Blog
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Life in the Loire on lock-down – Sunday March 15th. Day one.
What a beautiful day. The first bright and sunny day for weeks. Something to lift the spirits as we enter into a rather dark period of our lives.
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Life in the Loire on lock-down – Saturday March 14th. The day before.
Yesterday we drove into Tours to collect some paint that we’d ordered and took the opportunity to pop into Les Halles to buy some cheese for the week.
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What’s been going on in the Loire valley vineyards in February 2020
Pruning continues as growers set up their vineyards for the coming season and fingers are firmy crossed as the daffs are already showing their blooms.
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Wine tasting at its best chez Peter & Juliette Hahn
Peter and Julette Hahn’s tiny estate in the heart of the Vouvray appellation in the winemaking village of Vernou sur Brenne is rather special.
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Recipes from Le Tasting Room’s kitchen – Croque Monsieur
It’s ages since I made a home made Croque Monsieur and it was so tasty and so easy that I had to share this super simple recipe with you.
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Recipes from Le Tasting Room’s kitchen – Hazlenut parfait
This delicious hazlenut dessert can be prepared well in advance. It goes in the freezer and then you can just cut a slice as and when you need it.
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Recipes from Le Tasting Room’s kitchen – carrot, almond, orange and olive oil cake
A deliciously moist cake that makes a great partner to a cup of coffee in the morning or served as a dessert with a little creme fraiche.
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Salon des Vins de Loire 2020 – Domaine Leduc Frouin
We miss our winemaker friends in Anjou so it was a pleasure to catch up with Antoine and Nathalie Leduc of Leduc Frouin at the Salon yesterday.
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Recipes from Le Tasting Room’s kitchen – cod en papillote with tomatoes and basil
This is an easy peasy recipe that is great fun to serve at the table. A succulent piece of cod on a bed of semi dried tomatoes with fresh basil and thyme.
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What’s going on in the Loire vineyards in January?
Walking around the Vouvray vineyards these past few weeks I would have expected to see a hive of activity with growers out in the cold pruning.
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Recipes from Le Tasting Room’s kitchen – basmati rice and lentils with raisins, dates, saffron & cumin
Rice and lentils together are a perfect combination. Add in some spices, a slow cooked caramelised onion and a touch of sweetnes and you have deliciousness.
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Cuvée de L’Artiste 2018 Chateau de Montdomaine
This 2018 Malbec (here called Côt) is a great example of the sunny vintage. It’s just packed with ripe bramble fruit and has lovely freshness.