Comments on: The Languedoc

By: Charles G Thompson

Charles G Thompson — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 18:16:19 +0000

A friend and fellow food blogger had trouble getting her comment to post so I am adding it for her...

Thanks Afaf!!

"I was reading your post and I enjoyed it so much! I think you probably think I am making this up!! But I grew up in the same exact environment, I used to go to our back yard and pick Swiss chard and fava beans and eggplant and more especially squash, tomatoes and cucumbers, and you do taste the earth when you eat it, I can still taste the food there after all these years. The markets, the life style, the air, all so different!

I do love living here, but your posts bring back memories from home. Thanks for sharing your amazing trip!"

Afaf

By: Charles G Thompson

Charles G Thompson — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:45:39 +0000

Thanks Phoo-D & Plumpest. I appreciate the wonderful comments. I hope to get the recipe for Gratin of Braised Swiss Chard posted soon, Phoo-D. You are a 2nd vote for Funny Face, Plumpest, I have a running list now and will report back… and those cheeses were totally swoonable and major yum!

By: plumpestpeach

plumpestpeach — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:12:14 +0000

Definitely Funny Face. Your shots are great, and that cheese…swoon!

By: Phoo-D

Phoo-D — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:58:52 +0000

Marvelous description and photos! Now I really want to visit. It sounds like the region is just our speed. Did you happen to get the recipe for the Gratin of Braised Swiss Chard? Our garden is overflowing with chard right now. Can't wait to read more about your trip!

By: Charles G Thompson

Charles G Thompson — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:06:57 +0000

Thanks 5 Star. Sounds like you did the same trip we did – it was a great combo Spain and southwest France. The Languedoc is a new favorite area of France for me. More coming soon!

By: 5 Star Foodie

5 Star Foodie — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:00:54 +0000

Oh, this was the next part of our honeymoon trip after Spain! I love the Languedoc region, their cuisine and wines are superb! Thanks for sharing these beautiful photos! Looking forward to reading about all the details!

By: Charles G Thompson

Charles G Thompson — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 03:55:40 +0000

Thanks Jo! I love everyone's ideas on what Audrey Hepburn movie it might be. Guess I better figure it out and report back. The cheese was amazing. :-)

By: MyLastBite

MyLastBite — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:34:59 +0000

Charles, you had me at
"The Languedoc reminds me of an Audrey Hepburn movie"...

I'm thinking maybe "Charade"!

Beautiful photos! I'm jealous, especially of that cheese!

By: Charles G Thompson

Charles G Thompson — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:31:02 +0000

Thanks, Phil! Glad you enjoyed it. I'm glad to know that someone else knows what I mean about that earthy taste of fresh vegetables. I think it's probably that I've been eating too much store bought produce so it's always a surprise to taste stuff right out of the ground. One forgets. It might be 'Love In The Afternoon,' I'll have to check. A friend on Facebook said it was 'Funny Face'. Love having everyone's input.

By: Phil

Phil — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:14:50 +0000

Great recap of your trip to the Languedoc, Charles. Thanks for sharing it with us. I had no idea that's where cassoulet originated. It is now my favorite town in all of France.

The earthiness you picked up in those freshly picked vegetables wasn't something you were making up. It's your refined pallet and ability to taste what is absolutely true – that fresh things taste of exactly where they came from.

Just as fish plucked right from the ocean taste of the sea, fresh vegetables pulled from the ground taste of the earth. There's an organic quality to this that seems inexplicable, but I think it's a gift from Mother Earth to all of us — and it's a beautiful thing.

Glad you got a chance to experience that, and thanks again for sharing your stories with us.

PS: The Hepburn movie wouldn't be "Love in the Afternoon" would it? That was my mother's favorite. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050658/