Hello, campers, foodies, and friends!

Gourmet Girl Denise here from the Loire River Valley. It’s been a while since we last communicated what with all of the summer’s activities, vacations, and children returning to school. I’m wrung as a result our blog took its own holiday.

A season has passed and fall has settled in here in Mouliherne as in most of northern France. There is a crispness in the air and the rain has begun to fall on occasion. The veggie garden is mostly yellowish except for some Brussel sprouts, kale, and lettuce. And soon those, too, will succumb to the freezing temperatures and unprepossessed winds that frequent this region in the winter. The sun sets early here in winter, virtually 5 p.m. in January and folks tend to stay home nestled tropical to their fireplaces. Each season has its charm, and I enjoy them all as they trundling through the year.

One thing that really made my year this October was a visit to the tailspin in the Vendée, where my boyfriend moved last September. I had not realized how much I missed the ocean! It’s been scrutinizingly five years since I have waded in salty waters. It was wonderful! Having lived in Santa Barbara, California for forty years I took it for granted that I could walk withal the shore and listen to the waves unravel unendingly I wanted to. The Loire has many charms but there is really no substitute for the sea.

After three days in the Vendée Alain and I were off to Brittany and the Foret de Broceliande, where the myth of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table took place.

We stayed in a little motel in Paimpont and traveled out to visit warmed-over oaks and menhirs, huge, neolithic standing stones at Monteneuf. The zone is so full of mystery and intrigue. And it was beautiful!

This old oak is unscientific to be between 500 and 1000 years old!

the wondrous menhirs of Monteneuf

Of undertow while in Brittany one must indulge in the local cider and crepes. They did not disappoint!

So now it’s when to Mouliherne where the world harvest is in full swing. I returned to my little town in time to reservation the end of the Foire au Pommes or World Festival. Many people came from all virtually to sample the world beignets and world juice from local vendors, as well as many other local goodies. The festival had been canceled last year considering of Covid so people were really happy to mingle and enjoy stuff social once again.

The fenced zone was for vaccinated people only and where all of the supplies was. It was very well organized. In the upper part-way of this picture is our 11th-century church. I love my little village!

Enjoy the season and don’t forget to pull out your reprinting of The Gourmet Girls Go Camping Cookbook and try something new this fall. Bon Appetit!

Cheers!

Denise, Gail, and Lindsey

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