (winter quarter) has extravagant 19th-century villas. South of the town is the Dune du Pilat, a huge natural sand dune.





Arcachon has many smaller beaches in the town centre, each of which is separated from the next by a few buildings or private property. Those in the centre get very crowded in summer, but if you follow Boulevard de l'Océan and Boulevard de la Mer towards the west, you'll find some less crowded one's. On the other hand, you are closer to the bars and restaurants of the centre if you stay there - and there's certainly more entertainment.






Whale tail sculpture by Emmanuel Janssens Casteels. 



Whale tail sculpture by Emmanuel Janssens Casteels.

Sand sculptures of an artist sleeping and working on the beach of Arcachon, France.







Sand sculptures of an artist sleeping and working on the beach of Arcachon, France.

The artist. 


Sand sculptures of an artist sleeping and working on the beach of Arcachon, France. 




A wonderful patisserie.