Bonjour,
At the beginning of March, I was
invited to a webinar organised by the French Embassy on the PACA region
(Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur). Its beauty, diverse landscapes, climate, culinary
specialities and wines were discussed. Among the speakers was Barbara Santich, professor
emeritus at the University of Adelaide, who spoke about the history of food in
Provence. Following her presentation, we discovered two of her books, one of
which, Wild Asparagus, Wild Strawberries: Two Years in France, may well be of
interest to some of us (see your April La Mouette).
As autumn begins to show the tip
of its nose and the evenings grow slightly cooler, we are entering the perfect
time to enjoy the comfort of home, relaxing with a cup of tea, or perhaps a
glass of wine, and this edition of La Mouette!
April Fool’s Day, affectionately
known as le Poisson d’Avril (April Fish) in France, comes with a tradition:
secretly sticking a paper fish onto someone’s back. To celebrate this “fishy”
time of year, this month La Mouette is diving into French sayings and idioms
all about fish, along with a recipe to match.
Although only 11 members
participated in the picnic on 12 March, we were 11 “jolly good fellows” delighted
to get together and share a good time. As for the picnic baskets, they
contained a few cakes just waiting to be shared and enjoyed by everyone,
especially Mike! The afternoon continued with a game of pétanque, and although
the ground was bumpy, stony and sloping, this did not discourage the players.
For proof, take a look at the photos on page 4 of your April La Mouette.
Tasting seagull eggs, yes, you
read that right! In France, “seagull eggs” are a beloved treat, but not quite
what you might expect. A traditional Easter specialty from the coastal regions
of Vendée, Brittany, and the Île de Ré, these delicious confections are made of
praline (hazelnut or peanut), coated in smooth chocolate, and finished with a
thin, crunchy sugar shell. Designed to resemble real seagull eggs, they are
delicious and irresistible, one bite, and you are likely to fall completely in
love!
A Joyous and Happy Easter to you
all! Joyeuses Pâques à vous tous !
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