Thijs and Jose were here for three weeks over the hottest part of the summer, and their English friend, Catherine, joined them for a week.
We went to Larressingle to paint one morning before it got too hot.
But the highlights (for us anyway) of their stay were two memorable meals they cooked for us.
A few nights before they left, the food Jose and Thijs prepared was nothing less than OUTSTANDING.
Plus he spoiled us with lots of wonderful wine that Thijs had collected - and a vintage bottle of Champagne they had brought with them.
This probably helped when a storm erupted later in the evening. But we were all enjoying ourselves so much that we ignored the rain and went on eating - and drinking.
Here’s what we ate (in my words which might not be accurate): 3 carrot based 'amuse bouches’, celery and parsley soup, avocado and Ricard puree with crab, white fish with coquille St Jacques and prawns in a reduced bouillabaisse sauce, Guinea fowl in a special jus with cauliflower puree & beetroot. A dessert that I can only describe as chocolate mousse - but it was much, much better than the mundane name I’ve given it.
Not bad hey?
I told Thijs that whenever he got tired of his practice and psychoanalyst role, he’d have no difficulty establishing a five star restaurant anywhere in France - and beyond.
