Food, or

One of the things I love about Switzerland

Food is one of life’s majors – not enough and one starves; too much and one becomes slightly or grossly overweight.

Therefore it is obviously of great importance to most of us, if not perhaps the first thing that comes to mind in any given day.

Those who know me, know that I like almost everything and am willing to attempt just about anything else (ok still can’t bring myself to sample insects although as a child I happily consumed chocolate covered ants).

I have had snails: drowned out by the garlic sauce

I have had oysters: slimy and got a bad one the first two times I tried, the third they were great so I stopped there.

I haven’t had frog’s legs but have heard that they simply taste like chicken.

I have had offal and the ones I didn’t know what they were were o.k. The though though has not had me inclined to indulge more.

I have had rabbit and horse meat: again unknowingly – fine at the moment, but I do avoid if there are other choices.

Haven’t met a cheese I didn’t like and although most wines are decent I now only drink those that I really like.

The past few days though have been rather a hodge podge of things I really, really like.

Saturday, son two and I had Indian in an Indian restaurant frequented by Indians.

Monday I had something I hadn’t had before: lentil moussaka with goats’ cheese topping.

Tuesday I went to Zurich with a friend and had veal in cream sauce with rösti (a better version of hash browns) and later in the afternoon one of the most decadent slice of chocolate desserts that I have ever had, and believe me I have sampled a few in my lifetime!

Eating gold at Sprungli in Zurich

They even write in the cappuccinos!

Wednesday it was kangaroo cooked on a hot slate, and today it was sushi.

All this and much more is readily available in Switzerland.

We even have decent vegetarian and vegan with more small places springing up.

Within a 5-minute drive I can get Thai, traditional French, gourmet French, pizzas straight out of pizza ovens, fondue and raclette, perch, great beef.

Am I hungry yet – no – lunch was sufficient but later I’ll enjoy perhaps some squash soup, some hummus and celery sticks or fennel.

Life, when it comes to my stomachis very fine indeed!

“Put a Twinkle in your Wrinkle”

How I wish that I had invented that particular phrase, but I had never heard it until a friend sent me an e-mail with that title. What followed was a lovely uplifting series of photos on aging, some of which have made the rounds many times, but precious if only for this new phrase.

It is an expression from “anonymous” unfortunately so I can’t even give credit where credit is due.

We can however all reflect on how to accomplish this.

And there are as many possible ways of achieving it as there are persons growing older.

My twinkles are often from nature:

Meillerie - lunch in a restaurant on the lake front yesterday

sunrise a few weeks ago

Aoste a couple weekends ago

sunrise a few weeks ago

A much photographed lone tree in Corsier

Yvorne, Switzerland

But they can also be from a good meal, a lively conversation, a book, a piece of music and although I love being on my own, many of my twinkles come from sharing time with friends and family.

risotto on the boat in April

Brunch at my older son's a few weeks back

I have always maintained that if one doesn’t want one’s wrinkles to show, one’s face needs to be mobile. Smiling at someone brings their eyes to your eyes with less attention given to the rest of the face. Laugh and they laugh as well, quite often shutting their eyes slightly, which serves quite well to reduce their vision of your wrinkles.

And hey, even if our‘s are noticed– wrinkles are the badges we wear proudly to prove that yes, we are still here, we have survived what life has thrown us and continue to observe, enjoy, take part in and love life!

Fine Food, Fine Friends

I may have had a bit of bad luck in breaking my arm; a bit of a slow-down-and-take-it-easy forced on me by circumstances beyond my control (you don’t really think that I did it on purpose do you?); have had to learn patience, yet again, but in my “malheur” (bad luck) I have been extremely lucky.

I have been taken out, accompanied out, taken others out (they drove), had food delivered on a regular basis, even had a friend cook an entire meal and bring it to me so that we could enjoy it together – and she had to travel by bus across town!

I have not lacked for food – some days had three offers to take me grocery shopping and other days it was who is available or whom haven’t I “let” help me yet.

To say that I am blessed doesn’t cover it, especially when one considers that this has been going on since mid-January.

The latest in a long line of wonderful support, chocolate covered almonds from one particular store’s line of “Fine Food”.

My friends are not only fine (Forever Inventing New Events), but wonderful beyond what one could reasonably expect!

Hotel Julia

Remember back earlier this year when I declared Hotel Julia closed? I did mention that anyone who had ever stayed was not subject to this arbitrary closing, nor did it apply to family members regardless the distance of the relationship (i.e. fifth cousin? Not a problem). I have only broken that rule once this year.

I have recently discovered an exception that I am willing to allow: anyone who not only proposes cooking a meal, but then does so in such a manner that it is a gastronomical experience, can apply for the waiver of the rule!

When one of my former visitors (former across-the-hall-renter of my housemate who promptly became my friend during her first visit years ago) called and said that she and her new husband were going to be in town and wanted to see me whilst they were there – they would be looking for a small hotel – I replied “no you won’t, you’ll be staying here”. Not only is she lovely, but I was going to lose housemate and husband that week as they needed to get back down to Southern France for the visit of her daughter, and I had no one for the cats. What could be better: I get cat and house sitters, they get free lodging?

Well actually there was and is a BETTER: both cook superbly well. We had barbecue with all the vegetables and potatoes grilled as well as homemade hummus and tabouli. Along with the good conversation, champagne (provided by R – many thanks) and laughs a night to be remembered.

As I had to spend Sunday there as well (unplanned) we got to continue the party and I was treated to another glorious dinner that night. In fact the company and the food were so good that I am going back a day earlier just to enjoy both again before they return to Paris.

So exception number one comes into existence – all gourmet cooks may apply.

Actually forget to take individual pictures of the hummus and tabouli but both were present on the table.

An amalgam of experiences

Sitting in the coffee shop across from the church – awaiting a “body” for another writing session – there were plenty of interesting details from the candle flickering deep within the church to the cat using its door as a scratch pad (after all no one seems to have been able to communicate to the cat that a good wooden door – church or otherwise – isn’t a good scratch pad: it was there – he used it).

Open door - the glow of a candle seen on the street

Church door as a scratch pad - and a black cat at that!

 

After a couple fun writing exercises I then proceeded to join one of my friends for a hike into the mountains above the village so that we could look back down upon both the Mediterranean and the village – the castle of Valmy taking pride of place. http://www.chateau-valmy.com/le-chateau-valmy.html for more information in French. 

Château de Valmy, Argelès-sur-Mer

Constructed in between 1888 and 1890 by a Danish architect commissioned by a lawyer – Jules Pams - who married the daughter of a cigarette paper manufacturer, upon their deaths the upkeep was too expensive for the inheritors and it sat empty until Victor Peix fell in love with it. Although Jules Pams became the Minister of Agriculture in 1911 and in that capacity managed to install sweeter wines as valid and the AOC as a label, it was Victor Peix who developed the cellars, building more at the foot of the castle and sending his wines throughout Europe via the railways.  However by 1980 the castle and its grounds were closed and it wasn’t until his grandson – the present owner – took over in 1997 that Valmy came back into its own.

The view further up the hill takes in the entire surrounding area from the Pyrénées to the Mediterranean. And the paths on the mountain are numerous – a very enjoyable hike.

Mountain path similar to those of my youth

the beginnings of a branch shelter: we found stone ones as well

The area is beginning to be very well labelled for hikers

Lots of water this spring meant the odd river or fall where usually there are none.

We had already reserved lunch back at the coffee shop, due to the day’s dessert: strawberry and custard tartelettes (mini pies). 

Tratelette aux fraises

The evening was spent suspended in our little “The Good Wife” world – with yet another tray of “nibbles” and the remainder of the champagne (a good cork keeps it fresh for days).

All straight from the market!

This morning was another writing session and as my stories were short I had time for a very short reflection brought on by what I saw outside the window.

She lay there her head small lavender pansies; the belly full of cancer a bright spring green tapering down to the golden blossoms of her feet: just a flower pot; gone yet very present

It may seem as if this particular trip is very food oriented – and that it is – it has also been a great deal of laughter and friends: thank goodness for a younger son willing to stay in the house and take care of the cats!

TPP – no not the Trade Agreement, rather

Tapas, Passing Time and Palm Sunday.

Tapas, wonderful tapas: Saturday night we, three friends, headed for Al Raparou in Argelès-sur-Mer www.facebook.com/al.raparou where we ordered a selection of tapas and washed them down with a local wine, a Mas Rous.

To the tune of much laughter, oh-ing and ah-ing and in particular ummmmmmmm….ing we proceeded to thoroughly enjoy ourselves.

Al Raparou

Tapas galore

Great little local wine

Passing Time: That time of the year that I absolutely abhor (and no it isn’t too strong a word for how I feel!) when we loose an hour during our sleep. Least said, best said.

Palm Sunday: the bells rang at 10 and I wondered then if it was for mass at the church down the street to end, or for its beginning. When they really rang at 11:30 I knew that church was out so walked the 50 steps to the end of the street to enjoy the sight of all the believers having their palm branches – in this case usually olive tree branches – blessed.

Church in Argelès-sur-Mer

Local equivalent of Palm branches

Bunches and bunches

One of the angel statues on the square

Then it was off to the harbour and a delicious lunch at one of our friend’s restaurants:

Sofi at T’Hé au Quai https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006052279360&fref=ts where she produces some of the loveliest local delicacies.

Even the sky needed sunglasses

table settings at T'he au Quai

Hors d'oeurves

Local speciality a "Torrade" with salad

Every bit as good as it looks!

A walk along the harbour walls (we left the beach for another day as very windy) and yet more interesting cloud patterns made the day feel full – and very vacation like.

 

more interesting clouds over the harbor

"Jaws" - which number?

Village R & R or…

The (boring) story of my past two days vacation: for any of you who are allergic to the “I” or “we” narratives, stop right here.

The Canigou - photo especially for Rick who is probably homesick

Now R&R stands for rest and relaxation – and that was the main reason for coming, however I could also add F&F for Flowers and Food or 80 steps – the amount it takes to go from my housemate’s lodgings to the local cinema where we saw a film on Iceland (fond memories of our trip almost seven years ago).

Although said housemate was no where to be seen upon my arrival – it turns out that she was in the hospital with yet another oesophageal attack (but was getting out shortly according to the landlord who heard me ringing the bell) – we did recuperate the flowers that she had bought to welcome me from the doctor’s office yesterday morning.

beautiful lilies

Once these attacks have been taken care of – she has no lingering side affects (thank goodness) so once we had had our “writing session” when we saw that the chocolate tarte was part of the lunch menu we reserved seats!

Tuna steak with a tarragon sauce, rice, salad and grilled tomato

chocolate tarte - the whole "formula" was EUR 11

Sparkling water makes pretty ring reflections

After lunch in order to somewhat compensate for the calories (note I did say somewhat – I needed to have hiked 50 kms probably) I took a walk around the village and over the bridge to check out the water levels (flooding earlier this year was bad and it had rained heavily again last week). Cloud formation was fascinating as was the view towards the Canigou (local mountain).

The "Massane" river

Yes, this is the "normal" crossing - sometimes one can't.

 Of course coffee time rolled around and it was out to check the new tearoom: I approve.

Afternoon coffee and a cookie

Then we had our own little repast, including champagne as we set down to finally look at Season 5 of “The Good Wife” – I have had the DVDs for months now, but our divergent schedules had not allowed us to start. All in all the perfect holiday day.

Foie gras, cheeses, champagne - what's not to like about "nibbles"

This morning was market day – in a village in Southern France, it is always a big deal and my favourite olive guy was there so life is good. We sensibly ate leftover lentil soup and a fresh green salad from the market before I had a “pause” on the couch.  Then it was 80 steps to the cinema the film on Iceland.

Part of the Saturday market that spreads throughout the village

rain spouts are fascinating in this part of the world

Another unusual cloud formation on today's walk

Tonight we’ll visit another friend so that I can see her new flat then the three of us will go have “tapas” (the Spanish version of cocktail nibbles) in the new Tapas restaurant. I will again sleep splendidly – especially knowing that Sunday is the one day the trash pickup doesn’t take place: at 5:21 both mornings they were just three feet from the foot of my bed!