Thursday, 26 December 2013

Christmas Lunch with Rural French Life..

Well....what a Christmas Day Lunch, where do I start... maybe by telling you where we went for our amazing Christmas Day lunch..

http://www.grange-aux-oies.com

An exquisite restaurant here in the Charente, in a village called Nieuil. It is set in superb grounds accompanied by a stunning Château that is actually a very beautiful, authentic Hotel, we have stayed there...very grand.

http://www.chateaunieuilhotel.com


Our lunch in the Restaurant was very memorable, the food absolutely amazing, the quality, presentation, and the delicious wines with their beautiful aromas/bouquet that accompanied each serving..

I am not a connoisseur of wine, but each wine we tasted complemented the food deliciously..some great pairings..

Our food was "vraiment délicieux"...right from our Amuse-bouche to Petit Fours with our coffee...

A great surprise for us was when we went to pay, it was already paid for by our son & his wife, Gavin & Marcie......Thank you xxx

We were given euros by our daughter & her husband, Olivia & Pete towards our lunch, but that is now paying for our Valentine Dinner here..We went last year and it was exceptional...Thank you..

A big Thank you to Patrice & Pascal and their staff...




Here are some photos of our day....hope you enjoy seeing them as much as we enjoyed eating them..



The Menu...



Pour votre apéritif : champagne Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin avec mises en bouche de la Grange
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Le foie gras de canard "Maison de Charente" confit par nos soins aux abricots secs
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La noix de Saint-Jacques et les huîtres Marennes-Oléron pochées à la crème de topinambour
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Le suprême de chapon fermier, fine farce aux châtaignes et petit jus aux baies roses
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Le brie de Meaux à la truffe de Bonneville
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Le minoir mangue cacao, soufflé glacé au chocolat "Michel Cluizel"
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Café et mignardises de la Grange








Bon Appétit....
























Monday, 23 December 2013

My hometown of Lincoln (UK) at Christmas..

We have just got back from our Christmas visit to Lincoln to see our children and Tiddlywinks. This will be our first ever Christmas in 37 years that we haven't been with them, and beginning to feel quite emotional now. It will be our first and last....  :-(

These Christmas photos were taken by Steve Jollands from Lincoln.

Lincoln is a beautiful Cathedral City, in the county of Lincolnshire. Lincoln developed from the Roman town of Lindum Colonia,which developed from an Iron Age settlement.

Lincoln's major landmarks are it's Cathedral a fine example of English Gothic architecture and Lincoln Castle, an 11th-century Norman Castle.

This is just a little taster of this amazing City, more information can be found here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln,_England












Lincoln Bailgate







Lincoln Bailgate


Lincoln High Street



Lincoln Steep Hill/ The Straight

Lincoln Bailgate



Tuesday, 17 December 2013

Christmas has arrive Chez Maison..



Time to turn the house into Christmas.....out came the tree and decorations. A fun afternoon listening to Christmas Carols and signing along..

Now Christmas is around the corner, we look so festive, even with the log fire burning..


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BRVkgaIcaE&app=desktop

Lounge


Outside

Outside

Outside

Kitchen







Library

Library staircase