Saturday, September 17, 2011

Brandee's European Adventure - Part 9

Gateau de Feuillage Week plus hanging out with the town's people


Gateau de Feuillage means pound cakes. Apparently back in the day people would make these cakes that were good for traveling. There was no type of refrigeration, so they needed food that could withstand a long journey. We made all types of gateau (cakes) marble cakes, fruit cakes, rose praline, and chocolate gateau.  We also made checkboard biscuits, madelaine, catalaines, these are all types of biscuits. (cookies). Not one of my favorite weeks. I could have done all of this in 2 to 3 days.

In the same week the Yssingeaux community invited us to a fine traditional French meal, sort of a welcome to our little town. It was held at the community center which looks like an old log cabin. They served us a traditional Potato with Fromage fraie with some meats and wine. This would be a staple meal in the community of Yssingeaux. We walked from the chateau to the lodge and saw beautiful wheat fields, and met some of the town’s people. We all had a lovely time, and at the end of the meal they served us an aperitif called Verveine which is made here in this region of France. It is made from herbs and lemon. We sipped Verveine while listening to traditional folk music. I had a wonderful time.

Au revoir, Brandee

Gateau
Gateau

Lemon gateau and petit gateau
Lemon_gateau_and_petit_gateau

Noam the GQ of Gateaus
Noam_the_GQ_of_Gateau's

Our walk to the center
Our_walk_to_the_center

Beautiful wheat fields
Beautiful_wheat_fields

Yssigeaux dinner
Yssigeaux_dinner

Cow grazing
Cow_grazing

Walk to the center
Walk_to_the_center

All of us arriving to dinner
All_of_us_arriving_to_dinner

Table set for a fine dinner
table_set_for_a_fine_dinner

Giada (Italy) enjoying the dinner
Giada_(Italy)_Enjoying_dinner

Traditional French meal
traditional_French_meal

Verveine
Verveine

Classic old car parked in front
classic_old_car_parked_in_front

4 comments:

Betty Townsend said...

These are great pictures...

jalna said...

I would totally gain like 20 pounds if I was with her, Betty!

Anonymous said...

Just wondering if that was all there was for dinner ? although I know they eat alot of dessert :)

jalna said...

I was wondering the same thing too, Anon.