nb. My website can still be found on the old domain name of:-http://sites.google.com/site/chambresdhotespoitoucharente/
but, to make it a bit simpler you can also find us by clicking on to:-
http://www.maureville.com/
but, to make it a bit simpler you can also find us by clicking on to:-
http://www.maureville.com/
Like everyone in France we are awfully keen on 'Le Terroir' and 'Producteurs locales du terroir'. Of course running a B&B makes us even more interested in the subject!
You may now be thinking 'what is she on about?'--well-- it's food--and fresh locally produced food--and, as I said before, the most important thought in the mind of anybody with a chambres d'hotes! Even more so when vegetarians are stopping tomorrow night and I'm multi-tasking! Writing this blog ( before I forget today's exciting events) and roasting pumpkins-- pumpkin soup--pumpkin risotto! Better get on with the blog.
So at 8.30 this Sunday morning we set off up the road to our neighbours who were giving us a lift to ROUILLAC!
There, on the 27th day of every month sees the biggest market in Poitou-Charentes taking place. Jacki ( neighbour) said she was in need of replenishing her chickens, and surely it was time that we get some & should join her. So we did!
It was a long way...........we went cross country and saw some lovely villages and it was nearly 10am by the time we reached the Super-U carpark in Rouillac where we parked and followed the crowds on foot to the market place. The stalls went on as far as the eye could see--& then bended back again--- and on & on. There were 6 of us on this trip--and of course we lost each other it was so crowded! There was a corner selling Appaloosa ponies, and Shetlands and others... and donkeys with babies. In between were stalls selling farm tools, garden tools, garden plants,household goods, balloons, tee-shirts, socks... definitely the place to go for socks, garlic...umpteen garlic stalls and bread and food and clothing, and just about everything you could think of! Further on there were cattle lines...and goats.
We walked round and round and up and down but couldn't find the hens. Jacki asked a stallholder who said( in French) 'straight on to the end and down the lane and turn right and we should come across them eventually!' We did this--and she was right--but it was further than she suggested. Ducks, rabbits, guinea-pigs, guinea-fowl, turkeys, bantams and hens--and cockerels--rows and rows of them!
The 'warrens' looked great. They are the plain brown hens that you see everywhere. Not very exciting, but good layers and reliable. The plan was to buy 3'point-of-lay' birds. We bought 2 warrens and then 2 marans. These are black speckledy hens & they lay dark brown speckledy eggs--just a tad more exotic!
They were packed into boxes and we headed back to the car. Easier said than done. We were all totally disorientated. After 10 minutes walking in one direction--and no sign of 'Super-U', Jacki asked directions. 180* turnabout and 20 minutes in the opposite direction and we found the car park!
Halfway home we stopped at Verteuil and had lunch in the garden of a cafe that was part of a water-mill on the banks of the River Charente. It was quite idyllic. The sun shone, and we sat under parasols and admired the flowers................................ but I really must now get back to the pumpkins! My veggie menus for the next 2 days:-
Monday night:-
Meditteranean quiche with a green salad*** Pumpkin risotto with crudites*** Assorted cheeses with walnut brittle*** mirabelle clafouti
Tuesday night:-
Roast pumpkin soup with melting cheese***red onion tarte tatin with pine-nut salad***Assorted cheeses with grapes from the garden***raspberries in elderflower champagne jelly with creme fraiche.
A glass of pineau is served as an aperitif. A basket of fresh bread, red wine and a jug of water is on the table throughout the meal which finishes with a cup of coffee ( or tea)and a small bite of dark chocolate!
Looks good on paper--n'est ce pas?
Think I'd better sort out what to give the carnivores now! I wonder how long before we can offer our own home-grown eggs?!
You may now be thinking 'what is she on about?'--well-- it's food--and fresh locally produced food--and, as I said before, the most important thought in the mind of anybody with a chambres d'hotes! Even more so when vegetarians are stopping tomorrow night and I'm multi-tasking! Writing this blog ( before I forget today's exciting events) and roasting pumpkins-- pumpkin soup--pumpkin risotto! Better get on with the blog.
So at 8.30 this Sunday morning we set off up the road to our neighbours who were giving us a lift to ROUILLAC!
There, on the 27th day of every month sees the biggest market in Poitou-Charentes taking place. Jacki ( neighbour) said she was in need of replenishing her chickens, and surely it was time that we get some & should join her. So we did!
It was a long way...........we went cross country and saw some lovely villages and it was nearly 10am by the time we reached the Super-U carpark in Rouillac where we parked and followed the crowds on foot to the market place. The stalls went on as far as the eye could see--& then bended back again--- and on & on. There were 6 of us on this trip--and of course we lost each other it was so crowded! There was a corner selling Appaloosa ponies, and Shetlands and others... and donkeys with babies. In between were stalls selling farm tools, garden tools, garden plants,household goods, balloons, tee-shirts, socks... definitely the place to go for socks, garlic...umpteen garlic stalls and bread and food and clothing, and just about everything you could think of! Further on there were cattle lines...and goats.
We walked round and round and up and down but couldn't find the hens. Jacki asked a stallholder who said( in French) 'straight on to the end and down the lane and turn right and we should come across them eventually!' We did this--and she was right--but it was further than she suggested. Ducks, rabbits, guinea-pigs, guinea-fowl, turkeys, bantams and hens--and cockerels--rows and rows of them!
The 'warrens' looked great. They are the plain brown hens that you see everywhere. Not very exciting, but good layers and reliable. The plan was to buy 3'point-of-lay' birds. We bought 2 warrens and then 2 marans. These are black speckledy hens & they lay dark brown speckledy eggs--just a tad more exotic!
They were packed into boxes and we headed back to the car. Easier said than done. We were all totally disorientated. After 10 minutes walking in one direction--and no sign of 'Super-U', Jacki asked directions. 180* turnabout and 20 minutes in the opposite direction and we found the car park!
Halfway home we stopped at Verteuil and had lunch in the garden of a cafe that was part of a water-mill on the banks of the River Charente. It was quite idyllic. The sun shone, and we sat under parasols and admired the flowers................................ but I really must now get back to the pumpkins! My veggie menus for the next 2 days:-
Monday night:-
Meditteranean quiche with a green salad*** Pumpkin risotto with crudites*** Assorted cheeses with walnut brittle*** mirabelle clafouti
Tuesday night:-
Roast pumpkin soup with melting cheese***red onion tarte tatin with pine-nut salad***Assorted cheeses with grapes from the garden***raspberries in elderflower champagne jelly with creme fraiche.
A glass of pineau is served as an aperitif. A basket of fresh bread, red wine and a jug of water is on the table throughout the meal which finishes with a cup of coffee ( or tea)and a small bite of dark chocolate!
Looks good on paper--n'est ce pas?
Think I'd better sort out what to give the carnivores now! I wonder how long before we can offer our own home-grown eggs?!
