16th Dec - Food Lovers Guide

We have, of course, eaten and drunk our way through a lot in France. Whereever possible, we have attempted the regional speciality. In Charente, the true cuisine is based around oysters and mussels and most people would consider it sacrilege that neither Mark nor I like either.

However I can proudly say that on our way down South to Bilbao we travelled through the Pays Basque and I had a true basquaise chicken dish, in Bordeaux I was game enough to try Pigeon with game sauce and Mark managed to eat snails (back in Paris) and pork tripe in Bordeaux.

Foyer at La Tupina Bordeaux


Tam and her dessert plus my loin of pork at La Tupina


Modern french at La Rochelle

We have also tried a lot of different drinks including Cognac (way too potent for me). On a visit to the Hennessey Cognac House, Mark even paid 20 Euro for a 20cl glass of the ultra-premium Cognac (Henneseey Paradise) which is aged between 50-100 years. We tried pineau de charente, which is made by many small producers in the region. It comes in white, rose or red varieties and, of course, numerous bottles of wine. On our trip to Bordeaux, we visied 2 Medoc Chateaux. Chateau Fonbadet (a small family run vineyard which produces excellent wines and we were treated to a tasting by the winemaker herself). Then we went to Chateau Pichon-Longueville which is a Premier Grand Cru, classified in 1855. The current winemaker is 80 yrs old and has amassed a spectacular collection of glasswares from every corner of the world, dating from 300BC through to very modern pieces. This made a very interesting contrast to the standard winery visit.