Food in Provence (and elsewhere)

Assiduous readers of this blog will have noted the scarcity of updates. I could blame pressures of work, but that excuse won’t wash now I’m retired. And as I’ve signed up for 3 months of cooking and pastry courses at Gastronomicom it’s maybe time for more frequent updates.

J and I drove down to Cap d’Agde on Thursday 27th for a look around before registering at the school on the Saturday. There’s time for a windy walk along the beach before dinner. We visit the roquefort caves on Friday with a detour across the Millau viaduct.

Registration at the school on Saturday is easy enough but checking in at the residence is a pain. The reception opens at 3pm, not 2pm as we’ve been told. And then we find that the handles for the blinds are both broken, the one for the door to the balcony so badly that it can’t be used. Due to be fixed on Monday, apparently. Let’s hope so as reception is only open during school hours—a departing student at the school couldn’t praise the classes highly enough but said dealing with the residence folk was a pain. Anyway, we settle in and have a very acceptable meal of duck breast and fried courgettes after a trawl round the local Intermarché (and a trip back for an extension cable and multisocket).

To Sète on Sunday. Minor problem as the chosen car park is great for a stunning view from Mont Clair, but not so good for access to the town. We find another and decide the 2km walk along the corniche is what we really want. And the views are good. We reach cafe land a little before 12 but the advertised grilled sardines at Le Saint Pierre are too good to pass by so we nab the last table in the shade. And start a stampede. Food—sardines then an excellent grilled sole for me, razor clams then daurade for J—is the best we’ve eaten so far.

J suggests finding a cheese shop as we forgot to buy any at Intermarché. There’s one in the Halles nearby so we go there, wander back then J heads back home.

I finish unpacking then check the bike route to the school. Bike path all the way, although google wants to send me through a field!