Road trip SOUTH and a shared meal

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Road trip SOUTH and a shared meal

April 12, 2017 by Robin Ellis

Meredith and I travel SOUTH!

A skip and a jump from chez nous–about a two-and-half hour drive.

We are heading for Corneilla-del-Vercola–a handsome, wine-producing village south of Perpignan, not far from the Spanish border.

I have been invited by the members of the local branch of the University of the Third Age to join them for their monthly get together.

On the first Monday of every month the group assembles for a shared meal–with a theme.

A recent event involved them learning how to make a pork pie.

This month was to be a bit different.

Jane, the host for the event, invited everyone in the cooking group to bring something they have prepared from one of my cook books–or this blog!

She says that Type 2 diabetes has an increasing presence among the retirees in the area.

Be that as it may this is some ego-trip and I don’t have to cook!

Jane and her partner Chris live in a prettily painted house on the village square with a magnificent view of the mountains from the loggia of their sitting room.

As the evening progresses the sunlight on the fine brick church across the square turns it a glowing red.

The guests (twenty of them plus us two) start arriving at 7pm and it’s clear from the animated chatter that the group s’entendre bien [gets on together well] and looks forward to these convivial evenings.

Each arrival proprietorially clutches a food box, as they mount the narrow staircase to the sitting room two floors up.

Jane has emailed the list of dishes we are going to be sampling.

Healthy eating/pre diabetic cookery with Robin Ellis

22 Responses

on April 12, 2017 at 12:29 pm | Reply Tina

Such an amazing story. You must be so proud. Glad to see cauliflower featuring twice in the menu 🙂

Enjoy your travels.

Tina
on April 12, 2017 at 1:58 pm | Reply Candice Piper

Are there recipes to go along with that extraordinary menu? Candice

Sent from my iPhone

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- on April 12, 2017 at 2:20 pm | Reply Robin Ellis
  
  There are in the books!
on April 12, 2017 at 2:44 pm | Reply Natalia

This is a totally delightful and delicious evening! Especially impressed that it was hosted by the University of thd Third Age;more so for all the health conscious (and DELICIOUS) entrees!Congratulations,Robin an Meredith!Most well deserved!
And thank you for reminding others of us Troisiemme Age’rs that we can still partake of wonderful food without jeopardizing our well being,or fun!
Happy travels!Sounds terrific!
on April 12, 2017 at 4:31 pm | Reply Stella

Isn’t it nice when you don’t have to cook, i can not recall when i did not have to cook as a quest. 🙂
on April 12, 2017 at 4:54 pm | Reply Cynthia

O, that sounds lovely. And yummy.
on April 12, 2017 at 11:10 pm | Reply Joan Ryan

Sounds delicious, delightful and de-lovely! Joan from Sydney Australia (Who met you in Arlington DC)

Sent from my iPad 0416194228

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- on April 13, 2017 at 6:42 am | Reply Robin Ellis
  
  I remember–just off the plane!
on April 13, 2017 at 12:21 am | Reply CLAIRE HAROUNI

THANK YOU FOR SENDING THIS E MAIL TO ME. IT REALLY HELPED ME TO SURVIVE THE DAY
- on April 13, 2017 at 6:43 am | Reply Robin Ellis
  
  What can I say–thank heavens!
on April 13, 2017 at 3:26 am | Reply Dianne P.

The menu looks awesome, Robin, but you mentioned PORK PIE the last time? Yumm!! I have my grandmother’s recipe (written in French) somewhere… but the nuns do ’em justice at French-Canadian Night every year, too! My favorite!
- on April 13, 2017 at 6:44 am | Reply Robin Ellis
  
  I don’t remember talking pork pie but you may be right.
  - on April 14, 2017 at 2:40 am Dianne P.
    
    You said the group meets the 1st Monday of every month, and recently they learned how to make a pork pie. I was just musing whether they had any “trade secrets.” My grandmother’s was pretty authentic–and laden with fat & calories! 🙂
  - on April 14, 2017 at 9:26 am Robin Ellis
    
    If they had, they were keeping under their collective hat.
on April 13, 2017 at 12:04 pm | Reply Gerald Meaders

Wonderful diarism!
What a beautiful house.
I had forgotten what loggia meant, then saw, recently, Steven L Tuck’s Course, Experiencing Rome. His graphics alone are worth seeing this.
All the best
on April 13, 2017 at 2:29 pm | Reply nancyden

Always a delight to read of your adventures, culinary and otherwise. Sounds like a wonderful meal with wonderful company. Deeply envious.
Nancy, Santa Fe
on April 14, 2017 at 5:20 pm | Reply Rosaria

Dear Robin!!!!! Giuseppe and Rosaria here from Italy!! Many compliments to your host and above all to you! We are so glad to see that you are fine and are enjoying these spring Easter holidays! We are in Tuscany now and from this amazing countryside we want to give to Meredith and you the best wishes for a happy and joyful Easter together with your friends!!! See you soon!!!
- on April 15, 2017 at 1:56 pm | Reply Robin Ellis
  
  Hi Rosario and Guiseppe.
  Meredith’s birthday–today!
  We just celebrated with friends–roast lamb, cannelloni beans, asparagus and roast tomatoes.
  Buona Pasqua!
on April 16, 2017 at 3:49 pm | Reply Mary Williams

Mr. Ellis, you cook as well as you act – high praise, indeed! I just picked up “Healthy Eating for Life” and your Radish, Spring Onion and Tuna Salad was a sparkling delight of tastes, textures and colors. I’ve seen Moroccan Orange Salad recipes elsewhere (Nigella Lawson, perhaps?) but never actually prepared them due to the labor involved: pomegranate seeds, shelling pistachios, etc). You distill recipes to their essence, which actually gets me making them: the combo of date, cinnamon and mint was heavenly. I am not diabetic. I notice you call for coconut milk/cream: what is its advantage compared to dairy?
- on April 18, 2017 at 6:31 pm | Reply Robin Ellis
  
  Thanks for your generous comment, Mary. The coconut milk adds a different taste and there is no added sugar.
on April 17, 2017 at 3:13 pm | Reply Jenny Lachlan

We think this evening was one of the best we have had in the group. Everyone has given really positive feedback. Jane and Chris are such excellent hosts and so clever to have got you and Meredith to come and spend the evening with us. We loved cooking your food, and have continued to do so. Love the recipe book to bits. Genny and Giles
- on April 18, 2017 at 6:28 pm | Reply Robin Ellis
  
  That’s so lovely to hear, G(?)enny–thank you. Meredith and I had a brilliant evening with you all. You are right about Jane and Chris–they are wonderful hosts.