Blogs from Beaune, Burgundy, France, Europe - page 5

Wednesday - Religieuse, Wine Tasting and Chalon Chocolate Nuns This morning Nick and I are sent out to a particular patisserie Anne has discovered in the village of Ladoix. We have been sent to buy pastries -“religieuse”, which are cakes which are meant to look like nuns and just happen to be full of chocolate. I’m not sure why these cakes need to be shaped like nuns and called “religieuse”? Are they meant to have any religious significance? Could I eat a big chocolate cake instead of going to church? They do bring to mind a Tom Waits song, “Chocolate Jesus”. As I’m reading through my scribblings I’m watching a news item from my local TV news and I can see a lot of people queuing up to touch the perspex case which covers another case ... read more

Sunday - Les Joyeux Temps de La Vendange Mont de Sene We take a drive out to Mont de Sene, also known as Le Montagne de Trois Crois. Even with my limited French I’m looking out for three crosses on a hill as we are driving along. There are views out in all directions. Nick tells me that sometimes he has been able to see Mont Blanc from here but today it is a little hazy. We’ve brought a picnic with us - just some bread, cheese and water. Being a Sunday there are a number of families out picnicking too. We feel very underprepared - the typical French family seems to have brought a table cloth and a full silver service with them and are making a big family occasion out ... read more

Friday - God’s Hotel, Bulgarian cookery and International Table Football Hôtel-Dieu Friday morning and it’s a visit to Hôtel-Dieu. If my French is any good {and we’ve already established that it isn’t!} that translates as “God’s Hotel”. I don’t think I’d be able to get a room there. Also known as Hospices de Beaune, it was originally established as a hospital for the poor in the late 15th century. It remained in use as a hospital until as recently as 1971 {Am I showing my age by describing 1971 as “recent”?!?} but has now been opened as a museum showing the hospital as it was back in the 15th century. The guide books describe it as one of the best examples of 15th century French architecture and it is certainly worth a visit. The roof, which ... read more

Tuesday - Baked Beans to Beaune From one extreme to the other. From a part of Spain where you wouldn’t know you were in Spain to a part of France which is very, very French. Beaune is in Burgundy. It was once the capital of the Duchy of Burgundy and is now a centre for the wine industry. I believe it has a considerable tourist industry based around the its vineyards but I’m not expecting to see any stag parties there! The time of year I’m going is the time of the “Vendange”, the grape harvest, and I’m hoping I might be able to get some casual work picking grapes {not too much work, though!} I’m visiting friends who have spent quite a bit of time there. Nick, who I’ve known since we were students together, ... read more

Alors, pour commencer je vais parler en française, mais vous n'inquetez pas je vais écrire en anglais aussi...en fait je crois que il n'y a que de deux ou trois personnes qui peut comprendre ce que je suis en train d'écrire...bon...ça suffit je vais continuer en anglais, même si j'aime bien d'écrire en français de temps en temps...et pour ceux qu'a compris: ne dites personne que j'ai fait beaucoup des fauts. So today, I'm writing for an incredibly important reason. Wine. Yes that's right, and not just any wine, today I visited one of the most respected one cellars in all of France. If there are any wine experts reading right now get ready for a huge name drop. Here it comes: "Bouchard Père & Fils". I know right? For those who have absolutely no idea ... read more