I knew that going to France I wanted to experience the food. I had seen enough Food Channel to know that this was one of the places I wanted to go. In Caitlin's words - "I just say yes to everything and I haven't been disappointed".
We are seeing the differences already in being in the North. Our first experience was the vending machines in Paris - what sort of a country has vending machines that sell crepes in little plastic bags - I guess the same country that blesses its citizens with waffle houses and waffles dipped in chocolate on a stick!
The bread and cheese have been amazing and I can't believe I am saying it but I need a break from crusty, chewy baguettes and cheese (hard, soft, goat, sheep, mouldy etc).
The hot chocolate at the train station in Paris was a sensation - it's actually chocolate melted into hot milk. Again at the hotel at breakfast this morning it was the same.
The mind questions - how are these people skinny. Chocolate cake at the first hotel for breakfast, waffles on sticks, bread and pasta and chips for lunch at school?? Inquiring minds need to know.
I have tasted for the first time duck breast, confit of duck, foie gras (all these prepared by my homestay who chooses names and kills the ducks himself), fresh figs, pastis (aniseed drink) and mint syrup - the last two are similar to drinking cough syrup and toothpaste!
Luckily for me the pace has been pretty full on and we have walked more than 5kms most days. Today with the 5k walk around the town and then 2 hours more walking through Valenciennes I am sure I am nearly double that. So I believe that gives me the right to have an extra pain au chocolat for breakfast tomorrow.
We are seeing the differences already in being in the North. Our first experience was the vending machines in Paris - what sort of a country has vending machines that sell crepes in little plastic bags - I guess the same country that blesses its citizens with waffle houses and waffles dipped in chocolate on a stick!
The bread and cheese have been amazing and I can't believe I am saying it but I need a break from crusty, chewy baguettes and cheese (hard, soft, goat, sheep, mouldy etc).
The hot chocolate at the train station in Paris was a sensation - it's actually chocolate melted into hot milk. Again at the hotel at breakfast this morning it was the same.
The mind questions - how are these people skinny. Chocolate cake at the first hotel for breakfast, waffles on sticks, bread and pasta and chips for lunch at school?? Inquiring minds need to know.
I have tasted for the first time duck breast, confit of duck, foie gras (all these prepared by my homestay who chooses names and kills the ducks himself), fresh figs, pastis (aniseed drink) and mint syrup - the last two are similar to drinking cough syrup and toothpaste!
Luckily for me the pace has been pretty full on and we have walked more than 5kms most days. Today with the 5k walk around the town and then 2 hours more walking through Valenciennes I am sure I am nearly double that. So I believe that gives me the right to have an extra pain au chocolat for breakfast tomorrow.