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12 Easy Steps of Happiness in France

Going to the outdoor markets is a great way to enjoy the people, ambiance and food of France -- and so easy. Click on any of the pictures to see the image larger (I recommend doing so with the 4th one and the last one, especially). (BTW, the rest of this blog is funnier if you imagine it being read in a Monty Python accent -- that's how Mike and I did it at the time).

Approach the perfectly ripe GARGANTUAN pile of strawberries. Resist the urge to dive in -- it would definitely be a faux pas.

Say hello to the friendly strawberry girl -- she speaks English and tells you which berries are the sweetest. We test her opinion, naturally, and find that she is correct.

Say bonjour to the friendly cheese man. He recommends the crème fraiche, just made, and says that it is superb. He is also correct.

Go back to the Chateau -- nice place, n'est-ce pas? Dining here somehow adds a certain je ne sais quoi.

Lay out your strawberry feast, select a luscious one, and pick up your strawberry, delicately, by the stem.

Prepare to dip your strawberry into the crème fraiche, delicately.

Dip your strawberry, delicately, into the crème fraiche, with pinkie extended -- remember where you are, after all.

Admire your strawberry.

Here's the best part -- make your mouth happy.

Smile.

It tastes so incredibly good you tussle, delicately, with your friend, for the next one. Winning this battle is important, but do not bruise the fruit!

Oooh! There's only one left, and it is so big and perfectly ripe. Who will get it?

So much to write....

...so little time! Just a quick note to all reviewers that the Toronto Food & Wine Show was spectacular. Great wines and fabulous food for four days. We were in the Fine wine tasting area and the Marquis de Montlaur wine stood up to wines that were selling for anywhere from $60 to $200. And the concept generated a lot of buzz. I would say that several hundred people out of the thousands that attended the show stopped by for a lengthy chat on Micro-Leasing at Monte Lauro Vineyards and were intrigued by what they saw and heard. And for the fortunate few who tasted I think they were even more intrigued.

Still this all has to translate into more members and from my perspective it was great to meet so many people who would be the kind of people that I would like to spend some time with in the south of France. People who "got it", who understood the value of being a part of something big and perhaps getting their hands dirty working the soil and the place. ...in short their own place in the south of France.

Curiously, so many kind of scoffed at the idea until I explained it. It's as if Canadians are hard wired to believe they don't deserve a taste of some of the finer things in life. I did my best to dispel that notion and I hope that with follow up I will begin to see some converts to the business. If you were there and stopped by, thanks, and if not I'm sorry I missed you. Look for us at the Boston Food & Wine Show January 23rd-25th at the Seaport Convention Centre.

Salut!

Michael