"More importantly, they know how to make better cakes than any other nation on earth."
Yes indeed! In terms of pastry, the French are second to none. It's important to live in a country, I find, where cake represents a whole nutritional food group. Countries like Canada, Spain and Viet Nam fail to grasp the vital essence and social infrastructure that is Cake.
They do the best wine, the French. Hands down no arguing top drawer red. Not that I drink nowadays, but a wee glass of anything from the Rhone valley is France's greatest contribution to civilisation.........well, that and the chocolate eclair!
25 years in Belgium so I think I know my patisseries and chocs. Had German and Dutch and Polish friends who all made excellent cakes. Taught my Belgian friends the joys of proper British cakes and I don't mean Victoria sponge or Red Velvet yuk. Carrot cakes, banana cakes, chocolate cakes, fruit cakes, rhubarb, apple, ginger cakes.......cakes with character. The ladies at patchwork group have never met anything like them. Apart from anything else their self-raising flour, like the Belgian, has only half the baking powder in it compared to British.
Very good at bread tho.
Still to find a reliable red we like. Have found a few whites but then they stop stocking it. Working on the next batch then.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Agree on the cake front re Spain - rock ‘ard, over-sweetened and ghastly, with the honorouble exception of a Xuxa, a sort of wicked twisted donut filled with custard. Oh and maybe a crema catalana, but that’s a pud. And not a creme brûlée.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
I am now using white vinegar and washing up liquid on my patio weeds growing thru' the pavers. Its only really effective if the weeds are quite young, but it does kill the whole plant not just to top growth. And you get better effect if you spray in hot sunshine. Does make the garden smell like a fish and chip shop till it dries off.
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Clever people indeed.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/recipes/8776536/River-Cottage-Baking-recipes-family-cakes.html?image=2
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Very good at bread tho.
Still to find a reliable red we like. Have found a few whites but then they stop stocking it. Working on the next batch then.