NEWS  from

Another early Spring in the Charente-Maritime. Our English Parc.

Our Solar powered all-terrain quad, 
with it's 4 passenger trailer, taking the sun.

We had thought to name our new home with a "sun" theme in mind, when, some years ago, we came here fresh from attempts to introduce our practical solar powered vehicles to the world (comes in the category of "one can lead them to water..."); and, because the sun seemed to shine here more often than not. Even on our first visit after taking over the property, a Sunday in early February, it was so warm and sunny that we set up a table for our first meal of Charente-Maritime oysters in the middle of the lane leading to the farmyard. We have the pictures to prove it! (See item February 7, 2007, below.)

It's just as well that we've gone "native". Reverted to plain old Maison Borges. It turns out that the sun has other than just climatic connotations. We recently discovered that many people, in France and Switzerland, and in Europe generally, associate "sun" related names with cults or sects. Even this year, four years after we had begun receiving visitors, a French couple (well known singer and musician) very nearly did not come because the husband was put off by the name. Whereas his wife, after examining our website, was re-assured. It took her some time to convince him. Their visit turned out a great success, for them, their 4 year old child, and for us.

And, my good grandmother "Borges" shall ever be remembered thus - not to mention by her favourite blue hydrangeas planted a the Maison door, in her honour.

- Maison Borges, +33 (0)5 46 95 59 54, www.maisonborges.com

 
The Confiterie, Then and Now 

The building in the picture is the original Confiterie, a small farm building which, that day, we designated to become our home in La Tournerie.

The Confiterie had a calf-rearing shed and a room for making confit - confit de porc, confit de canard, etc., and for making jams, confiture and bottled preserves. Also there was a single farm worker's room with a huge Charentaise fire place decorated with somewhat pagan brilliant red tulips, and an astonishing horde of pornographic magazines and books cached above the wood panelled ceiling. Then there was the pig sty which would become our bathroom.

At the time, Maison Borges had little more than "A Kit of Stones with Which to Build a House" - cb 1997. 

- Maison Borges, +33 (0)5 46 95 59 54, www.maisonborges.com

Today, for the first time this year, we ate our Maison Borges traditional Sunday brunch outside. Bathed in brilliant sunshine and comfortably warm we consumed our weekly cholesterol 'fix' (see Sunday brunches on our Recipes pages.):

Fresh squeezed orange juice
Maison Borges grown potatoes sautéed with garlic in butter
Fried back bacon
Tomatoes and garlic sautéed in butter
Eggs - today, coddled with garlic, butter, milk, salt and pepper
Mushrooms with garlic sautéed in butter
Real coffee with croissants fresh from the baker this morning
and topped off by a handfull of home grown walnuts to neutralise the cholesterol, (then exercise enough throughout the week to keep obesity at bay).

This is our way of remembering Sunday morning brunches in Los Angeles, New York and London when we were young and, in the old fashioned sense, gay.

We do this with equanimity once a week because during the rest of the week we cook in olive oil or butter; we almost always use fresh ingredients. Especially, we use fresh locally grown free range eggs, and we eat about a dozen walnuts a day as well as, often, having oatmeal for breakfast - all three of which help to prevent cholesterol build up. To further ensure good health, we drink red wine daily, apart from the occasional bottle of Champagne for anniversaries, celebrations, and when we just plain feel like it!

- Maison Borges, +33 (0)5 46 95 59 54, www.maisonborges.com

January 1, 2007 

We have had a stunning year at Maison Borges. "Thank you", to all who came for holidays or to participate in our special events, seminars and workshops, for making 2006 such a success.

We wish you a Happy New Year, and, wherever you choose to take your vacations this year, we wish you happy and satisfying holidays. •

[Ripe persimmons at Christmas time threatened to overwhelm our young kaki tree this year. We've had persimmon pies, persimmon cakes, persimmon curry and, our favorite for breakfast, Persimmon Smoothies; a persimmon whipped together with milk, 1 egg... (see our Recipes page).] 

- Maison Borges, +33 (0)5 46 95 59 54, www.maisonborges.com

December 31, 2006

American, French and Polish guests are here to celebrate the New Year with us. It is a real pleasure to have these visitors who agree that the sweet Charente oysters, grown in the half-tide of the Atlantic coast at the mouth of the river Charente, are contenders for the best tasting oysters in the world.

 When we first arrived in the area, we had to have the oyster seller, who each Sunday was stationed at the steps of the church in our local village, open them for us - 2 dozen, every week! She finally got fed up. In self-defense she gave us lessons, with the encouragement, "Even you can learn how to open oysters!" The French do have a way with words. •

[This New Year's Eve, a personal record was set by opening (shucking) 5 dozen in under 30 minutes. Living or holidaying in France is surely a civilizing influence, whatever the season.]

- Maison Borges, +33 (0)5 46 95 59 54, www.maisonborges.com  

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