Lunch Special

I treated myself to lunch out today.  It was nothing special, just the formule 12.50 Euros around the corner  at Le Dome Brasserie. For me, eating what the chef has made especially for the day is always a treat. Today it was cheese souffle (the waitress assured me it was good, and she was so right) for the entree and pork in a mustard cream sauce for the main course...and a little glass of white wine, because someone here in France cautioned me against eating baked cheese without a little wine to wash it down.  "Never water," she advised.  For dessert, I chose some pistachio ice cream, which was NOT green, by the way, but WAS delicious. My lunch was superb, and I have no desire to have food for the rest of the day.

My lunch companion

The Dome starts early and works hard.  However, it does NOT serve dinner, closing up shop at 17:00.  I haven't seen many tourists in there, but that might be because it's off season.  Almost everyone I have seen there has been a local and is known to the staff and most of the rest of the patrons.  Today there was a man in there with his dog.  He was loud and boisterous (the man, not the dog) and I got the impression that he is one of the local "characters."  In a very loud voice, he was bestowing upon us all his views about the Merovingiens. 

I read the paper in between courses.  The big news of the area?  A guy found a truffle in his field.  So what, you might ask?  This particular truffle weighed in at 705 grams. The current price for truffles is 1000 Euros a kilo.  Not a bad find, hmm?  The other big news in France is a proposed change to the divorce laws--no more going before a judge.  France is such a country of contradictions. Most people will tell you they are Catholic, but they really aren't.

My poet and I shared a "moment" late this morning at the mediatheque.  That particular branch is hosting an exhibit about the Flamenco.  I didn't take the time to view it today; I had other things, like writing, to get done. I will be sure to see it next week.  There's an antiques market out in Limoux tomorrow that I would like to browse through. I certainly don't plan on buying anything, but I do love to look. But it will mean getting up early, and that's been difficult lately.  We shall see.  None of this will happen unless I finish working on district work...I have been working on several spreadsheets, getting them ready to submit to the state.  

I saw that Carcassonne is going to celebrate Saint Vincent's later in January--the 25th.  One of the activities is the blessing of the wine.  I certainly do not want to miss THAT.