Are French bakers in cahoots? Read on in today's story. Also, see our book update at the end of this post.
Today's Expression: Se donner le mot
: to pass the word around
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE
by Kristi Espinasse
A few days ago, my husband and I were headed to the old port, to take out the little pointu we are trying to buy. The wooden fishing boat is not ours yet, but the owner has kindly allowed us a few sorties, or outings, until Provencal bureaucracy kicks in and we are granted the honor of purchase.
As I was saying, we were on our way to the docks… when we decided to stop for a pissaladière–a delicious pizza-like 'slice' topped with sauteed onions, anchovies, and an olive… Pulling up to the first bakery, we noticed the iron curtain was down. 'Oh, it's Tuesday!' I said to Jean-Marc. 'C'est fermé le mardi…'
There was a second bakery nearby and, manque de chance, it was closed too! Having left the seafront, we headed in to town. Oh, stop at that one! I said. 'I hear they make everything on site, and that it's delicious!' Jean-Marc parked à la Marseillais (illegally) in front of the garage next to the boulangerie…when suddenly the garagiste appeared. (Not to scold us, but to inform us the baker was closed).
Ils se sont donnés le mot? What–are they all in cahoots? Jean-Marc quipped.
(At least I think that is what I think my hangry husband said. In any case, what a picture his words painted in my mind, of so many apron-clad bakers 'passing the word': Psst! Hurry–Hide the onion tarts! Shutter the storefront! Alert the garagiste!)
That's no way to do business. But, from my experience, the French aren't always in it for business. (I'm thinking of the time the dry-cleaner turned my brother-in-law away. 'Five shirts?' she said. 'No. I can only handle two today…'
And isn't that what we love about France? It is everything on a smaller, more charming scale…just like our little red-trimmed fishing boat. I'll tell you more about that in the future…. For now, I'm off to post the end of Chapter Two of our memoir. I hope you will dive in, and read along with us.
Jean-Marc managed to find a bakery…only they didn't have pissaladière. So he got quiche!
FRENCH VOCABULARY
lepointu= Provencal fishing boat
la sortie = trip, outing
manque de chance = tough luck
a la marseillais = Marseille style (the way the locals from Marseille drive)
la pissaladière = Provencal onion tart
c'est fermé lemardi = it's closed on Tuesdays
la boulangerie = bakery
sedonner le mot = to pass the word around
vraiment faim + irritable = hangry
lagaragiste = mechanic
THE LOST GARDEN BOOK EXCERPT (from Jean-Marc's chapter)
And all went like in a dream, at least that is how I recall it. The wines in the tanks were delicious (one eventually got 91 points in The Wine Spectator), the family seemed happy and I felt like a rock, like the King of the World.
But in November 2007 a few weeks after the harvest, when the vine leaves started to fall, I suddenly felt like my dear leafless vines: dead. A heavy, brutal burnout/hibernation phase lasted for 6 long months, until the next Spring when the new vine leaves burgeoned once again. During that very dark time, my future award-winning wine tasted bad, flat… bland to me. I could only see black clouds in the sky, my whole vineyard project and even my own physical life were definitely going to hit the wall. I was sure of it.
(For those who have purchased our book, read all of chapter two, here.)
To purchase The Lost Gardens, a book-in-progress, click here and scroll to the end of the post.
Reader feedback from Chapter Two:
Dynamite!!!!…Your writing seems to have one upped your sharing and it's a good balance back and forth. I'm eager to "follow along" but encourage you to take your time. After all you are living it! –John Hawke
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I remember all the trips to flea markets all over France….. Come lunchtime, the stall-holders cover up their wares, turn their backs to the public and commence their lunch…. Baguettes and salami and cheese appear, a bottle of rouge…. They take their time. EATING is a grand ritual, not to be rushed, nor done whilst doing something else…..Shops shut for lunch all over France…. If you arrive after 12, then you might as well have a bite to eat yourself; nothing is open.
There’s a lot to learn from the French lifestyle! We should all enjoy life – and our pastries – just a little more.
It’s years since I was in Provence but I remember pissaladière with much fondness and nostalgia.
What I took away from my first visit to Provence was to slow down…long leisurely meals with family and friends… music, flowers, and candles … recognizing what is truly important in this life… relationships…
Hi Kristi… I bought the book a couple of weeks back, and finally have time to read it, but already forgot the password and logon. 😂😎can you direct me?
Ha! Too many balls in the air and too many passwords and logins floating around in my brain.
Ps. Your writing style is delightful. amicalement, Alice
Our dear Kristi,
Your words and your wonderful descriptions (also these terrific pictures!)never fail to be such an enjoyment for all of us,your fortunate readers!
Today’s is,of course,no exception—leaving our mouths
watering and our hearts wrapped in smiles at your and Jean Marc’s adventures with the local bakers and your soon to be lepointu!
Kristi,I am having difficulty signing in for the present chapter of The Lost Gardens.I tried the sign in you were so kind to give me,but I am still unable to access it.Could you please help me??
All my thanks and love
Natalia .xo
I just wanted to tag along-provided J-M got something tasty to eat. Your terrific life descriptions make such wonderful excursions seem like everyday things and draws me to France and Provençal living!
Chère Natalia, I will be emailing you with the login info. But I just wanted to tell you that I was eating dinner with my sister-in-law, Cécile, tonight, and she was saying how she noticed what lovely, kind, supportive, cheering and wonderful readers come here and the encouraging messages they leave me. So I want to send extra big thanks to you and others that are reading this. And to those who do not see this message, I hope you all know how much you are appreciated. I could not write this blog or book without you. Mille mercis.
I’ve been enjoying your writing for many years. Merci! Mais c’est “hangry” ca va dire “hungry”?
Hi Kristi ~
I signed up for your book & tried to login with the user/password given but it isn’t working.
Hi Lauren, here is more about the word hangry:
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/hangry-not-because-youre-extremely-hungry#1
Hi Patty, No worries. I have just sent you the info, to your inbox. Bonne lecture! And many thanks for purchasing our book-in-progress!
I hope you get to purchase Federica and take her out another day with la pissaladière in hand!
It always warms my heart to see Smokey and his lovely smile! And he appreciates having a chair to sit in whilst he surveys his kingdom!
I hope the quaint red boat is yours soon!
I remember stopping at an autoroute oasis with tourbus full of students for lunch. Everyone ran inside to buy something, and coming out we saw a huge truck. The driver and his co-driver had set up a small awning, stools, and they were cooking themselves a full meal for lunch. Food in France, even on the road,is indeed a serious affair.
The pissaladiere sounds delicieux. Bon weekend a tous.
Thanks, Suzanne. Frederica lives in Sicily… Our boat (similar looking) is named Chrisline (a previous owner combined the names of his children).
Thank you Kristi. Live and learn. I had never seen the word hangry before!
Dear Kristin,
I have been a fun French Word a Day, since the day one of my francophile friends introduce me to it in 2003.
You have a delightful style of writing, you are engaging and I learned so much vocabulary and useful expressions. Thank you for it!
As soon as I come back from my trip to that beautiful part of France I’ll get The Lost Garden.
Marti
A very pleasant post to read. The French know how to relax.
Could you provide a more precise recipe for the pissaladiere?
Thank you, Marianne! Here is a recipe for pissaladière,vfound on the Perfectly Provence website:
https://perfectlyprovence.co/recipe/provences-version-of-pizza-pissaladiere/