Crowning glory...

This weekend was Twelfth night, time to take down all the Christmas decorations, even though it doesn't seem very long since we put them up! However, once they are all packed away, it's a good time to re-look at the house & perhaps rearrange objects, add a colour or buy a little something to change the look; start afresh for the new year ahead.

 

  Here in this part of France, it is traditional to have a galette des rois (cake of kings) on Twelfth night, to celebrate the Epiphany. It takes its name from the biblical three kings or Magi & people get together pour tirer les rois (to find the kings). Made from flaky pastry & filled with frangipane, it also contains a féve (dried bean or charm). The galette is cut into one slice for each person sitting at the table plus one. The extra slice is symbolic for the first poor person passing by. The youngest child, said to be the most innocent and fair, sits under the table & announces who gets the next slice. Whoever finds the féve becomes king and wears the crown. The féve was initially a dried bean but over the years this has been replaced by porcelain or plastic figurines. Traditionally, these used to be in the form of a saint or biblical figure but today tend to be more popular characters, like Asterix. They have also become quite collectible. The galette des rois are usually available in bakeries until the end of January.

We were invited to our own feast on Twelfth night with lovely food & company. Jenny, our host, baked her own galette des rois, topped with a crown made by the children. It was really scrummy but very filling. As she handed each of us a piece, we searched for la fève, but no luck. There was a sliver left for her &, you've guessed it, she had won la fève. She was a little embarrassed but we insisted she wear the crown. In the true sense of liberté, égalité, fraternité, she said we should take a turn at wearing it so we could all be a king (or queen).
Thank goodness Madame Guillotine is no longer in use!

À bientôt,

We just couldn't resist...

.....a trip to Bordeaux. Any excuse for not working eh! Karen had to drop her cousin at the airport so it seemed only right to combine the journey with a shopping inspirational trip into Bordeaux. Using the park & ride facility, we were able to take a leisurely tram straight into the heart of the city, arriving near the Grand Hotel & Opera House.

Just around the corner is the most amazing macaroon & chocolate shop....yum, yum.... If you look hard at the top of the photo you will see the amazing chocolate shapes they make, like a basket ball and shoe, (sorry the photo is not better but the sales assistant was getting suspicious!).

There are such beautiful buildings in Bordeaux, so much to see.....every street has something interesting, perhaps a church or a pied à terre nestling between.

Lots of carvings, ironwork & intricate details.....isn't that door knocker lovely?

But this trip was not for looking at the architecture....well, not much anyway....it was Kelly's first time in the city so we just had to shop! Off to the Rue St. Catherine...ooooohh, shops as far as the eye can see. As the saying goes......so many shops, so little time!

All that shopping is thirsty work so L'Autre Salon de Thé at 11 Rue des Remparts is a must.

This is a little gem, a short walk from the main shopping street. This place is so inviting. Crystal chandeliers, antiqued mirrors & an amazing array of cakes. How nice to drink tea out of china cups & nibble on home-made cakes. The choice of tea is extensive & each person gets an individual pot. There is a wicked-looking hot chocolate topped with a swirl of Chantilly cream as well as lots of other drinks to choose from. But the cakes........double chocolate cake, tarte au citron, gooey fudge cake, lemon meringue pie, apple & summer berry crumble cake & some of the biggest scones we had ever seen. And after all that cake.....more shopping of course!

And finally, just had to include this....

When you know us better you will realise this is a very rare photo of Karen as she's very camera shy!

                                                               Á bientôt,