The Art of French culture

I definitely dig it in a big way!

You can say what you like about the French, I don't care. I think they are the most civilized bunch of peeps you ever met. Especially to a foodie like myself. Who else allows a two hour lunch break! You can even park for free between the hours of 12 and 2 to go and take your repas midi. It's as if the world stops in it's tracks and the chaos ceases to exist for the sacred 2 hour lunch breaks. Of course it is served with a carafe of red wine so you can enter the real world afterwards and be totally mellow for the rest of the day.

We experienced this eating extravagance on our recent visit to Rodez. I didn't think I would manage to eat 5 courses at lunch but I wasn't going to leave any. The restaurants name was La Boheme, and it is tucked away in a quiet corner next to the bakery. Bliss! Croissants, hot chocolate and baguettes for breakfast. Anyway back to the lunch.

We started with

Soupe compagne ( country vegetable soup) and fresh bread,

Cruditie which consisted of grated carrot, celeriac, and cubed beetroot,

Beouf saute (red wine based sauce), pommes anna and haricots vert with loads of garlic,

Fromage,

Then Croustouille des fruits. (Like a fruit crumble)

All washed down with lashings of red wine and espresso coffee.

I could definitely get used to such decadence. But the best part about our visit for me was the fresh oysters that we purchased from the Sunday market. I can't remember how many euros we paid for them but we got a decent bag full. They were enjoyed later that day with French champagne. They were big and juicy and by far the best I have ever enjoyed. Then as if that weren't enough we purchased some artichokes for which I made a hollandaise sauce with the most yellow eggs you ever did see. My arteries still haven't recovered but I'll die happy.

You can't go to France and not sample the wonderful array of fresh cheese that they produce either. We were staying quite near Roquefort which produces the most smelliest, runniest blue cheese ever. Accompany this with a couple of milder cheeses like remboullard and cantel a fresh baguette and a bottle of locally produced wine (Marsillac). Sit on the terrace and watch the world go by. What could be better in the late afternoon?

We did try a couple of other local delicacies. Fricandeau which is a cross between pate and a firm meat loaf. Totally divine. And farcois which is a market street meat made of ground pork, potato, spinach, onion and garlic. Cooked right in front of you. If you are not drolling right now then their is something very wrong with you.