FRENCH FRIENDS

Pierre arrived from Mirepoix for the weekend. It’s good to see him after two years and catch up with life in the Ariege. He has been busy over lockdown, with people wishing to escape life in the big cities and move out to the beautiful French countryside. Most of the houses on his agency books have been sold. Some without the client even seeing them, such is the demand.

On the first evening, we eat at Pura Brasa, a great meat restaurant which serves wagyu beef. The burgers are extraordinary and it’s the first time Claudia has tried wagyu beef.

Ed is offered a straw for the huge bottle of red but declines and shares it with the rest of our party.

It’s always a pleasure to see Pierre as he introduces us to places we have never visited before. This week we went to Peretallada, a tiny village in the middle of nowhere, about 40 minutes from Empuria. It is set on a hillside with tiny winding cobbled streets. All the original doors and buildings still remain and it is a fascinating place. We walk the cobbled lanes and have lunch in a cool spot on the square.

Later we stop in Torroella de Montgri, another delightful town with a wonderful pastry shop and lots of interesting architecture. There is an old cinema with a restaurant attached. Pierre said he used to eat there many years ago and the food was very good. I feel like a small child next to Pierre and the tallest door in the world!

Second evening we eat at Capitan – Claudia is fascinated with Abi’s order of oysters. Pierre and I share a dish of thinly sliced courgette, dressed with olive oil, sun dried tomato, parmesan and black pepper.