Saint Valentin

 

St Valentine’s Day in France. We don't usually celebrate this, but, with the coronavirus restrictions meaning that we haven't been able to dine out for months, we decided to take the opportunity to try the special Valentine's Day take away menu from our favourite local restaurant, L’Ardoise.

There were four courses on offer all well packaged and with instructions in french, of course.  We started with an amuse-bouche of smoked trout with a curry crème and pecan crumble. 

Then a tartare of coquille St Jacques ( scallops) with a dressing of walnut oil and lime with dried duck and black truffle. 

The main was a grenadin de veau ( a thick fillet of veal) with smoked marrow and a black garlic sauce , braised endive, a biscuit of carrot and cumin, and a square of polenta with mushrooms.

And to finish, and share, an amazing pillow filled with wonderful flavours and topped with a heart full of strawberry ganache.

It was easy to prepare and serve and delicious washed down with champagne. 

Takeaway taken to a whole new level.

bons voeux à tous

Quelle horreur !

 

The boat is usually in the river, not on the quayside

The riverside restaurant

We’ve had a lot of rain recently and the Dordogne river is high, but we thought all would be well when the rain stops.

Little did we know……………

If the river rises any higher...

The flooding of the riverside path has undermined this whole section of stone retaining wall . Other residents in the street have been advised to move their cars to a safer place in case the rest of the wall also disappears into the river.

View from the other side of the river

 

This is on our side of the river but on the other side of the bridge, for those who know our place.

The station wagon belongs to our friend Steffi. She was about to go out shopping but was delayed by a phone call when this happened. I’m suggesting she should buy herself a lotto ticket today.

Riverside houses on this street..... that is usually a pathway

Across the river in Sainte Foy la Grande.......the water level is still creeping up

Hoping that the road doesn't also crumble
or getting them out will be tricky

 

We await further developments.

Bonne journée mes amis