One of my lovely followers (and a local Cambridge foodie too) asked if I knew what to do with the delicious Mirabelle plums, which are in season in abundance right now. Hailing from the Alsace Lorraine region of France, the flavourful, mostly yellow, small plums are known for their versatility. Available from July to mid-September, and delicious in August, if you can get your hands on a fresh haul, they can be used for eating, cooking and making brandy! I promised some recipe ideas and I'll be the first to admit I'm not a great fan of making desserts so here are a couple of options from a quick internet search and a flick through Paul Waddington's book on Seasonal Food (my bible at the moment!)...

In London this weekend I managed to find a little slice of heaven in the hell that is Saturday afternoon shopping in Covent Garden. I was meeting my best London girl to seek out a specific dress at a particular shop so we were forced to brave the hoards of tourists and die-hard weekend shoppers. Our afternoon out led us to wander around Covent Garden market after lunch and we stopped off at Brasserie Blanc, the chain of French brasseries from chef Raymond Blanc, for fortifying crêpes and wine.  

Chez Janou is a restaurant in central Paris which could easily fall into the category of 'tourist trap' but somehow doesn't. It has all the makings of a slightly gimmicky, tourist-friendly spot. The location, for one, makes it easy to find and equally easy to stumble upon. In the 3rd arrondissement, the tiny street-corner restaurant sits a mere stone's throw from the famous Place de Vosges and its historic surroundings, including the Victor Hugo museum. Previous visitors to this area, which is of course exquisitely beautiful and a must-see for tourists, will know that bordering the place are galleries, shops and restaurants, all with top-notch views from the ancient cloisters to the garden and fountains (and price tags to match). Chez Janou, although only one street away on rue Roger Verlomme, effortlessly escapes the faux glamour and inflated prices of its neighbours around the corner and offers a quaint bar, terrace and restaurant serving good quality French and Provençal cuisine and an impressive Pastis menu.
    

One of my steadfast favourite Paris eateries is a laid-back, unassuming bistro occupying prime position at the corner of a busy junction on Avenue Ledru Rollin in the 11th arrondissement. The Bistrot du Peintre is a simple Parisian establishment. Tables and chairs sprawling onto the street with a plastic sheet awning to protect from the wind and rain in winter; tarnished Art Nouveau-style mirrors and polished mahoghany bar; and hastily scribbled menu boards displaying the day's plat du jour and the vin du moment. 

With The Boy off sunning himself in France for a week without me, rather than crying into my tea and toast I decided to treat myself to a very indulgent breakfast to enjoy with some freshly brewed coffee. I awoke to a bright, sunny day, a tidy house, and a stack of magazines to catch up on. I'd also had the foresight to stock up on brioche, eggs, milk and créme fraîche on my way home from work the night before. My conclusion? Being home alone isn't all bad and such a beautiful day calls for Naughty French Toast for breakfast!

Last weekend The Boy and I finally found ourselves spending some much-needed time at home. So we took the opportunity to enjoy the best sunny Cambridge had to offer. The ever-beautiful city positively gleams and glistens in the sunshine, buzzing with tourists, shoppers and students; boats bobbing on the river and sunbathers in the parks creating a laid-back holiday atmosphere. I was a little over-excited by the prospect of the first weekend of proper sunshine in Cambridge coinciding with my first visit to the annual Cambridge Beer Festival, the 39th to be held in the city. So much so that The Boy and I were keenly joining the queue on Jesus Green as close to 5pm on Friday evening as the pesky Day Jobs would allow.  

I spent the May Bank Holiday weekend in the beautiful town of Saint-Valery-sur-Somme in the north of France; a fabulous foodie weekend which marked the start of an exciting few months of gastronomic adventures through France, my absolute favourite destination for food and wine. I'm lucky enough to have trips to Paris, Lyon, Carcassonne, and Marseille lined up for this summer, followed by a quick visit to the gorgeous Dordogne region in September. Enjoy the first instalment of Exploring Foodie France and keep an eye on the blog for lots more to come!...

Last summer I found this great recipe in a free magazine from our local Carrefour supermarket in France. I was drawn to the pretty pink dessert like a magpie to sparkly things (as is always the case with me and girly, summery treats) and painstakingly translated the recipe when I got home. I was planning to make it for my guests to enjoy with a glass of bubbly at my upcoming birthday BBQ. Unfortunately, however, I encountered two insurmountable problems along the way: the weather last June was about as good as it is now so my BBQ was rained off, and, more importantly, one of the ingredients turned out to be unavailable in the UK!! Imagine my delight when I stumbled upon the elusive missing ingredient - biscuits roses de reims - in a French supermarket last weekend. Et voila! I can now give this beautiful strawberry, vanilla cream cake a test run before summer finally decides to make an appearance... 

 

The Boy and I spent a lovely weekend in France with Ma and Pa to celebrate our 30th birthdays and were lucky enough to be treated to a fabulous celebratory dinner at new restaurant, La Ferté, in the beautiful little village of St-Valery-sur-Somme. The charming holiday spot on the Picardie coast sits at the mouth of the river Somme, with impressive views across the Baie de Somme that change with the rapid tides, and plenty of Medieval character and friendly little shops and eateries to explore.

This time last Friday The Boy and I were on an early morning flight from Stansted to Alghero for a weekend of sunshine, relaxation and some amazing food and wine. I was feeling very proud of myself, having kept the weekend a secret for weeks and The Boy was relieved that this surprise weekend away for his 30th birthday didn't involve a spa or any kind of manufactured fun!! Having visited Alghero five or six times before, I was excited to revisit some favourite bars and restaurants, as well as the gorgeous sandy beach and city harbour. Quite a stylish destination on the north-west coast of Sardinia, Alghero is an intriguing little city providing the opportunity to explore the quaint, traditional old city hidden beneath huge bastion walls whilst enjoying the buzzing cosmopolitan local areas, modern eateries, exclusive yacht moorings, and beautiful golden beaches and crystal clear waters.

I went to see Caroline Horton's solo performance last night at the Junction in Cambridge. It was fantastic: imaginative, touching, heartbreakingly and delicately written, and, above all, performed with outstanding wit, talent and feeling.

Caroline is young (surprisingly so - I wondered about her age throughout the play and was astounded when I found out at the end that she was born in 1981). She is a clever and eloquent story teller. "You're Not Like the Other Girls, Chrissy" is the story of her French grandmother's unconventional engagement to an English soldier and her unwavering love for him in the face of adversity in occupied France during the second World War. Caroline, as Chrissy, plays the part beautifully - capturing the strength, resolve, eccentricity and faltering English perfectly.

The audience was drawn in from the very first scene - in the busy Gare du Nord in Paris, with a Chrissy full of hope and love, at last to be reunited with her uptight Englishman - to the last, captivated along the way by suitcases, opened up to reveal English countrysides, flowers, illuminated Paris scenes, and undercover BBC radio broadcasts. Chrissy's story, like her manner, jumps from humour, to elation, to despair, to anger, to wistfulness and willfulness. Cleverly illustrated with props and hilarious expressions - facial and vocal - Chrissy's tale lovingly describes war-torn France, family life, English idiocies and Liberation.

The most amazing aspect of Caroline Horton's performance is her ability to flawlessly act out something so close to her heart. As the play concluded, the audience shed a tear, some sobbed whole heartedly, as we were suddenly and completely immersed in Caroline and Chrissy's family, allowed to share an honest and poignant insight into their memories, and to experience the joy of a real life fairy tale.

http://www.carolinehorton.net/