Tag: carcassonne

some sights #7 – pics from the South!

The vigneron's wife

Hey, hey it’s time for some more sights from around our ‘hood!

I'm always passing this old 'cave co-operative' - the date on the facade always reminds me of some special people back home, and now there's always this lovely old Renault '4L'
I’m always passing this old ‘cave co-operative’, ‘Costos Roussos‘ – the date on the facade always reminds me of some special people back home(!), and now there’s always this lovely old Renault ‘4L’
This was a first for me... the ladies in the market vans had old quilts and blankets protecting their produce on a recent market morning. It was below freezing and bloody cold!
This was a first for me… the ladies in the market vans had old quilts and blankets protecting their produce on a recent market morning. It was below freezing and bloody cold
... and on this moring it was -4 degrees
… and on this morning it was -4 degrees
It's starting to snow, approaching Chateau Violet - a beautiful old wine property near us
It’s starting to snow, approaching Chateau Violet – a beautiful old wine property near us
Saturday morning at the supermarche... preparing delicious 'Aligot' - yes, a delightfully light, refreshing dish, composed of cheese, cream, potatoes, cheese, garlic, butter and then some more cheese
Saturday morning at the supermarche… preparing delicious ‘Aligot‘ – yes, a delightfully light, refreshing dish, composed of cheese, cream, potatoes, cheese, garlic, butter and then some more cheese.  Come on, it IS light – really!
Wine of the Month in our house- 'Boulevard Napoleon' with local smallgoods (where are you Dad?!)
Wine of the Month in our house:
the recently bottled ‘Boulevard Napoleon‘ with local smallgoods (where are you Dad?!)
the local hospital for the old metalheads
the local hospital for the old metalheads
Sunday night and pooch is hangin' at the pizza van
Sunday night and pooch is hangin’ at the pizza van
hot drinks at the cafe after a playing in the park...but check out the tele, the kids are getting clued up on winemaking
Hot drinks at the cafe after playing in the park
…but check out the tele! – the kids are getting clued-up on winemaking
downtown Narbonne
Downtown Narbonne
Carcassonne market
Carcassonne market
butcher collage 2a
Meat, anyone? Delicacies at the Carcassonne market… lungs, heart, tripe. Note: bottom right in the tripe corner, the butcher has his Rose ready and chilling
...and another glass of Rose. ONe of the many perks of living around here is the access to delicious, cheap wines served from tap straight out of the wall of our cave co-ops - simply BYO your own bottle
…and another glass of Rose.
One of the many perks of living around here is the access to delicious, cheap wines served from tap straight out of the wall of our cave co-ops – simply BYO your own bottle…
I love this - it's Pierre the baker's price list at the Olonzac market
I love this – it’s Pierre the baker’s price list at the Olonzac market
check out the airbrush work on the hot rod... a Renault 4L van
Check out the airbrush work on the hot rod
… a Renault 4L van
our local school celebrates 'Carnaval' each year, where everybody accompanies the school kids on floats in a tour of the village
Our school celebrates ‘Carnaval‘ each year, where everybody accompanies the school kids on floats in a tour of the village
A few things from last weekend's 'Vide-Grenier' (village garage sale): some keyrings and an old "Science et Vie' magazine from 1944.Ashamed to say I get obssessed with many things, advertising keyrings from the 60s is one of them! And I've just discovered there is even a name for it - 'Copoclephliie' (!!)
A few things from last weekend’s ‘vide-grenier’ (village garage sale): some keyrings and an old “Science et Vie’ magazine from 1944.
Ashamed to say I get obssessed with many things, advertising keyrings from the 60s for eg! And hang on, I’ve even discovered there’s a name for it – ‘Copoclephliie‘ (!!)
my favourite view coming out of Olonzac
my favourite view coming out of Olonzac
...and a favourite close to home, this wall in our hamlet
…and a favourite close to home, this wall in our hamlet
favourites, favourites, I think I have a thing about apples?
Favourites, favourites… now I promise this one wasn’t planned!  I think I have a thing about apples? (you started it Mum!)
on the road, yesterday
on the road, yesterday
Short, back and sides in lovely Toulouse
Short, back and sides in lovely Toulouse
the old 'manege' (carousel), downtown Toulouse
the old ‘manege’ (carousel), Toulouse

Phew, I hope you got through that!

xo

JamieOliver.com

The vigneron's wife

Ispiring times at the moment.  On the Easter weekend we were invited to lunch at Liz, Joe and Ryan’s at Domaine O’Vineyards to meet up with Danny McCubbin, the editor of jamieoliver.com.  Danny and his photography assistant Anthony (both Aussies!) were travelling around the South of France and stopped by to taste some of the wines and produce from our region.

They’d been filming a luncheon the day before at the ‘La Barbacane’, a Michelin-starred restaurant in the Hotel de la Cite,
a grand hotel situated within the walls of La Cite, the medieval city located inside Carcassonne, and were now out to see what gets served at a local ‘vigneron’s’ table amidst the vineyards.

I’ve got to admit that I was quite nervous about the whole thing (and I’m not even the winemaker! – can’t imagine how Benji must have been feeling), but once we’d met up with Danny and Anthony, I felt much better!  They are great guys – so sincere and laid-back yet incredibly inspiring when you listened to what they get up to for the site and in their personal time.   It’s inspiring to meet people like this who are so motivated to help and educate others.  I know I was shaking at the knees beforehand, but inside I had been thinking that anyone working for Jamie Oliver would have to be cool as well as full of energy, and I was right.

It was a delightful afternoon, full of delicious nibbles and dishes prepared by Liz (would LOVE the recipe for your spicy sauce Liz!)…

lunch at Liz's

And all of it washed down with wines by a few of us local producers:  Domaine O, Domaine de Chamans and Benji’s…

got some tasting to do...

Over the course of our marathon lunch some particular highlights in the wines for me were: Hegarty Chamans Blanc Minervois 2008,  Trah Lah Lah 2008 and Benji’s Minervois 2010 and his St Chinian Organic 2009.

Thanks to everyone involved in the afternoon – we had a wonderful time.

a bientot!