Something old, something new....

When we entered, like we do every Saturday, Cluny's market, my eye got caught by something I did NOT see. One of the beacons of stability on this market is the market stall from Paula and Suus van der Linden, always in the same place, always with some customers being served; but yesterday we did not spot the familiar blue tarpaulin covering the stall. My first thought was that they had fallen victim to a demonstration against "Mariage pour tous", still a red hot item in France. But I abandoned this thought quickly; Burgundians are not that aggressive, certainly not just before lunch.

That's how it was...

When we had acquired our weekly dose of fresh fruits and had turned another corner of the market, we saw what was wrong: the van der Lindens had traded their trailer cum market stall in for a small truck with an open counter in the side. It looked like one of these driving pizza cars one spots often on street corners. Because we have reduced our wine, snack and hence cheese intake considerably in an attempt to lose some weight, we do not buy cheese from them so often anymore. However, we always stop a minute or so for a little chit-chat, provided there are not too many customers waiting.

And this is the future!

Suus, who is obviously the mathematical genius of the two, had calculated that this vehicle would save them x hours work per week, and hence provided them with a similar amount of extra sleep, in a word, it made their working life a lot easier. We had just finished our exchange of pleasantries when a horde of French customers turned up, of whom I could snap a picture just in time.

For those staying with us in the gîtes or on the campsite, remember: Dutch cheese makes excellent cheese for an apéro, and is very tasty on sandwiches as well. Forget about the slimy Edam or Gouda cheeses available in the supermarkets!

Partir, c'est mourir un peu...

Ever since we live here, whenever we have something to celebrate we hop into the car and drive the few miles that separate us from Bray. Or to be more precise, to La Grange Finot, one of the many hamlets that make up the commune of Bray. The restaurant with the same name where we have devoured many a plate, was run by Serge Curtil, a very friendly man and extraordinary chef, who managed to create an outstanding meal for a very reasonable price.

Formerly : La Grange Finot - Bray

It came as a bit of a shock when we heard that Serge was about to abort mission in Bray, and was going to open another restaurant, this time in Cluny. Everything went rather quickly; a few weeks after we had heard the rumour (at least we hoped it was one) it was confirmed when we walked through Cluny's main street looking for what was going to be a new restaurant. There we bumped into Serge, this time not in cook's costume but in working cloths, who was quite adamant that his new place was going to open in a couple of days. And he certainly had put in some effort, because when we passed by a couple of days later, just out of curiosity, the restaurant was opened and several guests were enjoying their meal.
We should of course very soon try the Serge's new formula; he has stopped, at least according to the announcements outside, serving the classic plat or menu du jour for lunch at a very reasonable price in the bar area, and à la carte in the restaurant proper, lunch time and in the evening.

Rue Mercière - Cluny

We are still hanging on to our main meal in the evening instead of, like the French, having it during lunch. It looks as if the chance to have an excellent meal at an excellent price in the evening has disappeared with the arrival of the new formula.
That his restaurant is now called "La régalade" is one thing, that the sign outside says "Restaurant" and "Bar à vins" however might be a foreboding of something we do not particularly appreciate.
When will we pluck up the courage to try "La régalade"? Time will tell.... ....

For those who prefer to cook for themselves, the two gîtes in La Tuilerie de Chazelle are equipped with their own kitchen!

Who is the first one to call this number?