@Nollie there is a Jeff de Bruges and a Leonidas here in Les Sables d'Olonne and a Leonidas in La Roche. However, the price of Leonidas is extortionate compared to that in Belgium. Fortunately, I've found a good artisan chocolate maker here and I do my own truffles.
Jeff de Bruges and Leonidas are very industrial, low quality chocs. There are lots of much better artisan chocolate makers in most French towns, but their products can be quite expensive . You get what you pay for.
@Papi Jo - In Belgium I liked the hand-made chocs and Easter eggs from the village baker/patissier who also made the best croissants and pains au chocolat I have had anywhere and the most wonderful pain forestier - really dark and full of grains and seeds - as well as seriously good cramique and craquelin brioche based breads which I'd use for bread and butter pudding.......
Haven't found anything that comes close here yet except for a chocolate maker at Les Sables d'Olonne and they're definitely not for every day.
I can't find your tree @Obelixx it would be lovely to see it. My photo didn't work out with lots of Zig Zag lighting. I think I need a new camera but I have loved seeing everyones tree who has participated.
No tinsel here. Asking for trouble with 2 cats and even the dogs get silly with that kind of thing. As it is, one dog and one cat both drink from the tree water!
I do like your wreath @Busy-Lizzie. Will have to have a go at making one next year.
I did make 2 new Xmas patchworks tho - disappearing shoofly with Xmas fabrics and a Dresden plate using Xmas batiks and a fabric tree for the snowmen
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)."
Jeff de Bruges and Leonidas are very industrial, low quality chocs. There are lots of much better artisan chocolate makers in most French towns, but their products can be quite expensive . You get what you pay for.
All a matter of availability, PJ. If you have ever tasted Spanish ‘chocolate’ you wouldn’t be calling Jeff de B low quality I stick to the 70% dark chocolate ones, which I would call middling quality. Artisan du Chocolat are better, but we don’t get to go to Chelsea often. If you know of a good chocolatier in Perpignan would love to hear of it. OH’s chocolate fondants, otoh, are simply the best... and as for her billionaire’s chocolate ganache and salted caramel shortbread... the most sublime chocolate treat I have ever tasted. Salivating now!
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
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I hope your move goes smoothly, and you are very happy in your new home (and garden) .
Haven't found anything that comes close here yet except for a chocolate maker at Les Sables d'Olonne and they're definitely not for every day.
Good luck with the new home and garden @pitter-patter
Here is my tree and my wreath. The lights didn't come out at all well so had to take the photo in daylight without lights.
And here is the first course I made for Christmas lunch at my daughter's. It's salmon.
I do like your wreath @Busy-Lizzie. Will have to have a go at making one next year.
I did make 2 new Xmas patchworks tho - disappearing shoofly with Xmas fabrics
and a Dresden plate using Xmas batiks
and a fabric tree for the snowmen