L’Art de Bien Manger

  • A Postcard from the Mountains

    A Postcard from the Mountains

    Recently we went to the mountains to Haute Savoie to pick up some heavy old doors to replace the 19th century pine doors in the tower. They are really lovely pine doors yet given this is a very big tower we started looking around for doors that are more in the spirit of fortresses and… Read more

  • The Scent of Wild Garlic

    The Scent of Wild Garlic

    A long time ago, during what felt like a huge adventure, living my life in a city. My shoes were always neat and clean and my hair wound into a respectable chignon, no stray strands coming loose. I wore black as if in constant mourning but then it was chic, to wear black (what a… Read more

  • An Easterly Cake

    An Easterly Cake

    We have been working hard over the Easter holidays in the upper tower room over what soon will become La Chambre Etoile. If all goes as planned it will be available for booking in late summer. I’m very much looking forward to the decorating bit, for now it was mainly stripping down old paint, restoring… Read more

  • The Jarret de Veau, also Foraged Mushrooms

    The Jarret de Veau, also Foraged Mushrooms

    It was a particularly overcast day when I cooked that jarret de veau. A jarret de veau, that’s a veal shank. To cook it right, it takes a lot of time and love and a little finesse. I was inspired by Mimi Thorisson’s recipe for poulet cooked in crème fraîche and garlic galore, as it’s… Read more

  • Window into the Past, the Gateau Sceycolais

    Window into the Past, the Gateau Sceycolais

    The other day I was desperate for an afternoon delight, not having enough time to bake one myself, I popped into the bakery in the village next door (I live in a mere hameau, a hamlet, with no shops and restaurants), because it was the only bakery open at that time (I’ll never ever get… Read more

  • Confessions and the Sea

    Confessions and the Sea

    Quite recently I stumbled across a website advertising a very cool project, to do with art and culture and a French chateau, so inspiring, but then I read that I was encouraged to choose an eco friendly way to travel there and that I could ask the hosts about carbon offset programmes. I don’t know… Read more