Tavaux-days 12 through 14--The London Adventure 2018

Setting up an e-mail account for Moniqué

It was wet in Tavaux on day12. We did walk a few minutes and visited Jérôme's grandmother.  The rain picked up after we returned and we decided to forego driving into Diijon to shop and sight see.

Moniqué cooked cod in a white sauce with purple potatoes for lunch which was delicious! After lunch, Nicole helped Moniqué establish a gmail account. I snapped a photo of them working through the process.

The everything pizza at La Florentine

In the afternoon, we went shoe shopping as Nicole wanted an updated look for her feet for the birthday party. She was successful!

Dinner that night was pizza at the best pizza place (La Florentine) in France. It was located in Dole. The restaurant seated about 24 people (it was full) and the take out orders were just as many! I agree with the locals that it is the best pizza in France!

I had the everything pizza. It came with olives, peppers, onions, capers, anchovies, chorizo and an egg among the cheese and sauce. It was baked on a thin crust. . .just like what would be served in Italy.

I had to chuckle watching a Frenchman bake an Italian pizza. His technique was poetry in motion. His pizza creation was delicious. We had a nice walk around the shopping area and Jérôme walked us to where he attended high school. I walked three miles. My knees are protesting with each and every step. The knees are swelling too. Each day they have become a bit larger.

Sign outside the abbey

Day 13, we took a little drive to the Abbaye Notre-Same de Cîteaux and picked up some cheese. First, we took a walking tour around the grounds. There are ornate stones that provide the history of the grounds which was interesting to read. In the early days, the cheese was available for purchase after mass. People loved the cheese and the lines were long for and and sometimes, the monks ran out of cheese before all the people were served. People started leaving mass early so they would be ensured they would get their cheese. So the monks opened a cheese shop so people could come other days of the week! The little shop sold regional products, many of which originated in other abbeys. It was a fun stop.

The cheese in this region is delicious.  The variety of cheeses is many. I understand that one could eat a different cheese every day and almost sample all the cheese that is available in the country!

Variety of cheeses in the case for purchase at the abbey

I took a photo of the cheese case just because what is available for sale here is nothing like what is available for sale in France! The Cîteaux cheese is in the red basket with the blue design on top of the wrapper. It is a strong smelling soft cheese that is so creamy when you bite into it and has a light milky but earthy taste. This is one of the cheeses that isn't pasteurized so it is best eaten in France.

The "Channel" costuming for the "spoof"performance

This was also the day of the big party for Jérôme's cousin, Anne who turned 40. Forty is a beginning and what a better way to celebrate than to have a party with your cousins, aunts and uncles, sisters, brother, parents. . . .well, your whole family!

Joel and Sylvie, her parents, had painted the dark wood on their living room ceiling white and they had installed new flooring. Joel joked that he had just finished the job earlier that morning. The renovation was beautiful.

The hors d'oeuvres and starters were almost too beautiful to eat. (I managed though!) Of course, there were toasts of champagne and a spoof to get the party started. Anne's uncle and aunt provided a "story" about the birthday girl.

With 26 people at a sit down dinner, it is no small feat to get that many French people to be seated all at the same time! Sylvie prepared veal in a gravy sauce, a grated potato side and a vegetable brochette for the main. Veal isn't my favorite; but, Sylvie's dish was delicious! Of course there was bread and a Burgundy wine to go with the main dish.

Jérôme and his sweet grandmother

Next came the cheese course, more bread and more wine. My two favorites were a goat cheese and I couldn't tell you what the other cheese was that I enjoyed. It had a sort of green rind and was a more firm cheese. There was more spoofing. The cousins banded together and put together a song for the birthday girl which were followed by a couple dance numbers.

Anne and Jérôme the newest members of the "40" club

Her grandmother gathered all the grandkids and gave them each a little something in an envelope. She decided that she didn't need all the farm allowance this year so she divided it among her grandchildren. She loves kids and she especially loves the small ones who can bring the biggest smiles to her face. She is a special lady and so kind to put up with me trying to speak French with her!

Anne's husband, carried in the cake, with all the candles lit. There was more singing of happy birthday in French. Anne blew out her candles. Then, the candles were relit and her daughter got to blow out the candles. With the cake, we toasted the birthday girl with champagne. Anne's husband is Norwegian so he and his brother sang her happy birthday in Norwegian.

Moniqué's Easter tree with beautiful eggs

Anne opened her gifts. Then, the tables were cleared, chairs stacked and the dancing began.

It was after two in the morning when we left. The dancing was still going on; but, this American was ready for sleep! It felt so odd to be going to bed about the time I would be getting up!

Spending Easter in Tavaux on day 14 was special. Moniqué baked a special sweet bread in a bell mold. It was delicious. The family called it her bell cake. Everything Moniqué cooks or bakes is delicious. For dinner, Moniqué made Coq Au Vin as the main with a variety of salads as the starter. We picked up the cake and the baguettes from the local Boulangier. The cake was delicious. It had a raspberry filling and the raspberries tasted like they were fresh!

Easter Cake

There is something about Tavaux. . .I don't know if it is the air, the bed, the bedding; but, it is sure easy to sleep here!

Tomorrow, Nicole and I leave early to catch the train back to Paris. We take the speedy train in the afternoon back to London. As always, the time goes by way too fast!