Food in Provence (and elsewhere)

But before we get to today, a couple of updates on the past couple of days to make some things clear. First, although I did need to fill up the car yesterday, I did not drive to Youghal for lunch: I drove to Mogeely as usual and then cycled the 15km each way. Then, for the exam on Wednesday, CB (my neighbour in Pennywort) only picked the oven by my station because it was the only one free when he arrived; it would actually have been a whole load more convenient for him to use the one I was eventually assigned! There’s also a salutary tail to tell about his menu choice for any future Ballymaloe attendees. He cut the chine bone off a rack of lamb in an expert fashion and then French trimmed the bones, all part of his plan. What wasn’t was that you are left with a flap of the belly meat which he was expected to cut into pieces and cook—Ballymaloe is no waste, remember—which added at least 15 minutes of work to his schedule.

Anyway, the exams. I think I nailed the herb, spice, salad and pulse identification part in the morning—with the accompanying recipes for the herbs and spices and probably did OK on most of the rest of the paper which had a fair bit about the business sessions. I think many of us were a bit stumped by the number of “things” we were supposed to give. Most of us could think of 8, say, if we were expected to come up with 10. A more detailed revision of the exact things that were said in the course would maybe have helped rather than an assimilation of the general principles…

The afternoon was similar although I’m not sure I correctly identified the haddock and pollock as neither specimen appeared to have a thumbprint above the pectoral fin… Then the parts to have learnt off by heart were canapés, sushi & petits fours. I gave “financier” as an example of a petit four; I’m sure it is but I’m also sure it wasn’t one the was demonstrated so that’s probably a mark lost.

Still, course over and time for the farewell drinks and dinner…

But first the obligatory picture for J.: in another sign of how the times are changing, the sun is again below the horizon when I get up to make the tea.