The charming village of Saint-Généroux

28 km north of Gourgé heading towards Thouars is the charming village of Saint-Généroux. Nestled  beside the banks of the River Thouet in a rural farming area.

One is welcomed by the guardian of the village, le chat. He proceeds to follow you with boundless energy and friendly enthusiasm, ensuring you explore every nook and cranny within the village.

We had lunch at the Auberge du Vieux Pont. What a delightful place! For starters we had a salad, followed by wild rice and stringray wings (which was delicious), a platter of cheeses, apple tart & ice cream and to wash all this down 1/4 litre of rosé wine. All this for 10.90 € per person.

We will be going back!

à bientôt
Peter et Donna

Thouars Markets

 Every Friday there are Markets held in the village of Thouars, which  is 35 km north of Gourgé, heading towards the Loire Valley.

Markets are held every day in different villages within the Deux-Sèvres, varying in size and stall products. Each village has is own uniqueness and you just never know what you will discover!





We went for a leisurely drive yesterday and whilst there we took some photos to temp you!

à bientôt
Peter et Donna

Fishing Season Commences

Saturday the 9th of March was the official commencement of the Fishing Season. The banks of the Thouet River and both bridges on either side of our property were lined with keen fishermen, awaiting the 'catch of the day', in particular, Trout.

We decided to skip the fishing part and went to lunch next door at Jean-Michel's with some of the fishermen. Listening to their tales, was far more entertaining! Plus lunch was delicious. It was generously prepared by Stephane, the gentlemen that manages the Auberge at Thenézay. We got so carried away with lunch and copious amounts of wine, that we almost forgot to take some pictures. Unfortunately it was later in the day and most of the fishermen had gone home to feast on their fish, washing it down with some good French wine & bread. However, we did mange to take a couple.

Le pont, the 11th Century Roman Bridge

  

No Fishermen, however the sheep look contented

The new bridge, built in 1969

The medieval water mill and the weir

A bientôt
Peter et Donna

Banquet des Chasseurs (Hunters)

Tonight we are off to the Salle de Fêtes (town hall), in Gourgé for a culinary delight. Hunting is a common sport in this region. It is well controlled and there are strict regimes for the Hunters to follow. We will let you know what the meal was like on our next blog.

Had to take a photo of the flyer as it is in a .pdf file. The menu reads:
Apéritif
Terrine de gibier (game)
Dos de cabillaud sauce crevettes (Cod with shrimp sauce)
Trou du milieu (I think this is some kind of alcoholic spirit?)
Rôti de sanglier et ses légumes (Roast wild boar and vegetables)
Salade - Fromages (Salad-Cheese)

Gâteau (Cake)

All this for 20 €. 

à bientôt
Peter et Donna

Our little "Winter Wonderland" this morning

A bientôt
Peter et Donna

Our Sunday stroll and dinner

We do enjoy the colder months here in France, particularly after coming back from experiencing the hot and humid Summers in OZ every year. February this year has been a lovely month of sunshine combined with the cold, and today small flakes of snow. We are hoping to have some snow fall over night. Believe us, it is very cozy inside with 3 fireplaces to choose from, plus many glass windows and doors to let the sunlight in.



We had a leisurely walk today up the hill towards the small hamlet of  La Gandonnière, passing leafy green pastures, happy livestock, lakes full to the brim and the Châteaux La Roche aux Enfants. The view of Gourgé from La Gandonnière is breathtaking with the 10th Century Church steeple acting as a protector over the village.

Now it is time to get the vegetable soup cooking on the fireplace top, in the older kitchen. 




Dinner tonight for starters is vegetable soup, (10 different vegetables) with a touch of orange zest, topped with crème fraîche and accompanied by crusty French bread. For mains it is Turkey Osso Bucco topped with Gremolata. Both were delicious!

A bientôt
Peter et Donna

Noix St Jacques Lunch

One of the luxuries of living in France, is the amazing variety of quality foods, plus the added bonus of affordability.

Our lunch today cooked by moi, is Noix St Jacques on vegetable couscous


The scallops were seasoned, cooked in a little olive oil with a slight touch of chillie. A rosemary butter bomb was added for extra flavor and the pan deglazed with some delicious French white wine for the sauce. 8 of these large Noix St Jacques cost 4.65 € (euro). The vegetables in the couscous consisted of; garlic, écholates, ginger, sweet potato, pumpkin, parnsip and capicum. Yumm!

So, when are you coming to visit?

A bientôt
Peter et Donna