We had a good night last night at the tiny restaurant in Allos. Today we drive to Colmars les Alpes, about 20 minutes drive. It it a medieval walled village with a pretty centre and we find a place to have lunch. We are having no luck with the bolts but Doug has managed to make some repairs that will probably suffice until we can find somewhere to replace them.
The lunch is excellent – we have steak frites (see recipe) and a couple of bottles of wine. We then explore the place, which is full of interesting buildings and architecture. As we search for a shop (none open!), Dot and Ed find a stray dog to look after. Doug wants to adopt it but the boys refuse to let it into their motorhome to take it back to the apartment. Eventually the owner turns up and takes it back home.
We arrive back in Allos and the boys work on the car. Dot and I spend a relaxing afternoon reading and sitting on the balcony looking over the empty ski runs and get ready to venture out to the little restaurant again. On the way down and after a couple of glasses of wine, Dot and I decide to do some traffic control on the roundabout. Not sure if the biker understood our directions.
We are greeted like long lost friends at the restaurant and the owner’s son joins us to scribble on the wall. Food is good and the wine excellent. More singing and dancing and then time to leave – just as the heavens open. Obviously no taxis so we try to find somewhere to shelter. Although the hotels are all closed, their receptions remain open and we enter a hotel with a huge reception area with not a soul in site. We shelter from the downpour but Dot and Kevin speed on ahead.
Kevin, soaked to the skin
As we wait for the downpour to end, we see a couple of lights in the distance which get nearer and nearer. Suddenly we realise it’s Kevin who has come back in the motor home to pick us up. We clamber in and are so pleased to get back into the dry. We change into dry clothes and make hot chocolate with rum to warm us up. Another eventful night!
RECIPE FOR STEAK FRITES – Courtesy of Carl
This is Carl’s recipe and he uses Tomahawk steak, but you can use any steak, as long as its from a good butcher.
Sear steaks on grill 
Put tray under to catch juices 
Ready to go
1 tomahawk steak (serves 2 or 3 people or just Carl!)
100gm butter
3 cloves of garlic crushed
Bunch of thyme
Salt and pepper
Sear each side for 2 minutes, then again for another 2 minutes
Put the butter, garlic and thyme into an aluminium tray and melt on the BBQ
Put the steak on the upper rack and place the aluminium tray underneath to catch the juices from the meat.
Close the lid and allow to cook, basting from time to time with the melted butter
Use a thermometer to measure the internal temperature
Ready at 125º degrees
Slice and serve with french fries, fat chips or just salad
Bon Appetit
Stories from my typewriter 