Food in Provence (and elsewhere)

Market day in Valréas and, as usual, we head to the fishmongers first. There’s a difficult choice. They have Tassergal, a fish we’ve never heard of which is apparently similar to sea bass and bream in flavour. But they also have some large Rascasse, just right for baking in the oven. We’re told to take the rascasse if we only go for one as rascasse that large are rarely on offer. But we can’t risk not seeing the tassergal again so we go for both.

An annoyance on market day is that our favourite boulangerie is closed on Wednesdays. But I’m supposed to know how to make baguette now and J. wants to see the evidence. I started, of course, yesterday, so shape and cook them today. A little overcooked, I feel, but not a bad first attempt at home. And I prepare another batch of dough as most boulangeries will be shut for May Day tomorrow and even today’s were better than baguettes we’ve managed to buy on May Day in previous years.

I think the rascasse turned out OK

although even if Chef might have been happy with this plate, he wouldn’t have liked a picture of the two: they were mirror images. Food aside, we eat outside—yesterday and the day before there were thunderstorms in the evening—and, to J.’s delight, Cyd puts in an appearance.

To my delight, J. does the washing up. Perhaps the best part of cooking at home rather than at school…