Finally, a real computer to work from! French internet cafes on the south coast don’t really cut it….we only had one to work with and the keyboard was sticky, and slow, and…well, shouldn’t complain. My wife Ramona and I have spent the past four days working hard at doing nothing in the town of Collioure, on the French Mediterranean coast just north of the Spanish border.
Food and wine were great, weather was great, couldn’t have asked for anything more, except maybe a fan in our room in the evening as it was very warm…
Collioure was home to a great anchovy industry, and a few remnants remain, including a ‘salad Collioure’ with marinated anchovies (not salted), great appetizer. I have also become fond of turkey or duck gizzard salad. Doesn’t sound that appetizing, but the gizzards are gently confited in fat, then thinly sliced and served with lardons (bacon nuggets) over top of mixed greens tossed with a simple vinaigrette.
I could go on and on, but I shouldn’t waste the Internet hospitality offered by a friend. Will try to post a bit more as we make our way through the Languedoc and midi-Pyrennees region over the next week or so.
Food highlights: Paella, anchovies, moules frites, roast chicken, zarzuela…thick tomato sauce in which squid, shrimp and fish were simmered, brought to the table in a clay pot while it was still boiling!
That will have to be enough to whey your appetites for now….
