Friday, May 17, 2013

Welcome to my French party

 
French Party

Many thanks Anita, for hosting another French party and it will be great to go and visit all your other guests on the list.


Bonjour  – welcome to my French Party!
Well an important component of celebrating is of course the food. We ate in a number of places in France and something no French person would ever do without is cheese.

We sampled these lovely strong cheddar style cheeses at the France Show in Earls Court in London – they were strong and nutty in flavour with a creamy texture and long lingering taste.  I was amazed at the size of the cheese wheels and the great variety of cheese on offer.

Of course the inevitable friend of a good cheese is wine and we sampled wines particularly in the Bordeaux where we developed a taste for the rich reds and their distinctive and earthy terrior – the relationship of the wine to the land upon which it was grown and which gives rise to the truly regional flavour of the wine – so distinctive that those who know such things can tell you where the growing region the wine came from.
The wine in this photo is from a little chateau in the Bordeaux called Chateau Pomys.
We called there one cold cold night in February to dine in the restaurant – which it turned out had been kindly opened by the owners to allow us to dine. We were the only patrons of the restaurant that night and had the place all to ourselves – which was fun and a little strange.  The owners were so nice to us and we had a lovely evening with wonderful French food complimented with this lovely wine.

There is so much to see and do and to eat in France – this is a little traditional meal from a café in St Emillion – an amazing 15th Century town set on a hillside and riddled with historic buildings.  They say that the French macaroon (‘macron’) was invented there and a little shop still proudly states that on its wall.  We bought some but they all got mushed in the back of the car on the way back to where we were staying.  We had lunch in a little – but locally highly regarded café there and enjoyed the local meats and cheeses and a glass or two of wine.

France is about good food, good wine and friends.  We had a Sunday lunch with Kiwi friends in Paris.  Sunday lunch is a big deal in Paris and the whole town shuts down so families can be together.  These friends are not only our friends, but from our little Island of Waiheke.   
Buster ~ le petit chien

We enjoyed an amazing lunch with them and their cute little dog Buster and took a plate of Macrons from Montmartre as our contribution.  A great lunch and party with friends – glad you could come to mine and hope you enjoy these thoughts and some of the things that made my French holiday memorable.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend
hugs
Carolyn

76 comments:

  1. Oh...dear...wonderful lunch. Macaron, I like it!
    How are you?...KISSES...in my heart! NI

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  2. My dear Carolyn,
    this sounds beautiful and delicious, and I am so happy, you had such a wonderful French party!
    Have a wondeful weekend, my dear friend!
    Much Love and hugs,
    Claudia

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  3. Isn't Anita's party fun? We can go from blog to blog with our favorite Paris as the topic!
    Such wonderful food and memories, Carolyn. That plate of macarons is making my mouth water, even at this early hour!
    Have a wonderful weekend, my dear friend!

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  4. ooo lah lah! That cheese looks yummy! Suzy x

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  5. So much fun....
    Enjoy your weekend..
    Hugs x

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  6. How I would love to taste the French food. I love the look of those cheeses.
    Hugs
    Kay

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  7. How fabulous...good food and wine in France! What a marvelous trip! Enjoy your weekend my friend!

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  8. I am having so much fun hopping from Europe to Canada to NEW ZEALAND NOW, as my USA pals are still asleep! But the party has begun and Carolyn, CHEESE (though I can no longer eat it) is a treat beyond the senses. When I was in France 11 years ago, I couldn't get enough BREAD the size of trash can covers! The wine? That goes without saying, right? I enjoyed a delicious PEACH wine in La Dordogne that would make your eyes roll back in your head...teeheee

    THANK YOU my friend, for participating in this fête, for sharing the LOVE of France and the love the French have for all things beautiful, especially FRIENDS.

    MERCI MON AMIE, and visit the others when you can. LOVE! Anita

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  9. Looks you had a wonderful French party!
    Macaron on the blue plate is a beautiful arrange.My mouth is watering!
    Have a good weekend,Carolyn.
    Tomoko

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  10. Dear Carolyn!
    You' re also a lover of cheese and wine and France ....
    You' re little dog on the photo looks so cute!
    Happy weekend with you family!
    With love,
    Geli

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  11. Bonjor!
    Oh Carolyn, thank you so much for taking me to lunch in Paris... What a treat this is...
    bisous!
    Penny

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  12. This brings back memories of last year during our visit to Paris.. all the yummy food and the cheese was beyond amazing. Those macaroons are lovely:)

    thanks for sharing and have a great weekend Carolyn.

    xxleslie

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  13. Your time in France was very special enhanced by the delicious food and wine. I can relate to the continental
    life style you describe. Enjoy your weekend! xx

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  14. The 15th century village sounds just wonderful, not to mention the CHEESE!

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  15. Oh! I want to eat macarons! Deben ser muy ricos :) Espero que andes muy bien, abrazos!

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  16. Welcome in France darling...glad you are also here.....love to join this weekend with you...love from me...xxx...

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  17. Wow, looks just wonderful! Great post, thank you so much for sharing. Greetings from Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

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  18. Hi, I learn so much. I have visited so many blogs internationally right from my Southern US home. It is fun. Loved reading about your French dinner. :)

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  19. French food is just perfect isn't it :)

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  20. What wonderful memories dear Carolyn... Thank you for the lunch! I had visited earlier today and left a message, maybe it is flying over Paris? haaa
    Have a wonderful weekend. Thank you for taking me along.
    blessings,
    Penny

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  21. Hi Carolyn,

    What a fun post. It makes me want to go to France just for the food! Yummm...and how cool was that, getting to dine at the restaurant as the only guests. Looks like you had a wonderful trip.

    Thanks so much for stopping by. I am glad you enjoyed Kooky & Maximus. :)

    Heidi

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  22. Dear Carolyn,
    Thanks so much for visiting Bebe.. So happy you enjoyed your stay..
    bisous!
    Penny

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  23. Oh how very delightful! Thank you most kindly for welcoming us all on your splendid adventure!
    Ever warmly,
    Judy x

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  24. teehhehee...Buster, le chien! I adore French dogs, and when I was in Paris, I was SO AMUSED to see that many people REALLY DO HAVE POODLES!

    Dearest Carolyn, thank you for participating and coming over for a little chat. How fun this has all been!!!! HUGS and have a super weekend! Anita

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  25. Dearest Carolyn,
    What a delicious time you had!...........*s*

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  26. Your French dinner looks delectable! Lovely post! X

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  27. How marvelous! Anita did an amazing job, I'd love to take part in it too:) Yum indeed, love french cuisine! Kisses Carolyn, happy weekend! xo

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  28. Dear Carolyn I love to see the experiences of others in France, How wonderful and romantic!
    I hope you will join me on my French adventure!

    xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena

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  29. Hi Carolyn. It sounds like you had a fantastic holiday. I've found that open hospitality to be so true all over Europe. You know, one time I hiked back to a very small village with a very hungry 10yr old at that awkward time, sometime way too late for lunch and way too early for supper, and the owner and hostess sat us down and made us apple and cinnamon crepes. I believe Chloe and I thought those were the most delicious things in the whole world. I had a quick peek and love the little bears you make. Off to look at some more. Nice to meet you thru Anita, have a lovely weekend. :)

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  30. Fabulous indeed. Ooooh La La.

    Love your posts. Love you

    Jeanne

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  31. Hi Carolyn,
    Thank you for taking us on a journey of French food and wine it looks fantastic!
    Sarah x

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  32. Dear Carolyne, all this looks so yummy and wonderful! Yes, french food is just heaven. I learned to like cheeses, when i visited France as a teenager! Hope your weeknd is filed with more delicious things! xx

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  33. Oh dear Carolyn, you make me remember my visits to Paris,-the wonderful food, mostly eaten with the family I visited,- and in their home- like a most amazing fondue au fromage- which I love .
    You had some beautiful experiences too, I can tell- and so many gorgeous meals, and meetings with friends, too.Your macaroons are a feast for the eyes!!
    Thanks for revisiting Paris with you-
    Hugs,Dorthe

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  34. Wine and cheese and macarons, how lovely does it sound!

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  35. Beautiful France and it's love of food .... makes me want to hop on a jet-plane right now. Those little macarons are so delicate it's easy to mush them..... and those cheeses!! nobody does cheese as well as the French. Thanks for taking us on this little foodie journey Carolyn. xx

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  36. Such a lovely experience. It's so fun to visit each blog and treasure the photos. Enjoy your Sunday, from your newest follower, Linda

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  37. dear Carolyne,

    yesterday I had a very light dinner ...please don't be cruel !My elder daughter lives close to the French border and when I go to visit her we never miss to enjoy the marvellous french cheese and wine .
    Have a nice Sunday

    ave

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  38. I visited Pari only once, in the summertime, and I recall eating Berthillon sorbet daily because it was so hot.

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  39. Mmmmmmmm, you had me at macaroons!
    Lovely French experience. Thanks for sharing.
    Di
    X

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  40. What fun, darling!
    And so delicious!

    xoxox,
    CC

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  41. A truly wonderful party! I do love a traveling party with friends.
    Hugs!

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  42. Oh, to be whisked away to Paris for lunch! Nothing could be more decadent and fun. YUM! Thanks for the tour and have a wonderful week!

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  43. Thanks SO much for sweet words on my blog:) I love your blog to Its on my fav blog list now.

    If you want to see a cute Swedish appartment you can check out my new post:)

    have a great week dear

    LOVE Maria

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  44. Dearest Carolyn,
    Wow, how GORGEOUS the " French Party" you were invited(^_^)彡☆ All the food are SO different from our Japanese dish and look yummy♡♡♡ Buster seems welcoming guests as well. Happy for your lovely time and thank you very much sharing with us.

    Sending you lots of love and hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*

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  45. Hello Carolyn,
    I've never had a French party, but seems so fun!
    Love Macarons!!! :9
    xxx
    S
    http://s-fashion-avenue.blogspot.it/

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  46. This French party is wonderful. I have to say that French food and wine has to be the best in the world!
    I hear that quite a few Kiwis like to move to France. We have NZ friends who moved there to start a new life. They opened up a B&B and vineyard in the South.
    Oh, and I have been to Waiheke which is another beautiful place.
    Lovely post Carolyn and pictures.
    Thanks for sharing so much delicious food at your blog party!
    xx

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  47. You have a wonderful friend in
    Anita, and Paris in spring must
    be lovely.
    Hugs
    AnnaMaria

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  48. Love French food and of course the lovely wine:) Have a great week Carolyn:)
    ~Anne xx

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  49. I am just a little French who spend eight month in England and just came back home and just had what you did dear!
    It is delicacies for me as well! Enjoy!

    xx

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  50. Enjoyed seeing your photos and hearing about your trip. Would love a glass of that wine and the good food.

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  51. Hello! So nice to meet you and your blog. I love your Paris post, next to eclairs cheeses is my favorite thing in Paris! Looking forward to reading more of your blog, I am your new follower.

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  52. Bonjour! So happy to meet you, thanks to our friend Anita. I have just read your wonderful post, and concluded that you did enjoy France as it should be enjoyed: Good food, good wine and friends (including dogs!) :-) Thank you for stopping by chez French Girl in Seattle today. Come back soon... A bientôt, here or there... Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)

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  53. Wine and good foods...
    Yesss... Enjoy !
    ;-)

    Pierre

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  54. A french party!! It is a great idea!!
    Hugs
    Monique

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  55. Paris is always a good idea, dear Carolyn. Keep cozy in this Fall time. Spring is slowly arriving at my doorstep x

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  56. Alors là, gourmande comme je suis, tu me prends par les sentiments !!!
    Amicalement
    Marie-Ange

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  57. Always nice to enjoy a french party!

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  58. I enjoyed reading about your wonderful trip! I agree, France is about good food, good wine and friends...! Thank you for your kind words on my blog!

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  59. Cheese, my love forever and after. I love trying new ones and just recently hosted a birthday party of which selection of cheeses was the main attraction. Have a fab week, Carolyn!! x

    Enter my sunglasses giveaway if you like xx

    www.todaymyway.com

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  60. Wine, cheese and France, Carolyn I feel as if I’ve just traveled through France again! How nice to have Sunday lunch with friends. I think Buster is adorable and I’m sure he had his share of attention. Thank you dear for the memories.

    ~Emily
    The French Hutch

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  61. The wine and cheese looked incredible. I love all types of cheese. And I heard that France likes their steak very rare.
    You must come back to my blog if you only saw today's posting as I have been doing a different daily post since Friday, May 17th. I wanted to take a day off to mourn for those in Oklahoma, so today's post was in memory of the tragedy they are still facing.
    Cheers!
    Teresa in California
    http://amagicalwhimsy.blogspot.com/

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  62. Nice to meet you through Anita's French link party and having such fun visiting everyone's little piece of France! Love the food photos. And will be back for more.
    Cheers, Kirsten

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  63. What a delicious post Carolyn. The cheeses, the wines, the croissants (or macaroons). We adore Paris and this was a perfect little walk down memory lane. It is such fun to meet fabulous bloggers like yourself at Anita's party.
    Merci for your lovely comments on Stylemindchic and I look forward to following your lovely blog.
    xx, Heather
    http//www.stylemindchic.blogspot.com

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  64. Hi Carolyn! I hope you are well. I so very much enjoyed this delicious post –definitely irresistible!

    Here we are in late spring again as you are heading into winter. I hope you've had beautiful days filled with sunshine and crisp air. Thinking of you. hugs, G

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  65. Oh, some of my favorite French delicacies are here! Thank you so much, dear Carolyn, for visiting me...it is a pleasure to meet you! :)
    How special to have had that restaurant all to yourselves...
    Lovely post...merci!
    Oh, and your bears are amazing and beautiful....
    Many blessings,
    - Irina

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  66. Hello Carolyn, and thank you for visiting me during Anita's French fete! I enjoyed reading about your meals, and the photos... even after decades i have memories of the food in France! Your description of the wines tasting of their regions was interesting too, seems to me that French wine have more complex flavors than those here in CA but don't know why!

    Cheers! Anne

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  67. Thank You Carolyn! A beautiful weekend to you too! :)
    xoxo,
    - Irina

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  68. The french food photos are inviting me to France. Wish I were there.

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  69. I enjoyed the post very much. I have never been to Saint Emilion. I love the images of France you shared here and I had never realised that Sunday Lunch wasn't necessarily family time all over the world!

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  70. Hello Carolyn!

    I fell behind with my visiting due to our anniversary weekend! For me, the party is still going!

    Ooooh...We love what we call the BIG REDS and amazing cheeses. The foods that you share in this post are amazing!

    Thank you for your visit and lovely wishes for our anniversary!
    ~Lynne
    withLove!

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  71. Yes, many of us started late to the party (Just posted yesterday!). I am catching up now and reading everyone's wonderful blogs. Thanks to Anita for the introduction. I am seeing so many wonderful sights. I love the story about the owners opening up just for you. That is so rare these days since no one lives above the shop anymore. It's a bit of magic when it does.

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  72. Dearest Carolyn, mmm, what a lovely post, very delicious, I got hungry while reading it! Fromage, Maracons, Vin rouge, aaaah, quel plaisir! :o)) Thanks for taking us along and telling us about your French experiences!
    Warm hugs from Austria,
    Traude (still making a blog-pause :o))

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  73. Ahhhh, Paris! May be one day I will have the fortune of visiting. In the meantime I will tag along with you my friend even if it is only via our blogs...hope you don't mind the extra company :-) wishing you a wonderful weekend my friend.

    ❤Ana

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Thank you so much for visiting Draffin Bears.
It always makes me happy to read your comments
and I look forward to visiting you.


Carolyn xx