StCirq

Nikkï: Regarding "Le Bug," someone spray painted the "ue" off those signs two April Fool's days ago. We couldn't figure out if they meant for it to be "bug" as a reference to the English word "bug" or if there was something more subtle in French going on. But it was funny.

Pommes de Terre Sarladaises (for 4 people):

4 large or 8 small potatoes
2 cups cèpes (fresh or dried; if dried, reconstituted), coarsely chopped
4 tblspns goosefat
2 slices bacon, finely diced
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 cup chopped parsley
1 tblspn fresh thyme
1 bay leaf

Peel the potatoes and cut in rounds 1/4-inch thick. Rinse in hot water to remove starch. Melt goosefat in a cast-iron skillet. Brown bacon in goosefat, then add potatoes. Turn potatoes constantly for 3 minutes so they don't stick to the pan. Add the cèpes when potatoes have started browning. Cover the skillet and let the potato-mushroom mixture cook for 5 minutes over medium heat. Lift lid, add parsley, thyme, bayleaf, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook for another 10-15 minutes, turning as necessary, until potatoes are browned and soft.

hopingtotravel

Loved the report--both countries!
Besides our brief foray through St. Cirq La Popie, it seems I remember a sign for another St. Cirq somewhere on the N road between Cahors and Gourdon.

Your south of France portion sounds adventuresome and it's always fun to read a report that took a slightly different route.

StCirq

There are at least 8 St-Cirq's in the Dordogne/Lot area. The one you probably saw on the way to St-Cirq-Lapopie was St-Cirq-la-Madeleine.

Underhill

Great report, Nikki!

Michel_Paris

Fabulous report Nikki. You have a real talent for writing. I'm now moving up on my list of to-dos the Lot/Dordogne.

Nikki

Thanks for the encouragement and the recipe. So where do I get my hands on some goose fat?

Hopingtotravel, if you think this trip sounds adventuresome, you should have seen the one in 1972.

StCirq

You can buy goosefat (or at least duck fat, which is almost as good) from the Joie de Vivre catalogue online.

cigalechanta

Nikki, I buy mine from Savanor's on Charles Street on lower Beacon Hill. We can meet one day and I'll take you there. You can buy almost anything like boar, rabbit lion, antelope at various times. Julie Childs kept a storage locker in their old location.(Cambridge) that burned down

Woody

Lovely report, Nikki. Thank you for sharing.

Woody

uhoh_busted

Great report -- we spent several days in the Dordogne a couple years ago and hope to go back for a longer visit someday. It was really lovely and in May (before the big tourist season) it was not at all crowded.

Nikki

uhoh, I would love to see the South of France in the off season. I have only been able to go in July, and it has been incredibly hot. One of my memories from my 1972 experience is the room we rented above a restaurant kitchen. The tiny old lady who worked as a housekeeper there would keep saying as she passed us in the hallway, "Il fait chaud, n'est-ce pas?"

Mimi, it's a date.

indytravel

Thanks for the great read Nikki!

Simone1

I don’t know how I missed your report the first time.

It is very interesting and entertaining. I have the same areas in mind for my next trip. I am also planning to visit the cave at Pech Merle.

I will bookmark this thread as I know I will have to refer to it several times. You and St. Cirq make the Dordogne come alive. Thank you.