Yesterday’s road trip took us on winding roads in the Terroir Montagne d’Alaric (Alaric Mountain 🏔) .... I can’t win or should I say fight the heights, everywhere we go from Montlaur is either thru the Gorge or the Mountain! And you can see the weather is still a bit unstable ... hopefully the wind will blow all the dark clouds and cooler temperatures away for tomorrow!
We arrived in Lagrasse with gale force winds. If we were sitting on an woven carpet, it could have been a “Magic Carpet Ride” and we may have avoided the winding mountain drive!
We had a quick stroll around the village before settling on a café/ restaurant on the boulevard for our Sunday “déjeuner”!
The Market Square ... where the weekly Saturday market is held.
The taupe stone enhanced by the climbing roses and the pretty pottery plant holders.
The view of the abbey from across the river.
Ah the French blue ... also known as “Bugatti” or “Gitane” blue.
Monsieur Honey just regaled me with a story about Ettore Bugatti saying he used to carry a package of French cigarettes (Gitanes) to confirm the colour match to that of his race cars.
Of course my Monsieur would know this as an avid Grand Prix/ Formula One fan!
Here’s stock photos just to give you an idea!
We believe this was the same place we visited for lunch in July 2014 on a rainy day ...
We enjoyed great company, delicious food and wine. The highlights of today’s menu were the starters (entrees)
“Salade Océane” seafood salad ... which had at least a pound of smoked salmon in it!
I would have been content with just this delish dish!
Laury and Monsieur Honey chose the “Oeuf poché sur sa crème de cèpes et bolets” ... a poached egg on a mushroom cream for their starters.
The egg was poached to perfection and complimented by the mushroom sauce.
At first my thoughts were what an unusual combination but then I thought of mushroom omelettes, sautéed mushrooms with fried eggs ... so not really that odd.
Monsieur is already talking about deconstructing the mushroom sauce.
We tried to wander a bit more after our Sunday lunch.
The wind was still howling and gusting.
We came across people garbed in their winter coats with fur trimmed hoods up to protect themselves from the elements.
I saw this butcher shop and with a quick glance thought it could have been my Papa’s (GILBERT).
The name was only missing an “L”.
What do you think brother and sister, can you see Dad running this shop many years ago?
I couldn’t resist a closeup of the facade
Almond tree full of nuts!
We made a slight detour as we entered the village of Montlaur in search of the donkeys and poppies.
I’m still on the hunt for my poppy field ...
Tomorrow we’re off to the “Cité Médiéval de Carcassonne” with Laury!
