Food in France

The French love their food at least as much as their cathedrals, therefore it seems appropriate to share some of our experience with their gourmet delights!  It had been a wish of mine to visit the Maison Fournaise where Renoir painted the "Luncheon of the Boating Party", here on an island in the river Seine.

We enjoyed a truly elegant lunch on the terrace and, by chance, I was seated exactly where Renoir must have placed his easel.

Rue Cler in Paris was a wonderful neighborhood to see all the different food shops

fruit and vegetables

bread and pastries

cheeses

and many kinds of tea and chocolate here... marvelous in one emporium!

Sometimes we couldn't resist window shopping...

but cafes were in abundance and, although it was very hard to find any vegetarian dishes let alone vegan, we managed!

In Epernay, our charming B&B hosts brought us tea and "chouquettes" in their pretty garden.  In case you are curious, a chouquette is a type of choux pastry sprinkled with pearl sugar and sometimes filled with mmmmmmmm...mousse!   

Michel and Marie at "Chez Camille"

The weekly markets are a treat for eyes and tummies, too

And when hunger strikes, a baguette on the shady steps of a town hall (with the permission of a friendly Mayor) is the accepted way!

Adieu to la belle France and on we ride to Belgium.