Our House in Provence - Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Well, it’s lunchtime and I’m hungry (so, what’s new, I hear you ask yourself!) and thus it is without any apology at all that I am going to review a foodie blog!

The one that I have chosen is Our House in Provence and is by Michel Augsburger who is the co-owner of a popular French bistro called Bistro Des Copains, located in the charming town of Occidental in Western Sonoma County California. In 2008 after searching for several years and visiting many houses in person and through the internet, Michel and his wife Shirley bought a 17th century stone village house in the medieval village of Sablet which is in the Vaucluse region of Provence France.

Starters……

The blog starts, quite logically, with First Memories of France.  Here, Michel recounts his early memories of visiting his relatives in France.

He returns to Metarie Neuve Today and shows that the house where he spent holidays as a child is still is the family and is still visited today.

And even when he is in California, Michel has Memories from the Metaire Neuve on the wall of his bistro.

All that writing has made me hungry.  Perhaps we’d better take a quick break with a trip to the Tuesday Morning Market at Vaison La Romain.  As Michel says… “Provencal cooking uses a lot of garlic and you can find tables of it” at the market.

Main Course…….

A trip to the Restaurant Le Cercle, Les Issambres proves the old adage that you should (in France, at least) eat where the locals eat.

Or, of course, you could eat at Chez Serge at Carpentras where the thick lentil soup looks particularly nice.

Or you could try to choose between Les Abeilles at Sablet or Restaurant Le Mesclun at Seguret.

Not an easy choice, I do have to say.

I’d probably be tempted by the Petit Gris de Provence with Swiss chard in a saffron cream sauce followed by roast leg of lamb, served with coucous and baby vegetables in lamb jus at Les Abeilles but that would mean missing out on the Salmon over a summer minestrone broth at Le Mesclum.

Desert…….

Happiness, as we all know, is a field of Sunflowers!

It could also be a return to Provence or a quick trip to the Café des Sports at Sablet for a small glass of wine or, maybe, a Pastis instead.

But I know that what would make me really happy would be to visit some Coquelicots in Provence and then sit down for  Sunday Lunch at Le Brin d’Olivier, Vaison la Romaine.  I think I’d have trouble deciding between the Salmon or the Duck’s Breast and so I’d probably have to order both!

Un Petit Digestif?

Oh, go on then, if you insist!

A trip to Du Verre à l’Assiette in Gigondas shows how great a simple restaurant can be.  Just look at that Vegetarian Tart!  I could almost (but actually, not quite!) give up meat for that!

Then there’s Bouilabaisse in Cassis followed by a visit to Venasque (one of the most beautiful villages in France) for another vegetarian meal but, don’t tell anyone please.  I don’t want to start getting a reputation for that sort of thing!

Finally, and it really must stop here as Je n’ai plus de place…. the staff of Michel’s bistro in California come to France to sample some real French food (as you do…) and ended up eating moules gratinés followed by onion soup gratinés.

This was a subtle introduction to the main course… what else but cassoulet au confit de canard!

So, summing up……

You need to be prepared to let out your belt after visiting Our House in Provence (and maybe going on a diet as well!)

The author not only loves food but it’s also clear that he loves Provence as well.

My advice is (just between friends, you understand), you should go on and treat yourself, you can always diet tomorrow (indeed, my diets always start tomorrow!) – why not wander down and knock on the door of Our House in Provence.  I promise you, you’ll eat well there!

And me?  Well, after this review I’m starving so I’m going to go and sit at The Prettiest Table in Provence.  That leg of lamb with roasted potatoes sounds heavenly; with dripping fat of the lamb turning the potatoes golden brown and accompanied with mushrooms in a cream sauce and a tasty cucumber salad.

Come and join me?

All the best

1 Comment

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  By Michel Augsburger, July 30, 2010 @ 1:45 pm

  Thank you Keith for such a wonderful review and trip down memory lane. Yes, I love food and Provence and love sharing that love with anyone who’s intereated. I enjoy your blogs and check them out first thing every AM. Keep up the great work. Have a wonderful day.

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