What’s On - February, 2010

Please contact me if you would like to join us for an English language afternoon tea.

This young chef is inspired by the Mediterranean. He has a short menu of ten dishes that changes weekly. On Friday 12th March at 12:30hrs, we are going to Hostellerie Jérôme, a two-star restaurant in La Turbie with prices to match. This visit was postponed from late last year and is much awaited. If you would like more details or would like to be on the Foodies’ mailing list, please contact me.

Just a reminder to new members that rambles are open to everyone of all ages and that rambles are free! They are an excellent way to meet new people whilst enjoying the beautiful Provençal countryside.

This month we will undertake a circular route via the cave of St Mary Magdalene at La Sainte Baume. You will need to be reasonably fit as the first half of the walk comprises a steady uphill climb (250m total) although you will be rewarded by the downhill return trip. Mary Magdalene is said to have spent her last years in this ancient atmospheric cave set in the heart of the cliff. From the front of the cave, weather permitting, we can enjoy a wide panoramic view of Montagne Sainte-Victoire, Mont Ventoux and the Alps.

We will park in ‘Les 3 Chênes’ car park then take the path in the direction of the Hôtellerie in order to ascend via the chemin du Canapé. This takes us through a marvellous ancient forest which includes large beeches and undergrowth darkened by yew trees. We will descend directly to the car park via the tarmac chemin des Rois.

As always, we insist that walkers wear sturdy walking boots (not trainers). This will be particularly important for our ascent which comprises rocky, uneven steps for most of the way. Although the descent is via a tarmac road, it is slippery in places because of loose stones on the surface and a walking stick is recommended. To protect the fragile flora and fauna of the forest, dogs should be kept on the lead and, unfortunately, they are not allowed at all on the final steps up to the cave. This is presumably to preserve the atmosphere of the cave as a place of religious pilgrimage.

As bad weather is a possibility at this time of year please email/phone me if you intend to come on the ramble and I will let everyone know by 19:00hrs the night before whether it will go ahead.

If the weather is cold and sunny don’t forget to wear plenty of layers. Also, don’t forget plenty of water to drink, your picnic and perhaps something to share with the group (e.g. sweets or biscuits). Last, but not least, please arrive on time as we do not wait for latecomers.

There are a number of possible routes. The one below is recommended because of its spectacular views after leaving Nans les Pins. It’s worth coming on the ramble just for the drive!

Every year I like to introduce the group to a Dutch author; this time it will be Gerbrand Bakker (born in 1962). Before he published ‘The Twin’ in 2006, he wrote 2 successful etymological dictionaries for 10-15 year olds which are used in every school!

Bakker was born in one of the new ‘polders’ (low-lying tracts of land enclosed by dikes), the third son of seven children in a farmer’s family. He was in school from 1967-1992, studied social science at college and Dutch language and literature at the university in Amsterdam. His thesis was about the similarities of the West-Friesian and Friesian languages. Then he was unemployed for some years and in the meantime earned a degree in landscaping and gardening. This was before the Dutch government became stricter on qualifying for benefits!

The author now lives in a modern flat in Amsterdam’s harbour area. His parents are still alive and they are happy with his success; he has won every literary prize in the Netherlands and ‘Boven is het stil’ (‘The Twin’) is also translated into German and French. I prefer the French title ‘En haut, c’est le silence’.

Helmer is the twin of the title in this unusual, memorable novel set on a remote Dutch farm. Now in his early 50s, he lives with his once authoritarian, now helpless, father in his boyhood home - the house that, through circumstance, proved his prison. For it was Helmer’s twin brother Henk who was supposed to remain on the farm as their father’s subordinate while Helmer studied literature at university. When the twins were 20, Henk died in a car accident and some years later their mother succumbed to a seizure on the bathroom floor. Now, out of the blue, Henk’s fiancée has written to Helmer, asking him to take on her teenage son. The boy’s presence causes confusion and longing in the older man, recalling a previous abortive relationship with a farmhand. “Loneliness, combined with the beauty of the landscape, creates an atmosphere of inchoate yearning.”(The Guardian, 29-5-09).

For me it was one of the most original novels I have read in a long time, such was its brilliance and subtlety. Human dramas are offset by landscape and animals feelingly described; David Comer’s translation is distinguished by an exceptional ear for dialogue!

If you would like to join us for the discussion and pot luck lunch, let Liz or me know what you’d like to bring. Perhaps 2 or 3 members can jointly make a real pea soup, “erwtenhsoep”.

For many wine drinkers the reds from northern Provence are the best the region can offer. In 2005 Vinsobres was promoted to Cru status (alongside Châteauneuf, Gigondas etc.) and four new Villages were elected to the 15 that are allowed to append their name to the Côtes du Rhône Villages appellation (alongside Rasteau, Cairanne etc.). These four newcomers are the subject of this month’s Wine Club – Plan de Dieu, Puyméras and Massif d’Uchaux in the Vaucluse, and Signargues in the Gard.

We have visited and chosen wines from the top growers responsible for their particular village’s recognition and elevation – looking at both the first 2005 vintage and the recently bottled hedonists’ delight: the big, round, fruity, soft-tannined 2007s. The tasting - building on the recent Wine Club’s enthusiastic sortie into understanding better the effect of terroir – is also taking the opportunity to revisit and requestion this issue on the wines produced here.

A buffet of Rhône Méridionale specialities will follow. Details will be circulated to Wine Club members nearer the time, or contact us by phone/email.

I am sure most of you know this gem of a place, so I thought we could have our February tea here. It has been over a year since we last visited and I missed it due to unforeseen circumstances on the day! Viktor charges 4.80€ for tea; these are fresh leaves not tea bags, by the way. Tarte Maison is extra and home-made but if you just want tea that’s fine. I do like to know beforehand who is coming so please call me. Hope to see you there.

Members are very pleased to be able to host our Pot Luck this month. We shall be glad to welcome any newcomers. We have a very successful format to ensure that the Pot Luck works! If you are a couple please provide a dish for between 6-8 people and if you are alone then please provide enough for 3-4 people. I hasten to add that all our participants are very generous in their offerings however many they are! Please call me and we will discuss our menu.

Liz very kindly gave me a copy of ‘35 Bonnes Tables en Provence’ issued by La Provence in the autumn. This brochure suggests a number of up-and-coming restaurants, both in and outside Aix, where the chef has ambitions to become a gourmet chef, but hasn’t yet been recognised by Michelin. Jane and I have been discussing what we think is possible because the brochure falls outside the restaurants she normally organises and what I have been doing for the past few years, and neither of us really wants to start yet another food group in the AAGP.

However, this brochure is too good to ignore and, when talking about it at the last lunch Jane organised, various AAGP members enthusiastically supported a visit to several of the restaurants mentioned. We have decided to pool resources and form a sub-section for our groups, as we feel that there will be AAGP members in both who would be interested in coming along. So in 2010 we will experiment and see what support we get.

We will have the lunch on a Monday in the middle of the month and when it is outside Aix, we shall arrange car pooling. The first thing we need is a name! Any suggestions? Up and Coming Restaurants Group? Mini Gourmet Club? Neither of these suggestions are very inspired, so can you come up with a brilliant name for this experiment?

The first restaurant we have chosen is in Aix (details above). The chef, Olivier Scola, has been trained at the Plaza Athénée, Lasserre, the Martinez in Cannes and La Chèvre d’Or and he runs the restaurant jointly with his wife Aurore. The menu prices at lunchtime are 18, 22 and 29€. If you would like to come, or to be on either of our mailing lists, please contact us.

We always meet on the 3rd Friday in the month for an English language coffee morning. Please contact me if you would like to join us.

Do come and join us. This restaurant offers good quality Korean and Asian food at reasonable prices. Set menus start at 16.50€ for instance. We ate there one year ago so I thought, as it was enjoyed by us all, let’s meet there once again for our Supper for Singles. The evening is for single people including those whose partners are out of town at the time.

I am hosting a book discussion group in the evening at my place in Aix-en-Provence. Everyone is invited to present something cultural, which interested them during the month: art, cinema, politics, literature or society. We will consider these topics multiculturally - American, English, French, Spanish, German or Italian. I suggest you read ‘The Last Resort’ by Alison Lurie.

All the world’s a stage! Or that’s what you’d think from our 2010 excursions so far this year.

Following on from the fascinating January ‘Day at the Opéra’ in Marseille, February takes us behind the scenes to Aix’s beautiful Italianate 18th century Théâtre du Jeu de Paume, built on the spot where Louis XIV played real (Royal) tennis in 1660.

There, thespians, our own art historian will start by giving us an introduction to the theatre, and theatres in 18th century France generally. Then she has arranged with the theatre’s own private guide, to take us exploring backstage and into all the nooks and crannies the general public never gets to see, discovering the unique architecture, history and background of this very special, historic place.

All things are ultimately linked, and you’ll be interested to know that the architect of this place (started in 1756) was none other than the Marquis de La Barben (remember last March’s excursion to his château?).

Because we’ll be clambering up and down some rather awkward stairs and places, we have to say that this excursion is only open to people who are nimble on their feet – and no young children, I’m afraid, and obviously no dogs.

We’ll meet Elisabeth at 10:00hrs, at the entrance to the foyer of theatre, 17/21 rue de L’Opéra. Nearest car park is Parking Carnot. We’ll collect 4€ per person for a present for the guide, who isn’t paid directly for taking us round.

We will meet again at the Bastide du Cours, Salon Rouge, on the first floor. For new members, do come and have a glass of something with us, I think you will enjoy it. And for our regulars, do please keep coming. See you there!

Come and join us for lunch at an organic restaurant near La Rotonde. The dishes are all freshly prepared, the majority being made with organic produce. The menu includes freshly caught fish, vegetarian options and gluten-free desserts. Main dishes cost between 13.50€ and 16.50€; alternatively a vegetarian Mezze costs 17.50€ and desserts are 5€. All can be accompanied by organic wine and coffee.

Once again it’s time to put your brains into action for our ever-popular Quiz Night. If you are interested in putting together a team of five people or simply want to be placed in a team, then give Jill Galligani a call on 04 42 65 84 49 or email her at jpgalli@aol.com. The format will be similar to last year’s quiz and once more there will be prizes for the first three teams and the traditional ‘wooden spoons’ for the losers. The questions cover most subjects and it’s advisable to have a mixture of nationalities in each team. More details of the event will be given when you have reserved your team/place.

The cost of the evening is 25€. This will pay for your meal, consisting of either lamb or sword fish, dessert, coffee and wine à volonté from the start of the quiz. The final booking date is Tuesday 23rd February.

From time to time we hold a dinner for some of our new members. It is an opportunity to meet up with some of our existing members who are always willing to help with information about our area and the group itself. The owners of the restaurant have hosted a few New Members’ Dinners in the past and have agreed to give us an excellent meal with apéro, starter, main course, dessert, coffee and wine included for 26.90 € per person.

Nearer the time I will be in contact with a choice of menu. If you wish to be put on the list please contact me.

As well as all the specials listed above, don’t forget the Regular Activities that offer new skills, fun and friendship all year round. Contact details are in your yellow Members’ List book.

Monday (second): Computer Club 14:30

Tuesday: Bridge 14:00

Thursday: Coffee (Croquemitoufle) 10-11:30

Friday: French (Aix) 14:30

Friday (last): Poetry Corner #

Saturday: Coffee (Croquemitoufle) 10-11:30

Saturday: Yoga 09:30-11:00*

Sunday (first): Pétanque 10:30

# Held in conjunction with Book In Bar
*Paid activity