In search of black diamonds

I was driving from Rodez to Cahors last week after looking at a new property and took the route through Lalbenque which is famous for its truffle market which started last week. 
Starting on the first Tuesday of December until mid-March in this is the place to go for black truffles or black diamond’s as they are known.  This market is busiest in the month of January, when the black truffles have their highest perfume and in December last year black truffles were sold for about €1,000 per kilo in some of the farmer's markets. It takes place in the main street, called "La rue du Marché aux Truffes” and is well worth a visit. The market opens on the dot of two o’clock and generally lasts just a few minutes with everyone hiding their “black diamond” treasure under red checked napkins, in paper bags or small wicker baskets.  If you are to make a day of it then arrive before midday and have a truffle omelette in one of the restaurants that line the main street. 

Truffles are strange looking fungi found just below the ground in open woodland, usually under oak or hazel trees, and their pungent aroma attracts many animals, particularly female pigs. The sow is said to be crazy about truffles because the truffle has the same musky smell as the sexual odour of the wild boar. Unlike mushrooms, truffle spores are not spread by the wind so they need animals to disperse them. Pigs need no encouragement to look for truffles. In fact, it requires constant vigilance and firmness on the part of the truffle hunter to prevent them from swallowing the lot. Nowadays, dogs are replacing pigs; they have no natural interest in truffles and can be trained to indicate with a paw the place where they have smelt them. They are also smaller, more manageable, don't tire as easily, and they don't go into a sexual frenzy when approaching a truffle.

All this is just part of the wonderful, rural South West of France.

Mine pies and a special recipe from France...

As Christmas starts to approach we forget the hot summer and start to focus on the festivities.  Whereas UK has one long holiday that stretches from Christmas Eve to New Year in France it is quite different!!  When I first moved here 20 years ago there was nothing – no Christmas trees, no decorations, no Christmas lights in the towns or villages and no turkeys!  Now, it is quite different with all these things available but France still retains its own traditions.

Most French homes decorate their homes at Christmas time with a Nativity scene or crèche with little clay figures called 'santons' or 'little saints' that are still made from moulds that have passed down since the 17th century.  Christmas markets have now begun and this year marks the third of these in my area of South West France.  Generally, the Christmas markets, with their little wooden huts selling gifts were traditionally in the North of France around the Alsace region but are now in the cities and small towns. 

Food in France at Christmas time is quite different from UK.  However, there is a traditional Yule log-shaped cake called the Buche de Noel, meaning 'Christmas Log.' The main Christmas feast is quite grand and is known as 'Le Reveillon', served as a very late supper held after midnight mass on Christmas Eve. Different regions have different traditional menus and in the South West it is oysters, turkey and foie gras.  French families also bake a Three Kings Cake with a bean hidden in it on the Twelfth Day after Christmas. The lucky person to find the bean in their slice is crowned the King or Queen, for the day.

Despite living in France I still  make mince pies and a tried and trusted recipe that works every time is this:-

Makes 18 mince pies

225g of equal parts of lard and cold butter, diced

350g plain flour

100g golden caster sugar

280g mincemeat

1 small egg

Icing sugar, to dust

To make the pastry, rub the cold, diced butter and lard into the flour, then mix in the golden caster sugar and a pinch of salt. Combine the pastry into a ball – don’t add liquid – and knead it briefly. The dough will be fairly firm, like shortbread dough. You can use the dough immediately, or chill for later.

Preheat the oven to 200C/gas 6/fan 180C.  Line 18 holes of two 12-hole patty tins, by pressing small walnut-sized balls of pastry into each hole. Spoon the mincemeat into the pies.

Take slightly smaller balls of pastry than before and pat them out between your hands to make round lids, big enough to cover the pies. Top the pies with their lids, pressing the edges gently together to seal – you don’t need to seal them with milk or egg as they will stick on their own.

Beat 1 small egg and brush the tops of the pies. Bake for 20 minutes until golden. Leave them to cool in the tin for 5 minutes then remove them to a wire rack. To serve, lightly dust with icing sugar. They will keep for 3 to 4 days in an airtight container.

Bargain Hunting!

If there is one thing that I enjoy more than anything and that is shopping!  Not food shopping I might add but bargain hunting for almost anything.  There is something about the thrill of the chase watching the bargains tumble in price and France have some superb sales.  I’m even addicted to sale buying on the internet where you can bargain hunt in the comfort of your own home – how good is that!

Bargain hunting is not just confined to clothes, shoes or whatever takes your fancy but to holidays as well.  Most of us now wait and see what bargains there are to be had and they are not disappointed.  Whether its 50% off or 2 weeks for the price of one, a bargain is uplifting and a personal sense of achievement by striking a good deal. 

Even at this time of the year when people are thinking of Christmas, the holiday adverts are on the TV already to catch the early booker or bargain hunter.

We at Quality Villas have some villas on special offers already for 2014 and as the weeks go on there will be more and more added. Why not check out our Special Offers page on our website to give you an idea of what is currently on offer http://www.qualityvillas.com/special-offers-france

If you would to talk to one of our experienced staff about our extensive range of luxury villas in France please contact our office on 01442 870055 or visit our website http://www.qualityvillas.com

Halloween and Toussaint in France

Visiting my local horticultures’ this morning to order my winter pansies and cyclamen I was met with a feast of colour in the shape of chrysanthemums.  Whilst we English see these pot plants as a splash of colour in our homes or conservatories in France they are associated with death and at this time of the year.  Every year on the 1st November the Catholic festival of La Toussaint (All Saints Day) is celebrated in churches and graveyards across France. Officially it is the day when all the saints recognised by the Catholic Church are honoured. The following day is Le Jour des Morts (All Soul’s Day) when people pray for the souls of the departed.  La Toussaint is frequently marked in cemeteries by the lighting of candles and the decorating of graves with chrysanthemums to remember loved ones who have died.  There are religious services throughout France and churches are also especially decorated around November 1^st, as many people pay an extra visit to church services at this time

Public life in France is generally very quiet on All Saints’ Day. Post offices, banks, stores and other businesses are closed. Outside of tourist areas, restaurants and cafes may also be closed for one or more days. Public transport service schedules vary depending on where one lives and intends to travel. Churches may be closed for visitors who do not wish to take part in the services and guided tours may not be available.

Just before Toussaint is Halloween (31^st October) and also known as All Hallows. Originating in America came Halloween which has become hugely popular in France and is usually celebrated by people of all ages going to parties at friends' homes, restaurants, bars, or clubs. The costumes themselves tend to be traditionally "scary" - mummies, ghosts, goblins, witches, and vampires.  At the moment there are costumes, pumpkins, hairy spiders and all sorts of weird and scary items in the shops for people to buy for their Halloween parties.

Trick or treating is commonplace now in France with children knocking at your door in their costumes asking if you will trick or treat.  It’s wise to say treat and have some sweets ready to hand over.  Children see this as huge fun and should you not be able to give them a “treat” they will happily go to the next house, whereas in England I have heard that should you say “no” you risk your door being kicked or verbal abuse!!

In the boulangeries you will find small cakes iced in orange and decorated with spider’s webs and mini pumpkins.  The theme of cakes comes from medieval times when people use to bake soul cakes and deliver them from door to door.

To me Halloween and Toussaint means the clocks going back one hour and that winter is truly upon us!

Following the black diamonds....

In South West France there are many markets which vary from Night markets in the summer to Farmers Markets or just plain Bric & Brac markets so it’s a perfect area for your South West villa holiday whether in summer or off season.

The most famous truffle market starting on the first Tuesday of December until mid-March is in Lalbenque which is close to Cahors in South West France.  This market is busiest in the month of January, when the black truffles have their highest perfume and in December last year black truffles were sold for about €1,000 per kilo in some farmer's markets. It takes place in the main street, called "La rue du Marché aux Truffes” and is well worth a visit. The market opens on the dot of two o’clock and generally lasts just a few minutes with everyone hiding their “black diamond” treasure under red checked napkins, in paper bags or small wicker baskets.  If you are to make a day of it then arrive before midday and have a truffle omelette in one of the restaurants that line the main street. 

Truffles are strange looking fungi found just below the ground in open woodland, usually under oak or hazel trees, and their pungent aroma attracts many animals, particularly female pigs. The sow is said to be crazy about truffles because the truffle has the same musky smell as the sexual odour of the wild boar. Unlike mushrooms, truffle spores are not spread by the wind so they need animals to disperse them. Pigs need no encouragement to look for truffles. In fact, it requires constant vigilance and firmness on the part of the truffle hunter to prevent them from swallowing the lot. Nowadays, dogs are replacing pigs; they have no natural interest in truffles and can be trained to indicate with a paw the place where they have smelt them. They are also smaller, more manageable, don't tire as easily, and they don't go into a sexual frenzy when approaching a truffle.

All this is just part of the wonderful, rural South West of France.