Provence from Fayence: Provence Guide

Merguez and tomato

Merguez and tomato
Originally uploaded by rogerwillco.

The produce is from Leclerc and the merguez was of the finest quality. Provencal tomatoes, as ever, parfait.

Fly to Nice?

I tried to fly to Nice this morning. I failed because of the massive disruption caused by a strike at Heathrow by BA's caterers and baggage handlers. I am complaining thus...

Ref: Cancellation of BA 344 (LHR-NCE), 12th August 2005

I write to seek compensation for my expenses owing to the cancellation of your flight BA 344. We made a reservation for a return trip for our family in March of this year.

As a direct result of this cancellation, we were forced to make alternate travel arrangements at a cost of £435. It was imperative that this was done, because I had to be in France in order to collect my two teenage daughters and to open up a house for some relatives.

I understand there were industrial difficulties which resulted in the disruption; however I feel it is British Airways’ responsibility to ensure that its contractual commitments with paying customers are honoured.  In my view, it is management’s utmost priority to have proper arrangements with its suppliers so that customer contracts are satisfied.

A positive outcome would be full reimbursement for the Easyjet flights I had to purchase and an assurance from management that these kind of disruptions for customers will not recur. I will stomach the loss of personal holiday time as well as the extreme inconvenience and distress this episode has caused me and my family as a gesture of goodwill

I will look forward to swift settlement.

I have been a lifetime BA customer – a glance at my file will show this: I trust that long-term customer loyalty still counts for something.

Houblon or what?

Last year in Provence, one of these hung out in the beams on the patio. It lived with a friend in the wall cavity at the top of the house and banged merrily away in the early morning. If you tapped back, it shut up. This year, it's been spotted in the old chicken coop. Our friends Ray & Jill said it's a "houblon" which is what we've called it ever since. But there's no such thing (I googled Houblon and it's French for hop).

What on earth is it? Answers in the comments, please.

Dog in Mons

Dogs love Mons en Provence, especially in hammocks.

The dog is Mackintosh, the reader is Annabelle and the book is Jennifer Government (a recommended read).

"Cueillez des'aujourdhui les roses de la vie," as Ronsard used to croon.

Anti-wrinkle jam

Provence company Noreva has apparently launched some anti-wrinkle jams (green tomato and green tea; melon and mango; blueberry and blackcurrant) that you can have with your breakfast. Smear the stuff on your croissants and baguettes and you'll look a teenager once more. "Noreva says a study by an independent laboratory, found that almost 90 per cent of women who took a spoonful for 10 days a month said that it had improved their skin."

I will buy some & report back. Marmalade is losing its appeal.

Provençal dishes

Five interesting recipes from Provence. Personally, I will try the roasted pepper tart and the courgettes with mint and feta. I'm off to Mons on Friday for a few weeks and I'll be taking 'em with me.

Number One Mons

How exciting! Number One Mons is open for business. I have seen Arja's vision grow, bloom and become reality for these gorgeous, luxury apartments in the heart of one the few truly unspoiled villages in Provence. The property blends the architectural magnificence of an 18thC town-mansion with modern designs and materials. And when you're peckish, you can nip into the Petit Bonheur.

Don't trust me, visit the site! Then rent one.

Michele wants decadence

Canadian girl wants decadence from Provence: the truth is out. Is this like the Romans stealing the idea for wine from the Greeks? Hey?

Provence clutter

Do not believe a word of the Telegraph on the subject of holidays in Provence. Who - in their right mind - would want to holiday amongst British tourists from Stockton, where "the Anglo-German couple who own the place serve fish and chips", where visitors get "a cricket match - west and up the winding lane that leads to Entrecasteaux, where Len Terry, 50, a Brummie builder, presides over the Entrecasteaux CC." Meanwhile, over in Chateaudouble, you can sit close to people "lunching with a consultancy of doctors and their spouses." And of course, the French lie about all sorts of things, including shop opening hours: "We needed water, so went to a village 'Eight till Eight' - which opened at 8.30am, closed at 7pm and shut for three hours at midday." And the food is dreadful: "Spent €70 in the supermarket for a barbecue, and it was disgusting: pink, shiny and inedible." Absolutely - the food in France is foul.

Don't come to Provence. Go to Languedoc or Spain. Or Florida.

Tarragon

I am uncomfortable about Vermont's attempt to promote tarragon (why are they doing it, I wonder?). The case seems to be around the assertion that "tarragon is to French cuisine what basil is to Italian cooking", which I am not certain will curry much favour (so to speak). "Tarragon is at the foundation of Bernaise sauce, the classic shallot, butter and egg concoction that is a rich accompaniment to almost every imaginable French dish," is another pillar of the argument, and I simply do not accept this statement. Anyway, I think Bernaise must refer to the Swiss city, but my research has not tracked down the source (even Wikipedia lacks a definition).

Finally, we have to deal with "tarragon is one of the mainstays of fines herbes, a classic French combination of finely chopped herbs that includes chervil, chives and flat-leaf parsley. Fish dishes often are served in France with a light sauce of fines herbes, shallots and butter. The French also like to top scrambled eggs with fines herbes and are known to make this dish a first course at dinner."

The French like to do lots of things, including cook with many herbs, and especially (and here I declare an interest, herbes de provence). Not much tarragon in that, I believe.