La Liberté... France (Spring Sessions... 2012)

A last thought of Spring...
 Not long after our recent return to France, Katie and I set out early one morning (Comme d'habitude) to a local open air market, only to find it closed. Subsequently it was revealed to us that nearly all was closed (markets, banks, the post office, etc.) as it was May 8, the day marking the end of WWII. Red faced by lack of awareness, along with a poor marking of history, our presence was soon requested by neighbors for a commemorative lunch. As Charmé was part of the region of "occupied" France during the war, the appreciation and relief of liberation are still present.

Katie's Spring favorite: Lilies of the Valley
in the garden's corner.

 Again it was Alice and Aleric, forever thoughtful, who were our hosts, along with dear Laurence (the aunt of Aleric). Much like Sunday's, holiday's in France bring all pleasantly to a halt, adding to the still of the tranquil countryside. We began with Alice's gallette of lardon, mushrooms, and a bechamel, rich and savory, the crust delicate and light. Some of the local rosé fit in very well here. Grateful of a sun too recently rare, they took advantage of the opportunity to grill sausages (a pork and herb, as well as a Merguez, of course). With these, Alice included pomme purée. Butter, cream , and potatoes. Yes! A bottle of Roland's Merlot, smooth with a good weight, was opened. Cheese and greens... Coffee and éclairs chocolat from the patisserie in Aigre (Which Aleric thankfully found opened half-day due to the holiday.)... A pass on the cognac, but an absolute giving in to the sieste.

 The sun was hanging low in the sky when we made our way out for a late afternoon wander. Looping up past Antoine's rows of vines, and on towards the tiny hamlet of Moussac, we ducked down into the Marais; a pocket of fields split by a mill stream, where those in the village with an interest are able to lay out more expansive gardens in the dark, nearly black soil than those at their homes. Perhaps because of the recent extended rain, they were slow in growth for this time of year, but the pride and care were on full display: immaculate rows of strawberries, lettuce, and radish; stakes and string already in place to enhance the tomatoes and beans to come; white asparagus, hearty and determined, pushing up through the mounded soil, asking for the table.
 The paths of narrow packed earth, just large enough to allow for a small tractor, provided a good test of the progress in letting our new pup "off leash". Despite setting out sniffing and exploring, she would only allow for a few paces before checking in by way of "come on guy's" turn of the head, before continuing. It was not long until she kicked up a couple of chevreaux (small dear), previously hidden while napping in a patch of young wheat, sending them loping effortlessly away over the green waist high buds. A male pheasant, brilliantly dressed in claret and gold, was soon flushed from a parcel of sprouting corn. It was a handful of Didier's cows, trotting over through their meadow of tender grass that stopped Honey dead still, nothing like this having ever been seen on the mean streets of Hayward (where she had been picked up by animal control a few months previous). Unsure what beasts be these, she froze beside the fence shaking, a ferocious bark no doubt hidden somewhere deep inside her 7 lbs. frame, not able to surface. Unconvinced by my lifting her to be licked, we continued on home, just making it as the sun dipped behind the low hillside, and the small road that snakes its way up to Bessé.


Chez Gautier Cooking School: http://www.chez-gautier.com