August 2002

We have travelled and lived all over the world.  The Far East, the Middle East, US and Europe, but France was fast becoming our favourite destination and we have been visiting it now for many years.  We were both fascinated with French Culture and food, particularly because we had run a restaurant in the UK.  We found French society so different from the money orientated society which now seems to prevail in many parts of the UK.

Over dinner in France, the diners would discuss the provenance of the food, how it was cooked, the vintage of the wine and which region it was produced in.  No discussions over preposterously over-priced properties, or what private school they had managed to get their children in, or which latest model of car they drove.  No –  food, rather than property prices – was a much more desirable topic at the dinner table.

We discovered South West France about fourteen years ago.  We flew into Carcassonne and were immediately entranced with the magical site of the Medieval Cite, close to the airport.
We spent our anniversary eating at an incredible Restaurant, right in the middle of Le Cite.  It was August, a fabulously clear night and we sat outside, sipping  Blanquette from Limoux  (believed to have been the first sparkling wine and the recipe subsequently taken and used to make Champagne) and devouring huge Crevettes dripping in butter.  Our daughter was sitting with us, enjoying all the lovely food and staring with saucer eyes at the dogs sitting underneath the tables.  No canine bans here! “Mummy, look, all the doggies can eat too!” Yes, this was France at its best.  Hot sunny days, gloriously warm nights sitting outside, drinking wine and eating food to die for.

I think that was the night we decided we wanted to live there.