The blog relies heavily on our Senior Correspondents, and perhaps the most faithful are our Senior France correspondents, Barbara Somson and Ross Eisenbrey.  Ross surfaced recently across the border in Switzerland in the medieval village of Gruyères, which, of course, is most famous for the cheese.  The Gruyerois started making cheese there in the 12th century, and after 1,000 years or so of practice, they’ve … Continue reading Fleur de Lys, Gruyères, Switzerland

One of the joys of travel in France is, of course, gazing longingly at the food in the markets and in shop windows.  A greater joy is eating that food.  At one level, you can just grab a baguette and a piece of camembert and some pate and head for a park, a bench, or back to your hotel room for an indoor picnic.  But … Continue reading Dining Chez Eisenbrey-Somson in France

The latest restaurant report from our Senior France Correspondents, Barbara Somson and Ross Eisenbrey, is on their dinner at Chez Simone, a restaurant set on the harbor in Collioure.  The view is of the sea, sailboats, and the local Notre Dame, with its church tower that used to be a lighthouse.  Collioure is a lovely town near Port Vendres, a few miles from the Spanish border. … Continue reading Chez Simone, Collioure, France

I am back from the beach and sorting through reports from our Senior France Correspondents, Barbara Somson and Ross Eisenbrey as they travel about France, often well in advance of their luggage.  Their first, understandably laconic report was from Orleans: In Orléans, at L’Étage, we had a light supper of (risotto aux écrevisses, pois gourmands et chips de jambon cru accompagné d’un jus de viande, … Continue reading L’Étage, Orléans, France and La Cave Ô Délices.Montauban, France

This is the 13th and final post of our 2019 trip to France.  The number 13 could not be more appropriate. What do you do when you have to wake up at 2:15 to put out your suitcases to be taken to the bus that will whisk you to the Marseilles airport in the dead of night, and, after a quick flight, find yourself in … Continue reading Anton and Anni’s, Frankfurt Airport, Germany

As promised, here’s a post on the food on our Viking river cruise down the Rhône from Lyon to Arles (and back to Avignon for the departure).   I did not catalogue all of the dishes available, or all of the dishes Nancy and I ate, but this should give you a good idea of what to expect when you take a river cruise. I’ll say … Continue reading The Food on Viking River Cruises

Our last planned lunch in Lyons — one more bouchon and more unfamiliar foods — came a-cropper due to a latish return from our morning tour, close to 1:00 pm.  Our cruise ship had a 1:45 pm departure.  We might have made it, but the price of failure would have been figuring how to get to Vienne on our own hook, and the price of success would be hurried lunch.  Discretion proved … Continue reading Where to Eat in Avignon: L’Agape