FINE WINE * DELICIOUS FOOD * EXCELLENT COMPANY



Last night was very much on my mind as I embraced my mug of coffee and stood as dawn began to break and looked out over at the mountains beyond. It was an evening of fine wine, delicious food and excellent company. We had sat down in the Dining Room of Le Chateau and commenced with a mouthwatering starter of sauté mushrooms, fois gras with caramelised onions and set off beautifully by a reduced sauce of Bonne Maman Cassis jelly. A bottle of Jurançon Moelluex, a speciality wine from the Jura mountains was declared first rate. Beautifully sweet it was voted as better than the traditional accompaniment of Sauternes. There was a sense of jubilation however amongst the guests as the said variety of wine was available at a local supermarket and is apparently unavailable in North America.

His Lordship and I sat there and congratulated ourselves on having the good fortune to have met so many diverse and wonderful people this year. That's right, you read it right, sat. You see we were guests of the guests. As jobs go at times it doesn't get any jammier or more enjoyable.

Lest I become unbearable with trumpeting the highs we have only been too acutely aware this week of the financial crisis. Laptops and blackberries have been feverishly clutched and a lone figure has sat hunched under the Olive tree over a computer screen avidly scanning figures. A scientific genius by all accounts who suddenly appears to have a rather jaunty spring in his step. 'Good day' ? I enquire. I'm having to keep it light on account of nearly causing him to have a seizure when repeating the news on the Dow Jones. It's the way you phrase it I daresay but I wasn't taking any more risks.

'It's the magic of Le Chateau' I inform him fixing him with a serious look. He appears unconvinced but I'm a great believer in karma.

To be on the safe side though I give his arm a congratulatory type of squeeze in case some of his genius and magic rubs off on me.

Without wishing to tempt fate, it just might.

Comments

bodran... said…
Hi sally Le chateu looks beautiful as usual...Imagine being the guests of guests lovely but quite strange i bet.. I'm ignoring all the financial hooohaaaa no papers! no news! hide my head in the sand and hope it will go away xx
Pipany said…
Well, I'm glad you were waited on for a change Sally. Wish the header pic was in colour at the top of your blog. It looks so gorgeous xx
muddyboots said…
what truly wonderful photos and you certainly know haw to make your guests feel at home! Here's to some proper plonk!
Pili pala said…
Our local vino is called Jurancon,(village outside Pau), is it related to the Jurancon you mentioned. Lovely to hear you've been waited on.
Milla said…
agree with pips about colour about the top. I'll hold you to Being Told ...!!! foie gras, weep! pasta for me tonight, yeah, I know, not *quite* the same. But what was the pud. And I think we need a photo of Mme Sally - soemtimes you describe yourself as a porker, and at others, what was it Kirsten ST??? MORE PLEASE MISSUS
Un Peu Loufoque said…
well you had better enter my "give away" on my Glazed Expresison Blog dear and see if your luck is in !
Pondside said…
Gorgeous photo!
How lovely to have the sort of civilized guests that recognize the heavenly place they've found and appreciate such thoughtful hosts. It's good to hear that you all had such a wonderful evening - the wine.......I can only imagine!
Cait O'Connor said…
Gorgeous photo.
It all sounds so civilised, I can only imagine......
Mrs ElderBerry said…
Have just found your site, l did some archaeological work in the area on the Cathar sites in the late 1940's. lovely lovely photos my dear
Sass E-mum said…
Your place looks amazing. We keep talking about going to Carcasonne too...
Casdok said…
Yes very jammy! And so beautiful too. :)

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