Trivia question: Which region of France has the most châteaux? We will forgive you if you say the Loire Valley. But the correct answer is Burgundy. Welcome to CastleWorld, where they are strewn all over the countryside, all sizes and ages. I know of at least four within five miles of 'our' château.
Many of the really spectacular ones are open to the public. The fanciest one in our area is the Château de Cormatin. I've taken the tour of the magnificent interiors and the formal gardens with many a guest, but the real attraction for me is their potager. This is a vegetable garden like none you've ever seen.
It helps to have a grand 18th century châteauy as your backdrop, complete with moat, and a team of gardeners doesn't hurt either–see monsieur at work below. And what a garden! Love the parterres, with the twig supports in the center, and flowers popping up everywhere amongst the veggies. There are umbrellas and chairs where they will serve you tea or ice cream, while you contemplate going home to rip out and redesign your own vegetable garden.
And now, what shall we do with all those veggies?
RECIPE: Maria's Salad Buffet
Our friends Maria and Gerard had a big lunch for our crowd this week. Lunch was a luscious salad buffet. Is there a better way to eat in summer?
On the table: a lovely Italian number, with baby greens, artichokes, green and black olives, roasted peppers. An unusual potato salad that was a big hit, with celery, apples, chopped corned beef, and a curry dressing. A cherry tomato tart, melons, and tabouli. And an idea I especially liked: a carrot salad that was pretty, crunchy, and a nice foil for the other salads. Here is how Maria made it:
Cut carrots into thin sticks and place on a platter. Top with sliced radishes. Sprinkle this with whole, roasted pistachios. Then drizzle it all with a mild, creamy dressing made from creme fraîche (or sour cream), a little mustard, and a splash of ginger syrup (or use grated ginger and a touch of honey). Easy, pretty, delicious: all our favorite qualities!
In the COMMENTS: Lots of new gazpacho ideas. My friend Gordon, who photographed Alix and Paul's home in Provence, added radishes and cayenne pepper to his version. He recommends a whisk and a seive, to strain it. Keith adds olives, and thank you Keith, I forgot how yummy croutons are with gazpacho. Abel uses a recipe from a James Michener novel. Natalia recommends a Pouilly-Fuissé. Don't miss Hampton's recipe for a summer soup with avocado and buttermilk. Sue has a good cooking tip, too.
11 thoughts on “A Potager Worthy of a Château”
Love the salad buffet idea. We’re having friends over tomorrow eve after an early concert here in Aix – perhaps we’ll do salads which are the meal of choice during these HOT days! Merci-
The potager is inspiration – it has me dreaming about how to recreate my garden, which, btw, has done absolutely horrible this year and I am thinking it needs an overhaul. Thanks for the kick start!
That potato salad sounds like a meal! Yummmmmmeeeeeee!
Great post as usual, Lynn!
I totally agree with you! We spent a lovely afternoon exploring the Chateau de Cormatin last September. The Chateau was so beautiful but I fell in love, totally and deeply with the gardens! i took so many picture! The various twig supports were like sculptures in the garden! Truly every gardener’s dream!! Thanks Lynne!
I made the gazpacho from your recipe last week. It was delicious and tasted like the version served at Curate, an excellent tapas restaurant here in Asheville, NC. The owner/chef, Katie Button, was a James Beard nominee and trained at elBulli. I’ll be making the gazpacho again tomorrow. Thanks so much.
I look forward to your blog each week. It always brings to mind some memory from one of our trips to France.
Swooning! Especially considering the current state of my veggie patch…it’s been such a harsh summer, seeing these gorgeous examples at the end of the season is very soothing. – Nan
It is only a dream to live in France…
Your lovely blog brings me there for awhile each week…
Thank you
Mille mercis! Great photos and ideas.
Hi Lynn —
Thank you! Your timing of this article is perfect for me! I have just devoured the Château de Cormatin website you listed and found so many ideas for things to explore/do while I am in Bourgogne next month. Can’t wait to see the chateaus, the jazz fest in Beaune, the restaurants you rave about in Lyon, some Dijon in Dijon.
I am so looking forward to my visit to “our” Chateau Balleure and to meeting you, your husband, Nicole, Pierre and the rest of the “crowd” that has become your French family.
À bientôt – Jacki
Boise, Idaho
Oh,WOW,Lynn!!!
This is a feast for the eyes AND the tummies!
What gorgeous chateaux! You made us feel like we’d just taken a walk there with you!! GORGEOUS!!
I didn’t think anything could top last week’s Gazpacho (AND the Pouilly-Fuisse!),but these salads certainly give it a run for the money.
Especially the carrot one! YUM!
Makes me wish Summer would linger on and on.
THANK YOU!!
Lynn, the next best thing to living in France, or visiting in France, is to read Southern Fried French through which we can all pretend we’re in France!!! MERCI!!!
I’m ready to pack my bags, but unfortunately I must wait awhile until I return to France. Burgundy is a favorite. Thank you for “on-site reporting” with the beautiful pictures, delicious recipes and wonderful stories until I return. Meanwhile, here in Alabama husband Jim is working on a huge area in our back yard, trying to tame it and bring it under control for a future garden. No castles in site! Today, he is installing a swing, a very important feature. A hammock is already nearby. At this rate, we may not get much gardening done! Thanks again! I enjoyed the beautiful pictures.
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