I call days I spend touring Bordeaux and cooking with my guests: Foodie Days. A few weeks back, Nancy and Emerson spent two Foodie Days with me. One was centered around local history; the other one, on Sunday, was all about food. That Sunday, I picked the couple at their hotel in Bordeaux and we headed for my home town of Libourne to go to the farmers’ market. We picked-up some seafood, artichokes, lots of cheese and lots of cakes and then went to my favorite bakery to get fresh bread. The bread just came out of the oven and was so hot I could barely hold it…
We then went to my house and started cooking together. We spent almost 4 hours cooking one dish after the other and drinking wine. While the artichokes were being steamed, Nancy had a dozen oysters on the half shell; and while the scallops were cooking, Emerson devoured his artichokes. Emerson was also very excited to learn a new French word: Hummmm, which means Yummmm (foodies like us don’t need that many words to make ourselves understood) :0)
I particularly liked the warm langoustine salad we made: just steam or sauté your langoustines (or prawns) in olive oil, place them on mixed greens while they are still warm and add a vinaigrette made of extra virgin (always) olive oil and raspberry vinegar. Delish!
All of my guests are such interesting characters. I always learn something from them and it makes me so happy to share my love for food and France with them.
Next to visit is my darling Mimi (from Chef Mimi’s Blog) with her daughter Emma. They fly in on Wednesday and will stay 4 days with me. I have put together an itinerary I trust they’ll enjoy. It includes farmers’ markets in the mornings, brocantes and antique shopping, food photography and lots (LOTS) of cooking. I know Mimi wants to try frog legs, one of my absolute favorites! I cannot wait for Wednesday!!
MY FRENCH HEAVEN 
Oh…remember when I was talking to you about a certain “heritage” and about the REAL love for what you do…..?? I am sure you do remember this…As you see….my observations were right at the time…!
You are so nice! I have yet to answer that E-mail. I am so sorry… 😉
God I wish I lived near you! I would treat myself to at least one foodie day a week with you!
September’s coming darling!!! Can’t wait!!!!!!!
You and me both!!!! I’m counting the days!!!
Good morning, Stephane. Just wanted to let you know that you’re one of the highlighted bloggers in my post today, which about my writing process. If you’d like to look, here’s the link, and perhaps you’ll meet some new people.
http://sustainabilitea.wordpress.com/2014/04/21/writing-process-blog-tour/
janet
Oh thank you so much dear Janet! You made my day! 🙂
My pleasure. 🙂
Absolutely divine Stephane. I particularly love the scallop pic, they just look so fresh, like I could pick them off the screen and eat them! No way will I miss catching up with you next time I’m in your area.
I hope we do get to meet sometime too!! 😉
It’s 4:30 PM and trying to hang in for a 7PM dinner at a friend’s place. I shouldn’t have looked at your post this late in the afternoon…nowI’m ravenous. Beautiful images…..so much better than Instagram!
Be strong! LOL
Amazing as always! I haven’t been online much with spring gathering a great head of steam around here and I have been missing you. I need a frequent dose of My French Heaven.
You are so so kind dear Holly! Welcome back!!!
Wow. This sounds like such a wonderful afternoon. It really is amazing to cook with other cooks after gathering ingredients. I don’t do this enough. Cooking with Mimi is going to be a blast. Enjoy!
I sure will! Thanks Amanda
How nice to have mimi and daughter at your place!
Now I’m hungry for your food and companionship and kitchens and pictures!
It´s good to be hungry! ☺️
Wonderfully simple dishes….beautiful lookiing
Wonderful pics, and I’m just melting with greed…
Please don’t ☺️
I’m insanely jealous of Mimi, I have her on a promise to blog about her time with you….Hopefully in 2015 we’ll meet
I sure hope we do!!!
Sounds amazing – looking forward to hearing about Mimi’s visit!
Que des bons produits et une belle table !
Appétissant à souhait 🙂
Bon dimanche
(J’espère que les huîtres sont de Cancale 😉 )
Ce serait domage quand je suis à 1h d’Arcachon 😉
Beautiful photos as always. All that seafood is making me drool…
This week with Chef Mimi by my side, it is going to be seafood bonanza! 🙂
I am crazy about great seafood ☺️
You welcome guests with beauty and the joy of living life abundantly. What a wonderful day.
🙂 🙂
😉
Slightly jealous of Chef Mimi, and am sure it will be a wonderful 4 days! Next time I get a decent holiday, I’d love to come to France and visit your region, all these photos, and bread straight from the baker’s oven!
I hope you do come someday. There is just so much I can share through a computer… 🙂 😉
I hope so too!! 😀
Everything looks delicious…and to dine and cook in such an enjoyable way…et vos photos sont magnifiques. Mais je peut pas manger les jambs de greneuilles ? Frogs.
Have you ever tried?
My mother in law used to cook frogs legs…but they remind me too much of biology class in univ. I had to dissect frogs. So, I have a mental hang up with frogs. 🙂
Shela
I understand! Their look can be quite disturbing 😉
That does look like the best foodie day ever!
It really was!
Now I’m even more excited! Such brilliant photos.
PS: I’ve had frog legs. I want to cook and eat seafood until it comes out my ears!!!!!!
Seulement quatre jours!
Oh we’ll eat seafood alright 😉 There is a monkfish and roasted tomato terrine recipe I want to try… I don’t know if you ever had lobster from Britany. I’d love to see how you like it. The texture is very different (in a good way)…
both sound fabulous. any way you can teach me about squid? i’ve never worked with it, but it. hopefully it’s in season!
We’ll get two kinds to see which you like best
I’m coming to your place! The scallops look very tasty.
You must! 😉
One day I will visit, heavenly I love France and I love to cook, it’s a win win, Once day!
One day for sure! Seriously, you’d love it!!
What a great post…it looks like they had a great time – but who wouldn’t – there’s just lots of great food & culture here & with you as their historical and culinary guide – they were set!! I’m sure they appreciate Southern France even more after spending those special days with you! Your photos – as usual, are amazing! Those artichokes..hummm… – you know…I’m now tempted (do note the word tempted) to buy a pressure cooker so I can enjoy artichokes more often as they cook so much faster…(to be enjoyed that much quicker). Have a great rest of the weekend!
You seriously need a pressure cooker!!!
What a lovely post! I hope I can visit you next year. This month it will be Rome and Tuscany for me and my family.
Rome and Tuscany? Oh poor Elita. I feel so bad for you 🙂 You’ll have a great time!!
Maybe it’s time I let go of my 30 year fear of pressure cookers. Yes, probably modern technology has improved them!…Maybe after we move…an investment for the new place!
What a wonderful day! Absolutely perfect. Have a great time with Mimi – and I’m meeting up with her the following week in London and very much looking forward to it.
I can’t wait to meet her in person. April in London?! Lucky you! My favorite season there…
I live in London 🙂
You are so lucky! Truly one of my favorite cities in the world!
Fantastic salad. I envy Mimi and Emma. Though, roll on July…
😉
Sounds divine. Where do I sign up?
🙂
Jealous here in Tennessee. Sounds so heavenly!
I hope one day you’ll come visit me Tamara!!! We would have such a great time together…