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“Brave Hearts” –Mark III

May 19, 2014 by Robin Ellis

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The clue to the blue is the Pastel Bleu shop in Lautrec. The owner is “trés contente”!

 

The third team of Brave Hearts  head back home today.

Our place of work for four busy, sun-blessed days has been the magnificent kitchen of the comfortable gite in Lautrec…

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Daisy, sous chef numero uno and me getting ready for the Thursday launch.

in the grounds of La Terrasse…

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hosted by Dominique and Philippe in their beautiful B&B in the heart of Lautrec.

“Sous chef” Brave Hearts:

Rod and Teri from Calgary close to the Canadian Rockies who celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary yesterday; Sandy and Pat, two intrepid women from upstate New York; Paola from Rome, who learned her perfect English in Hull; Cathy and Dave (husband not cooking, but keen consumer) from Newmarket, celebrating their wedding anniversary too; and Jen, ex-BBC Radio 4 sound engineer and Chelsea fan from Cookham (appropriately!) in Berkshire– all cooked up a storm and we celebrated with a final lunch under the parasols in the garden.

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The al fresco menu included aubergine slices with garlicky walnut topping, white bean gratin

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and stuffed peppers–all recipes from my first cookbook, Delicious Dishes for Diabetics.

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oven-bound pyramid of peppers…

This variation is a work in progress :

Red pepper boats stuffed with a courgette “cargo”!

Thinly-sliced, small courgettes are mixed with garlic, cheese and breadcrumbs and stuffed into peeled red peppers, then roasted.

Recipe to follow in a couple of days!

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Posted in Food, other sides to this life, Recipes | 14 Comments »

Reverend Dr. Halse’s day in court with Captain Poldark

May 12, 2014 by Robin Ellis

Friday–a long day in court!

I parked my behind on the “bench” at 8.30am and we wrapped at 5pm.
It was the full Monty—red robe and full judicial wig–recognisable by nose alone!
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I wore my ministers’ costume beneath–all black–which kept me warm when all about were freezing.(Poor Meredith caught a chill and is in bed with a heavy cold!)
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Reverend Halse relaxes on the ice after a heavy day’s sentencing…

We were filming at Horton Court, outside Bristol, in an ancient hall dating back to Norman times–made up to look like a courtroom.
Beautiful, but dank and chilly even in mid-May.
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Actor prepares in the comfort of the Green Room! That small heater couldn’t quite cope with the arctic chill.

These days the shooting process is different.
Forty years ago we rehearsed for six days–then spent two days in the studio preparing to record it  at the end of the second day.
It was like a play–you had to know it all by heart!
“Curtain up” at 7.30pm and “down” at 10pm. Best not to be in the last scene, which was always a race against the clock.
Now you film a certain number of pages each day (in our case on Friday about four or five).
There is no rehearsal.
Learn the lines and find out how best to play them on the job.
A little scary! For a while, I was thinking, “I’d rather be back in my kitchen….”
Then I started to get the hang of it.
When we wrapped at 5pm, the director, Ed Bazalgette, made a sweet remark to the assembly (many extras on hand) about the unusual circumstance of having two “Ross Poldarks” in the same room!
Everyone clapped–which was touching!
Aidan Turner (aka Ross Poldark) and I–all smiles–relieved we’d done it and happy we were smiling about it, shook hands warmly and vigorously.
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 I look forward to our next encounter in Episode 6.
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Relieved actor ready to derobe.

Now for the cooking workshop!

Posted in other sides to this life, Poldark, Robin Ellis | 69 Comments »

Sautéed courgettes and onion–sweet heaven!

May 4, 2014 by Robin Ellis

I love broccoli and cabbage (winter vegetables) but I’m ready for a change–(eating seasonally is a joy).

Asparagus and broad beans usually ease the passage from winter into spring/summer, but the wet weather (or something) has delayed the broad beans and now the first courgettes [zucchini] are beginning to show up on the stalls in Castres market.

Grown under glass they feel a little early but the small to medium ones were a temptation Saturday, so I bought a kilo and found this simple recipe below.

The sweetness of the browned onions effortlessly informs the young courgettes which are seasoned with salt and a good dose of freshly ground black pepper.

2 medium onions–peeled and sliced thin (a food processor’s slicer disc does this in a trice)

1 lb small to medium firm courgettes–sliced thin (as above)

2 tbs olive oil

salt and pepper

  • Heat the oil in a large sauté pan and gently brown the onions.

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  • Add the courgette slices and turn them into the onion mix.

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  • Add a pinch of salt and cook on until the courgettes wilt–turning over the mix occasionally.
  • Add a good grind of black pepper and serve.

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Posted in Food, other sides to this life, Recipes | Tagged | 16 Comments »

Chicken with black olives

May 2, 2014 by Robin Ellis

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I last time I made this-–according to scribbled notes in Marcella Hazan’s Second Classic Italian Cookbook*–was on September 18, 1997!

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What took me so long to do it again? It is delicious!

It needs good black olives–I use Greek, preserved in oil, from the stall in Castres market–they are juicy.

The note also says:

“Slow down a bit and watch for burning–add a little more wine….” 

So, as they say here–doucement [gently does it].

1 chicken–cut into 8 to 10 pieces with the skin

8oz juicy black olives–pitted

6 tbs olive oil

4 garlic cloves–peeled and lightly crushed

salt and pepper

3 tbs white wine vinegar

8 tbs white wine

3 anchovy fillets–chopped small

2 tbs parsley–chopped

3 tbs lemon juice

  • Chop up half the pitted olives and set aside the rest
  • Heat the oil in a large sauté pan and fry the garlic until it starts to color.
  • Brown the seasoned chicken pieces over a medium heat–turning them every couple of minutes.
  • Remove the garlic.
  • Add the wine and vinegar.
  • Cover the pan.
  • IMG_3548Cook on until only half the liquid remains–about 20 minutes.
  • Add the chopped olives and anchovies and turn the chicken pieces over in the mixture.
  • Replace the cover and cook on a lowish heat for a further ten minutes when the chicken should be done.(This was the point at which I was cooking it too quickly and risked burning it.)
  • Remove the lid and tilting the pan carefully spoon off most of the fat/oil.

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  • Add the remaining olives and parsley and turn everything over and heat through.
  • Add the lemon juice and turn everything again.

* Marcella Hazen is one of the guiding lights of my cooking.

Her first and second cook books were combined into Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking.

 

 

 

Posted in Food, Recipes | Tagged | 8 Comments »

Pottery Foire

April 27, 2014 by Robin Ellis

To Giroussens–the red brick village in the Tarn with a magnificent view and the clay that makes pottery–for the annual ceramics fair [foire].

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The last weekend in April every year potters and ceramic artists from all over Europe come to this small village perched on a bluff above the river Agout to display and sell.

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The normally sleepy streets are a-bustle with late arrivals setting up and punters scanning the stalls on a gentle walk-through before lunch.

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The village’s dignified chateau sits above it all, now depending for its authority on tradition, as the shuttered windows show no signs of life.

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The work varies from the practical to the fanciful

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…and caters to all tastes!

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Stalls stacked with salad bowls and all manner of tableware…

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…stand next to elaborate sculptures in clay some of which might frighten the neighbors on a visit.

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The village was a regular lunch stop for us in the early days when we lived the double life of a home in London and this new adventure in the Tarn.

A quarter of a century ago–the early flight from Heathrow to Toulouse would give us time to make the restaurant L’Echauguette (watchtower) for a late-ish lunch.

The Maitre d’  in his navy blazer with brass buttons ran Front of House with a steely discipline, learned in the military perhaps and his talented wife made a meal that Elizabeth David* would have been happy to find on her travels 40 years earlier.

We always looked forward to lunch at l’Echauguette and we always arrived at the house here with a package or two of pottery, wrapped with care in newspaper, purchased after lunch from Martine Lévêque, the village’s resident potter.

Most of it is still in daily use, much loved by one and all!

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Yesterday we added some more from a different potter (Martine is retired now), wrapped with equal care.

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It carried this evening’s pasta!

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Sadly the old soldier and his wife sold up–and the restaurant is new hands.

Elizabeth David would not be so happy today!

Though after an undistinguished lunch she’d have found other things to amuse her as she scanned the stalls for treasure.

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*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Elizabeth-David.jpg

Posted in other sides to this life | Tagged , , , , , , , | 18 Comments »

Sautéed Broccoli

April 24, 2014 by Robin Ellis

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End of a busy day, when it would be good to have a confit de canard* up the sleeve, so to speak.

What to cook for dinner?

There’s the leftover pearl barley “risotto” with asparagus–which Meredith had found unremarkable the other night–and the unpromising broccoli I bought this morning, in the fridge.

Well there’s something to be said for starting with low expectations and being pleasantly surprised–so…

Risotto rissoles and sautéed broccoli?

The rissoles had a tendency to fall apart but the broccoli..!

1lb/450gm broccoli–cut into bite size pieces

4 tbs olive oil

2 cloves garlic–chopped small

3 tbs parsley–chopped

salt and pepper

  • Steam the broccoli until just tender and set aside.
  • Heat the oil in a sauté pan large enough to hold the broccoli in a single layer.
  • Sauté the garlic for a few seconds until it starts to turn color.

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  • Add the broccoli and the parsley and season with salt and pepper.
  • Stir fry for a couple of minutes over a medium heat–coating the broccoli thoroughly in the garlicky oil.
  • If the broccoli singes a little in the process–all the better!
  • You may wish, like us, that you’d made more!

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*Preserved duck leg–a local specialty and quick to prepare, as it is already cooked and preserved in duck fat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Food, other sides to this life, Recipes | Tagged | 3 Comments »

Hoop-hoop-oeray!

April 22, 2014 by Robin Ellis

Hoop, hoop–oeray!

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This fine fellow flashed through my sightline at lunch with our friends George and Hilary today.

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In mid-conversation I caught a glimpse of the headdress outside the window at the back of the house and it was gone before I could say: “There’s a hoopoe!”

Nobody would have believed me, anyway.

Hoopoes are well known for their shyness and we have never seen one near the house.

On the tarmac outside and once in the garden, rising vertically like a helicopter to the nearest tree branch but–my word–never this close!

Back from tropics, it’s their time of year and it always thrills me to see them again.

Then Meredith says, with an intake of breath from the opposite end of the table: “Look! Look! There’s a hoopoe at the window, trying to get in!”

I turn slowly and face the courtyard.

There is this exotic creature hovering at the window–appearing to knock on the pane with its long beak–“let me in, let me in!”

Where’s the camera? Can you try? Oh my word!

Meredith finds the camera and gingerly opens the front door. The flustered creature, now at another door, obligingly turns its head and stays put long enough for Meredith to capture this shot.

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Why was he/she trying to get inside?

Will it be back tomorrow?

On verra!

 

Posted in other sides to this life | Tagged | 30 Comments »

Visit to an historic French School in Castres

April 20, 2014 by Robin Ellis

Every time we drive to our nearby town of Castres, we pass this beautiful building–and wonder what was goes on inside.

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This week Robin & I found out!

[This is a Guest Post by Meredith–wife, Photographer, Taster-in-Chief.]

We were invited for a special tour of the historic Collège Jean Jaurès by one of the English teachers–who first bumped into Robin buying cheese at the open air market.

Jean Jaurès is one of France’s most famous politicians. He was assassinated 100 years ago in Paris for trying to prevent World War I from breaking out. A pacifist, he was also opponent of the death penalty and a supporter of the maligned Dreyfus. Many French towns honor his memory with a rue, avenue or place Jean Jaurès.

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Jaurès was born in Castres and attended this school where he was reportedly a brilliant student.

(It was renamed in his honor in 1924.)

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It is one of the oldest secondary schools in France, established in 1574.

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These young students of English were challenged with guiding their Anglophone guests around the landmark building.

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At collège, they range in age from 11 to 15.

They were enthusiastic guides!

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This [below]  is the former chapel and medieval tower topped with a bell, viewed from the playground.

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Inside,  it’s a gynasium! The young people have gym twice a week.

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A poster on the gym wall promoting fair play, no racism, inclusiveness, no drug-taking.

IMG_3066In the inspiring ART room, versions of Jean Jaurès portraits were on display.

 

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The students have Art class once a week (and they would like more!). We could see why.

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We couldn’t miss out on an English language classroom.

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Impressive!

We also stopped by lunch room.

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Robin was interested to see the weekly lunch MENU posted. Looked delicious!

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In the library and media center, posters discussed food, cooking and how to avoid wasting food.

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The young people have their own student lounge.

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In honor of English guests, the tour ended with a cup of tea…

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We learned a lot on our first day in a French school!

Merci to Madame Henriette Courtade and the students at College Jean Jaurès.

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Posted in other sides to this life | Tagged , | 19 Comments »

Artichoke heart dip–with a nod to tapinade

April 18, 2014 by Robin Ellis

 

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We first tasted this dip in Gail Zweigenthal’s apartment overlooking Central Park when we were in New York recently.

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She had generously invited us–two strangers–to dinner with our mutual friend, Francia White.

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Gail was Editor-in-Chief of Gourmet Magazine from 1991 to 1998, where this recipe originated.

Six simple ingredients plus seasoning make this a dip-in-a-flash.

In fact seven–Meredith thought a squeeze of lime or lemon juice would be good.

(The nod to tapinade comes with the capers; caper in Provençal patois is tapinas.)

1 can artichoke hearts (200gm/7oz)–drained
1/4 cup olive oil
1 garlic clove–mashed with a pinch of salt
1/2 cup green olives–pitted 
2 tsps capers
3 tbs parsley–chopped 
juice of half a lime
  • Put the ingredients in a food processor and whizz it to a rough smoothness–i.e., leaving a little texture.
  • Add salt and fresh ground pepper–adjusting the seasoning to taste.
  • Serve as Gail did on the fennel slices or toast with a dribble of olive oil.

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Posted in Food, other sides to this life, Recipes | Tagged , | 5 Comments »

Being Poldark–First day–40 years ago!

April 14, 2014 by Robin Ellis

First day’s filming today, on the NEW POLDARK.

The twittersphere is alive with anticipation as the cast and crew embark on the journey.

I’m looking forward to joining the caravan in May.

Jacqueline, make-up supremo, emailed this morning with ideas and images (facial hair!) and I’m already experiencing moments of anxiety about my first day.

First days are fraught.

My first day at my pre-prep school, aged 4, I left the school mid-morning and walked home– a mile at least.

A couple of days later, I’d fallen in love with beautiful Miss Rosemary and nothing could keep me away–much to my mother’s relief.

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From my memoir, Making Poldark, the first day’s filming in 1975 –a typical spring day in Cornwall:

It was bitterly cold and dank.

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Another bitterly cold and dank day!

We were in Towednack churchyard near St. Ives. I remember it well.

Contrary to rumour, I was born without a scar–so on went the first scar of many, made unromantically of glue; on went the make-up and the back-piece of hair.

My hair had been dyed darker with copper tints for the part.

I put on my black mourning coat–the scene was Uncle Charles’ funeral–and my specially-made boots and there I was: Captain Ross Poldark.

But as the day wore on and they still didn’t get to my bit, I began to wonder. I saw the director looking worried and thought at first it must be the weather.

Then I thought maybe it’s my hair, then my scar, then my FACE.

Then I thought: my God, it’s ME!

They don’t want ME!

They think they’ve made a mistake. They’re re-casting–the lines are hot to London and actors are streaming into the producer’s office with the sun in their eyes–it was fine in London–and they’re all Olympic equestrians.

‘Robin, will you come to the graveside please?’‘

‘Of course, I’ve got it–I mean–of course I will.’

I’d started at last.

 

Good luck to Aidan and Eleanor and everyone–(me included)!

 

Posted in other sides to this life, Poldark, Robin Ellis | Tagged , | 78 Comments »

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