L’Art de Bien Manger

  • What we Ate in Tonnerre

    What we Ate in Tonnerre

    We’ve been on another one of our legendary road trips through France, mainly to get our dream wood fired stove, but then as goes with our legendary road trips, these come with the most interesting sides included. The stove really is a dream, a big black beast with brass fittings and it stood in a Read more

  • Autumn at the Castle and Magret de Canard

    Autumn at the Castle and Magret de Canard

    Autumn has safely arrived at the castle and I can’t say I’m disappointed, so far it’s given us a splendid show of dramatic weather, torrential rain followed by golden sunsets, crisp and misty mornings and watery light flowing in through the kitchen window. We’re now having the wood fired stove going all the time, which Read more

  • Summer of Old Gals or Drinking Wine with my Back against the Warm Stones of the House

    Summer of Old Gals or Drinking Wine with my Back against the Warm Stones of the House

    Life lately consists of cooking preserves, restorations and kitten. So far I’ve made a variety of confitures, pickled cucumbers, marinated zucchini and baby egg plant, oignons confits, peach cider, verjus and tomato. We will eat all those things in a couple of months, when the world will have so much changed, and summer be a Read more

  • Affogato Napoleonato

    Affogato Napoleonato

    The summer is slowly coming undone at the seams, still strong and vigorous in the middle of the day, yet there’s a hint of autumn weaving through its frilly ends, later, when the sun goes down. In the morning, I get to see the sun rise again. I know it’s rising for it’s the first Read more

  • A Dusty Suitcase and Other Stories

    A Dusty Suitcase and Other Stories

    This post shares a personal story about wearing a vintage dress, finding a stray kitten, and working on restoring a winter parlour. The writer also promotes a retreat with a professional photoshoot and a medieval castle cooking experience. The tone is nostalgic and optimistic, with a touch of whimsy and excitement for future events. …… Read more

  • French Summer is Citronnade

    French Summer is Citronnade

    It is oh so warm, finally, I could very well spend all day on the chaise longue with book in hand, legs in the sun, except I can’t, chateau obliges, as I’m the head architectdecoratorplannerremoverofrubbishprimeexpertonscrubbingandscraping. But them as works hard merit delightful breaks, which I indulge in often and severally. Now in summer, in France, Read more