Last winter I spent the holidays in the southern Tarn region of France- the “Midi-Pyrenees.” Rolling sunflower-filled hills, charming farms, and beautiful vineyards paint this unbelievable countryside. We quickly adopted the European lifestyle and found ourselves starting our day eating freshly-baked croissants from a local patisserie, talking about what we were going to have for lunch while we were eating breakfast, planning our food shopping while were eating lunch, and discussing what we wanted for dinner during our grocery trips. Food- eating it, shopping for it, and cooking it- became the main focus each day and we relished in it. Who doesn’t love an excuse to gorge themselves in buttery, savory French fare? I mean, we were on vacation… right? Below are some of my favorite meals and pictures I took during our stay.
Daily breakfast of flaky croissants, muesli, espresso, and orange juice. Believe me, there is nothing better to wake up to than the aroma of hot, fresh pastries and a beautifully set farmhouse table.
We stumbled upon this little version of a French sports bar in a nearby town we were exploring during the day. Since the French usually stop serving lunch around 3 pm, they only had their daily special left- roasted duck. Don’t even begin to think we were upset about this. I mean, look at this picture. The duck was so delicate and pulled apart wonderfully with each bite. The side of potatoes and green beans were the perfect compliment to this succulent surprise.
New Year’s Day we went out to lunch in another nearby town. This little bowl of happiness is actually chicken noodle soup with a poached egg. Never again can I open a can of Campbell’s and feel satisfied after having this amazing variation of a traditional classic.
This was a typical table setting for dinner at our house. Green salad, an assortment of cheeses, freshly sliced baguettes, and of course, red wine were the essential side dishes for every homemade meal.
