Mas de flory - Cycling and Wine Tours

Ripe tomatoes = great gazpacho

2011-08-21T10:00:00.003+02:00

Deux Australiens folle en France...: La Sixieme Semaine

2011-07-25T20:10:00.000+02:00

Deux Australiens folle en France...: La Sixieme Semaine: "Another week and a few developments in our life in the 'Lot'. We now have the telephone and more importantly the net on in our barn. We ha..."

New Blog Address

2011-05-25T09:27:00.006+02:00

We have moved our Blog

We now host our own blog within our site - making it easier to update and perhaps blog more!

http://www.lotcyclingholidays.com/blog/

Barry & Buddy

2011-03-31T14:37:00.000+02:00

Buddy our dog and Barry our cat.

Daily Telegraph (uk) article on the Lot & Dordogne

2011-02-25T17:43:00.000+01:00

Water, water everywhere… the Dordogne is one of the most impressive natural features of the region, having run its course from the Massif Central into the limestone Causse region at Souillac, and by the time it flows through the Garonne it has widened to nearly two miles from bank to bank.

Ferry boats, barges, canoes: these are the best ways to experience the Dordogne’s majestic progress to the sea, and there are these facilities in abundance, to suit every budget, too.

The Lot also dominates in the area. The country town of Cahors is the capital of the Lot département and had its heyday in the Middle Ages.

It is, however, unmissable today for its Pont Valentré, a 14th-century fortified bridge with pointed arches and three towers spanning the river, and the Cathédrale St-Étienne.

Lot & Dordogne - Daily Telegraph Link

Visit these sites on our cycling tours?

The Americans are discovering the Dordogne at last.

2011-02-23T10:55:00.000+01:00

Extract from The Toronto Star by Tom Fortin

It’s a lovely late spring morning and Fortin is guiding a visitor down the gentle waters of the Dordogne River. He’s pointing out old buildings that were used to cure tobacco and the crumbly cliffs along the riverbank and the nearby farms and villages dotted with magnolias and crape myrtle and fields of dreamy, bright-red/orange poppies against a background of sweeping green grass.
As we paddle, or rather let the minimal current sweep us slowly downstream, I look up and see tidy, perfect villages carved into the rock and several centuries-old, faded gold-coloured castles perched high on hilltops towering over the river.
The Dordogne isn’t a name that rolls off the tongue of North Americans like the French Riviera or Bordeaux or Burgundy. But the rich food and the small towns and wide rivers and historic castles that seemingly pop up every 10 minutes might just be the essence of what many visitors would want from a European or French vacation.

(Our cycling tours visit Roque Gageac and Sarlat)

Read the full article

A Hearty French Red for a Cold Winter’s Night - Cahors Malbec

2011-01-31T19:59:00.002+01:00

Cahors is the ancestral home of the Malbec grape, but the wines made there are much different from the plush, fruity versions from Argentina that are so popular now. Lagrézette is a modern winery, with superstar consultant Michel Rolland (who also works in Argentina, among many other countries) advising, so you might expect a wine in the “international” style.
But whether terroir overrides the winemaking, or age brings out the truth, this was a very traditional Cahors. It was thick on the palate, with firm, almost gritty tannins, and dark flavors of iron, earth and tobacco.

Yet the wine still showed a core of bright cherry fruit, and a lively acidity kept it fresh. It had endured more than improved, resembled a solid workman more than a brilliant virtuoso, but it matched well with the gamy meat and warmed our souls from the winter’s cold. I rated it 89 points, non-blind.
Château Lagrézette Cahors 2000
Read the whole article - wine spectator

Growing success for the wines of AOC Cahors

2011-01-19T10:20:00.002+01:00

TheAOC Cahors is celebrating its fortieth anniversary. After a long period of declining sales figures, the succes of the “black wines” of Cahors is growing again. The combination of increased sales efforts, leaving fallow 568 acres of vineyards and less abundant crops resulted in higher export figures in 2010.

The Scent of Black

2011-01-12T16:26:00.004+01:00

Fantastic video of the Lot area and it's food and wine.
Great video, sums up the area wonderfully. It’s difficult to describe to others the wonder of the area – this does!

GrapeRadio is proud to present a look at the Cahors region, as rightly famous for its black truffles as it is for its Malbec, a wine that exemplifies the scent of black.
http://www.graperadio.com/the-scent-of-black/

Nearly got the road bike out!

2010-12-22T20:40:00.000+01:00

So mild today I nearly got the road bike out. Then thought better of it.
Went for a run instead. I find if I run over the three worst months of winter using hills as training with a bit of mountain biking I am nearly road bike fit in late March. Then a few weeks training on the bike and I'm fit for our bike tours.

Chateau en route to Bergerac

2010-12-20T13:38:00.000+01:00

Keep meaning to visit this impressive chateau.

Lots of mushrooms in the fields surrounding our house

2010-11-18T18:30:00.000+01:00

Not edible!

This weeks weather in Degagnac

2010-10-11T09:19:00.000+02:00

Not bad for October, but I think warmer weather is heading our way.
Perhaps mid 20's again?

September Sunshine

2010-09-10T16:04:00.002+02:00

Autumn is here and the leaves are turning golden. The mornings are crisp but the afternoons are still in the mid 20’s. We had rain for the last three days but the ground is still hard and cracked in places and the forecast ahead shows no sign of rain.

Our last two cycle tours start on Sunday followed by our last wine tour. Let's hope the weather is as good as last year when it didn’t rain until early November.

August bike tour - old friends returned

2010-08-17T11:05:00.000+02:00

Quote from our guest book from last weeks guests:

Some say sequels are never as good, "Lot Cycling Holidays" breaks that rule. This is our second visit, to Aileen and John, again it was absolutely fantastic. Excellent cycle routes tailored to our fitness, coupled with gourmet food every night lovingly crafted by Aileen. Truly a wonderful combination, provided by a great couple. Thank you!

Last nights soirée

2010-08-07T11:49:00.001+02:00

Fab weather for the next fortnight!

2010-07-26T09:56:00.002+02:00

Relaxing in 30+ deg heat

2010-07-16T19:29:00.001+02:00

Enjoying a well - earned cold beer at the end of their very hot day's cycling in a café in Luzech by the river Lot.

Chilled pea, mint and cucumber soup

2010-07-04T23:37:00.000+02:00

It's hot hot hot here so this chilled pea, cucumber and mint soup went down very well as a first course this evening - see recipe below if you fancy trying it.

Recipe for Mas de Flory Chilled Pea, Cucumber and Mint Soup

Serves 4-6

3 spring onions (scallions)
1 clove of garlic
250 g frozen petits pois
400 ml light chicken stock
½ cucumber
Bunch of fresh mint, chives, parsley
200 ml creamy natural yogurt
Olive oil, butter
Salt, pepper, squeeze of lemon juice

Soften the finely chopped spring onions and garlic in the olive oil and butter for 5 mins.
Add the frozen peas and heat through
Add the chicken stock and bring to a simmer. Cook for 5 – 8 minutes then set aside to cool.
Blitz the soup with the chopped cucumber and fresh herbs in a liquidizer.
Add the natural yogurt and blitz briefly again.
Taste and season with salt and pepper and a squeeze of lemon.
Chill for at least 2 – 3 hours.

To serve, blitz soup again with several ice cubes.
Serve with parmesan croutons and a swirl of natural yogurt.

Parmesan croutons:
Mix small cubes of day old bread with a large spoonful of grated parmesan cheese and 2 tblspns of olive oil. Cook at 200 deg C for 10 mins until golden brown and crisp. Drain on kitchen paper.

Savour, sip and cycle - the gastro tour

2010-06-30T11:38:00.001+02:00

We had a fabulous week last week on our gastronomic cycling tour of the Lot and Dordogne. Great weather, lovely guests, fantastic landcapes all combined with fabulous food and wine made for a really enjoyable week!
Highlights included a visit to the 'bee man' Michel, who talked passionately about his bees and showed us all the steps to produce his delicious honey completely naturally, the beautiful local lavender farm and the wood-fired bakery where we watched the razor blade- chewing baker produce that morning's batch of pain de campagne (he uses the razor to slash each loaf before it goes into the oven!).

Michel shows us his beehives

Lavande de Lherm

Loading the bread oven

At the market this morning

2010-06-13T12:34:00.002+02:00

You know it's a brilliant summer's day when...

2010-06-05T16:43:00.002+02:00

Your morning walk passes a field of wild orchids

and a sea of barley shining gold and green in the sunlight

The cherry tree is laden

and the garden's in full bloom

Traveller's guide: The Dordogne and the Lot

2010-05-29T23:53:00.002+02:00

Published in The Independent today: Traveller's guide: The Dordogne and the Lot
http://www.independent.co.uk/travellers-guide-the-dordogne-and-the-lot-1985798.html?success

Chateau Castelnaud on the river Dordogne

Along a lazy river in the French Dordogne

2010-05-26T09:36:00.000+02:00

Interesting article in The Seatle Times yesterday by Rick Steves
"Whether young or old, visitors to Dordogne are easily charmed by its unforgettable blend of man-made and natural beauty. Its highlights include rock-sculpted villages, prehistoric artwork, fertile farms surrounding I-should-retire-here cottages, floats along the lazy river, and a local cuisine worth loosening your belt for."
Full article:
http://seattletimes Dordogne Trip

A visit to the annual Rocamadour cheese festival

2010-05-25T10:38:00.000+02:00

Rocamadour wine! Not bad so we bought some lovely rosé.

Later that night - Rocamadour cheese with our rosé in the evening sun.

Malbec Days 'soiree gastronomique'

2010-05-22T09:23:00.002+02:00

Very good evening last night at 'Soiree Gastronomique' as part of the Malbec Days extravaganza happening all over this weekend in Cahors.
It all takes place in the beautiful setting of the site of the magnificent Pont Valentre 14th century bridge which spans the River Lot as it flows through the centre of the town.

All the Cahors wine producers were present plus a few from Argentina and Chile, making over 600 wines to choose from for tasting.

To compliment the wines was a huge array of regional culinary delights in the form of canapes and mises en bouches - little mouthfuls of intense flavours - beautifully arranged and produced in situ by several of the region's top restaurants, including the Michelin starred Chateau de Mercues.

Little criply fried croquettes of pied de cochon served with a wasabi cream, tiny macaroons filled with beetroot and foie gras or Rocamadour cheese and and tiny pots of cassis panna cotta topped with an intense Malbec jelly were just a few of the light and delicious bites on offer.

Up to 400 people attended the event, including journalists from USA, UK, China snd Japan (who will hopefully help to raise the profile and popularity of this great wine) and being held on the hottest evening of the year so far made for a great atmosphere as people spilled and milled outside.

Steak Baguette at sunset

2010-05-20T21:34:00.002+02:00

Mmm this was delicious - steak with Roquefort butter and a salad of crisp lettuce, avocado and walnuts with a walnut oil dressing plus, of course, a wonderful glass of Cahors (Mas del Perie, Les Escures 2007).

A very rare site

2010-05-18T19:27:00.001+02:00

OK this sparkling wine is just absolutely delicious!
It's a very rare site as it's the first sparkling wine ever to be produced from 100% Malbec grapes. The producer is Jean-Luc Baldes from Clos Triguedina in Cahors - they also produce the marvelous Prince Probus 100% Malbec red (or black!) wine.
We bought the wine on a recent visit to the chateau on one of our wine tours. M Baldes himself was there to pop the cork and lead us in tasting his new creation. The label says:
Discover this wine full of aromas of raspberries, blackberries and cassis fruits. Bul's was crated by Jean-Luc Baldes, the malbec specialist from Clos Triguedina in Cahors. There he's known for blending his family tradition and history along with his own award winning, innovative style.
But you can only buy it at the chateau so if you want to taste it - come to Cahors - it is definitely worth it!

A Cahors 100% Malbec sparkling Rosé.

Weather forecast In the Lot

2010-05-18T16:30:00.000+02:00

Terroirs of Cahors interview

2010-05-18T13:38:00.000+02:00

Interesting Cahors wine article with an
Interview with the President of Union Interprofessionelle du Vin de Cahors

Bon Appetit!

2010-05-14T15:16:00.005+02:00

The menus were a big hit with our cycling guests last week.
May is an exciting month at the markets as all the fresh new spring produce starts to appear - such as the rosy pink rhubarb I found and roasted gently in the oven with a little brown sugar, ginger and star anise to give a warmly spiced compote which went beautifully with a fresh, chilled creme brulee.
Sweet red Gariguette strawberries abound now and were gorgeous piled in a crisp golden meringue atop a wicked mix of creme fraiche and white chocolate with a swirl of some of the crushed fruits spiked with a dash of 'creme de framboises' - lush!
Asparagus is everywhere and absolutely delicious, especially fresh steamed with a topping of just frizzled jambon cru and one of our own hen's eggs lightly boiled.
Also newly arrived are the beautiful mauve clumps of new season's garlic just waiting to be finely sliced onto tomatoes with an olive oil and balsamic dressing for a gutsy salad to be enjoyed with some crusty pain de campagne or simmer them together with some fat leeks and new white spring onions in full cream milk and light stock to make a delicious creamy soup - finish with a sprinkle of chopped chives for a real allium feast!
The menus also included a Roquefort, walnut, lardons and fresh pear salad - similar to the one Jamie made on his Jamie Does France show this week, but with a walnut oil dressing and a few slices of just-ripe pears added; a sticky caramelised Tarte Tatin and a rich, crumbly walnut tart with fig ice cream - both made from last autumn's harvest of our own trees.
And that's just the starters and puddings - bon appetit!

Jamie Does The Lot

2010-05-13T12:53:00.002+02:00

Click to see the Youtube vid of Jamie at the Chateau

This video was made for his TV prog Jamie Does French Pyrénéees - in fact we think he never left the Lot Department, so it should be called Jamie Does The Lot!
Taste Rogomme with Jamie Oliver and Phillipe Lejeune at Chateau Chambert.
We visit Chateau Chambert with our cycle and wine tours.

Jamie Does Midi Pyrénées

2010-05-12T13:34:00.004+02:00

Jamie Oliver TV prog tonight Channel 4 (UK) - Jamie Does Midi Pyrénées. Those of you who have been on our cycling or wine tours will recognise Chateau Chambert where you had a wine tasting. Jamie cooks there tonight, but not sure what.

Marchiliac sur Celé

2010-05-02T14:18:00.000+02:00

Visited this small village in the Celé valley with an ancient abbey.
More photos on our Facebook site: http://www.facebook.com/LotCyclingHolidays

Planting our veg for our summer guests

2010-04-30T22:04:00.003+02:00

40 tomatoes plants, chillies, courgettes, strawberries and rhubarb planted.
All planted in 30 degs heat. Two very hot people had to retire early and sip a beer to recover.

Americans in Cahors for the Malbec Days

2010-04-22T09:29:00.001+02:00

The International Malbec Days are just a few weeks away. Our American friends and guests are now getting ready to fly to Cahors: journalists, bloggers, enologists and wineries are on our guest list.
In the US, Malbec is a very small and exclusive production. Just a very few wineries are making 100% Malbec wines. Among them, there is Peachy Canyon winery in Paso Robles. The owner, Doug Barrett, is more famous for his Zinfandels that were recently presented at the American Wine Tasting in Paris featuring Zinfandel as the guest of honor.
I had the pleasure of tasting all Peachy Canyon winery Zinfandels last summer but was also absolutely amazed by the quality of their very exclusive Malbec wine, funnily named Ms. Behave. I tasted the 2006 Ms. Behave full of black berries aromas and flavors. I look forward to tatsing their 2007 in Cahors!

Read and comment on the Malbec days website:
http://www.french-malbec.com/

April Cahors Wine Tour

2010-04-18T17:42:00.002+02:00

We have had our wine tour guests stay an extra day because of the flight chaos.
However I don’t think they have suffered too much – 25 degs blue skies and plenty of food and wine.

Olly Smith Praises Cahors wine

2010-04-13T21:51:00.002+02:00

Why the French wine industry is still bursting with life
Read the article:

Cahors wine by Olly Smith

3 wheelers making a come back?

2010-04-05T13:52:00.001+02:00

As it was a bright sunny day Vic drove his 3 wheeler to Mas de Flory.

It looks like the 1930's are making a comeback!

Jamie Does our area of France

2010-04-03T21:28:00.000+02:00

Jamie Does... is Jamie's personal celebration of amazing food from six very different countries. Cheap, short-haul flights and long weekend getaways have become increasingly popular and within a few short hours of the UK there are new and exciting worlds of food waiting to be discovered as Jamie finds out. Each chapter focusses on a different city or region - Marrakesh, Athens, Venice, Andalucia, Stockholm and the Midi Pyrenees region of France. Classic recipes sit alongside new dishes that Jamie learns along the way. Alongside each recipe there is a beautiful photograph of the finished dish, as well as incredible reportage shots of Jamie's experiences in each country.

His new TV program will feature the Midi Pyrenees and our area in May.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jamie-Does-Oliver

Size really matters: Why matching the wine glass to the grape is crucial

2010-04-02T21:53:00.004+02:00

Kate Hilpern has her tastebuds taken by surprise

Thursday, 1 April 2010

TERRY PENGILLEY

Taste test: writer Kate Hilpern with Martin Turner of Austrian glass-makers Riedel

In wine-tasting circles, the glass is almost as important to the experience as the vino poured into it. From the shape and size of the bowl to the thickness of the rim, the design of the glass is long renowned for having the ability to either enhance or ruin a wine's bouquet, taste and balance.
Read more:
http://www.independent.co.uk/wine_glasses

Another great article on Cahors Wine

2010-04-02T21:23:00.001+02:00

We’re brining Malbec back. Them Argentines don’t know how where its at. Mendoza let us make up for the things you lack. (Sung to the tune of Justin Timberlake’s “Sexy Back”)

If you think you know Malbec and have not yet tasted the Malbec based wines from Cahors, you have missed out.
http://blog.vintuba.com/-a-cahors-story/

Twitter - Facebook - Blog

2010-03-31T18:13:00.000+02:00

With the upsurge of social media and the necessity to tweet, blog and Facebook I sometimes forget which of the three above I have said something on. So I have decided to try and link them all – at least in one place I can see what I’ve said. Facebook should have all three on but only viewable by clicking on a tab. The blog will have all three visible all the time.
Hope this helps – don’t forget you can always comment or tweet me/us.
John

Change of blog design

2010-03-30T22:17:00.002+02:00

Got bored today so thought I'd try out a new design for the blog.

Pro Cycling Team sue former member

2010-03-30T09:36:00.001+02:00

I don't normally get political but couldn't help picking this story up.

Spanish cyclist Manuel Beltran has been ordered to pay 100,000 Euros in compensation plus legal costs to his former Lipuigas team after testing positive for EPO at the Tour de France two years ago.

Liquigas, is this the future of pro cycling? Sue members of your team if they are tested positive. Seems a good idea to me.

What do you think?

http://www.euronews.net/

All chateaued out today

2010-03-28T18:46:00.001+02:00

Biked our Souilliac route next to the river Dordogne.
I forgot just how many chateaux there are!

Keira Knightley spotted in rural France

2010-03-26T18:52:00.001+01:00

It's not often you see Keira Knightley at the back of a rural French house.

Photos and article from David Lebovitz

2010-03-25T20:12:00.000+01:00

Fabulous photos from David Lebovitz from his recent Cahors wine visit. He lives in Paris and runs Chocolate & Gastronomy Tours.
Quote:
"They say that you know you're holding a glass of wine from Cahors if you can't see your fingers on the other side of the glass through the wine. Which is why the malbec wine from Cahors is nicknamed "black wine".
Peer into a glass of it, and it's easy to see (or should I say 'not see') why."
cahors_france_malbec_wine.html

The Malbec of Cahors - San Francisco tasting

2010-03-24T21:13:00.000+01:00

Great explanation of the Malbec grape and why Cahors is different
Malbec vive la difference

Tease of Cahors

2010-03-24T13:27:00.000+01:00

Interesting blog on Cahors wine in the US.
winewithatwist

Black is back: Cahors Malbec returns to the world stage

2010-03-24T08:57:00.001+01:00

Black is back: Cahors Malbec returns to the world stage

Posted using ShareThis

26 degrees no fire needed

2010-03-23T16:56:00.000+01:00

We now have shiny new chimney for our new wood burner in our 18th cent converted barn. Temperature today 26 degs may have to wait a while before we use it.

Daily Mirror Mention

2010-03-20T10:12:00.001+01:00

Our Walking Holidays are mentioned in The Daily Mirror today.
View online http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/

Ruined Chateau

2010-03-16T10:24:00.000+01:00

Out on a walk through the woods over looking a ruined chateau. Rumour has it that it's for sale for 1 euro.
Trouble is I think you'd have to spend at least a million on it!

Warning chicken nest ahead

2010-03-12T17:59:00.000+01:00

The French equivalent of “pot holes”.
Literal meaning chicken nest.

YouTube Rocamadour and St Cirque Lapopie

2010-03-11T18:58:00.002+01:00

We have resisted putting links to these two sites we visit on our cycling holidays.
We thought it might spoil the surprise when you have followed a valley road through a national park with fabulous views and you turn a corner to see a village hanging on to the side of a cliff with a monastery at the top.
Anyway here are the links, our advice - if you intend to come on holiday with us don't follow the links!
Rocamadour
St Cirque Lapopie

Pick 'n' Mix Holiday?

2010-03-06T21:21:00.000+01:00

Create your own holiday from all of our tours make a selection for one day of the week.
pick 'n' mix
Let us know what you think, is it a holiday that you would want to go on?

Spring is here - time for a run

2010-03-05T20:03:00.001+01:00

A quick run around the fields and footpaths that surround our house. Mas de flory is in the distance.

Coffee at Mas de flory

2010-03-03T20:17:00.000+01:00

Relaxing with a coffee in the spring sunshine.

French bike sign

2010-03-01T14:33:00.000+01:00

Spring is in the air and started to look at last years photos to inspire me to get out on the bike again.
Missed this one though - looks a bit dangerous going round the roundabout the wrong way!
Don't forget we stick to the right here in France.

Lherm Lavender Farm

2010-02-27T17:11:00.000+01:00

Today we visited Lherm lavender farm with the prospect of adding it to our Gastronomic Cycling Holiday.
The visit would include picking of lavender, then pressing it to distil the oil. Afterwards a lavender cream tea.

Suzie picking lavender in the summer.

Auberge on the river Lot

2010-02-21T19:53:00.000+01:00

Tried out an auberge for our wine tour in April. The waiter cooked our steaks in front of us on the open fire.

Fabulous, with of course a glass of cahors wine.

A walk on a crisp sunny day in rural France

2010-02-15T21:01:00.005+01:00

Went for a long walk today over the surrounding fields and footpaths that back onto our house.

Who says there are not expensive Cahors wines

2010-02-11T21:12:00.003+01:00

Gary Vaynerchuk's daily wine video blog:
Gary shows some love for the Cahors appellation in France, a region that gave the Malbec grape its start.

Here are two rare wines reviewed.

2000 Chat Lagrezette Pigeonnier Cahors

2005 Haut Monplaisir Cahors Cuvee Prestige

Watch the video

New foodie cycling tour

2010-02-09T21:38:00.001+01:00

We've just introduced a new tour with a difference for 2010 that should appeal to Francophile foodies.

Not only can you experience the wonderful food and wine of south west France on this tour, with all meals included, but you’ll also visit artisans, farms and vineyards en route to discover how the signature ingredients of its colourful gastronomy are produced.

Visits include a goose farm producing the French national treasure of foie gras, an ancient mill pressing pungent, golden walnut oil; a traditional wood-fired bakery baking the traditional crusty Lotoise ‘Croustillot’ and an artisan making creamy fresh Rocamadour goats cheese, as well as two or three vineyards to taste the wonderful 'black wine' of AOC Cahors, produced from the original Malbec grape.

Additional local tastes to be seasonally sampled are tender Quercy lamb, truffles, chestnuts and wild mushrooms, golden saffron, sweet scented strawberries, ripe and juicy melons and bursting purple figs. All reflect the traditional regional cuisine of Quercy and Perigord and all can be savoured and enjoyed alongside easy-paced cycling around the quiet lanes and back roads of the beautiful and unspoilt Lot and Dordogne.

Fancy it? - see the details on our website

We're in the Guardian!

2010-02-06T12:52:00.004+01:00

It was a windy, stormy night in the Lot last night and this morning is grey and rainy... However it's all sunny skies here at Mas de Flory because - woo hoo - we are in the Guardian newspaper today!!!
The Travel section has an article on Adventure - Sit Back and Enjoy the Ride with profiles of a series of chauffeured tours. Grape Escape - France outlines our wine tours and specifically our 'Malbec Days' wine tour in May: www.winetoursfrance.net

This has cheered us up no end and we may just have to have a couple of glasses of the red (or black!) stuff in celebration!

Birthday meal at Les Pieds dans L'Plat

2010-02-04T21:27:00.002+01:00

It was John's birthday yesterday and we visited a new restaurant newly built on the banks of this lake, just outside Gourdon, about fifteen minutes drive from Mas de flory.
The 5-course lunch, included a light vegetable broth, help-yourself buffet of fabulous fresh crudites and salads; a slow-roast duck leg that was tender and tasty on a platter of haricots verts tossed in garlicky butter, followed by a plate of cheese and then a buffet of home-made delicious desserts such as Ile flottant, chocolate moussse, lemon tart, caramelised rice pudding... plus a carafe of wine and a coffee - all for a ridiculously cheap 13 euros pp!

When we got back into the car the temperature said 24 degs! It was parked in the sun but still not bad for early February. As you can see from the pic it was a beautiful day - you can just see the restaurant between the trees on the left

Aurimont an undiscovered village

2010-02-01T12:36:00.000+01:00

Sunday was blue skies bright and sunny so we decided to explore the hills overlooking a ruined 12th century chateau that we pass on our cycling routes.

Discovered a really picturesque village called Aurimont perched on top of a hill that seemed to be untouched for centuries.

We went for a walk downhill on a marked footpath and soon discovered the remains of what apparently used to be another complete village. Further on we could see the ruined chateau plus another (in good order) looking down on us. We will come back next week armed with proper walking boots and camera.
Link to Google map below:

Google map link

New wine tour website

2010-01-25T13:16:00.000+01:00

We have just launched our new website dedicated to Cahors wine and our wine tours of the area.
www.winetoursfrance.net/
Take a look and let us know what you think?

Jamie Oliver visits Chateau Chambert

2010-01-17T16:45:00.007+01:00

Jamie Oliver has also visited Chateau Chambert in the Lot, where our cycle and wine tours visit for wine tastings.He was there to film for a forthcoming TV programme in the UK.

Edit: His new French cookery progrmme will be on tv - channel4 - in April. Look out for the Lot!!!

Wine tasting

Jamie cooking outside the chateau

Chateau Chambert is one of our very favourite Cahors vineyards and is definitely the prettiest chateau in a beautiful setting!

They produce excellent wines on the high causse, 1000 feet above sea level, using biodynamic methods - which means that cultivation is organic and according to the phases of the moon and parts of the 'vedange' is carried out by hand.
We enjoyed a bottle of their top wine - Orphee - on Christmas Eve with a delicious roast rib of local beef - fantastic!

Jamie Oliver visits the Lot

2009-12-28T14:24:00.001+01:00

Jamie Oliver was in Cahors (capitol of the Lot) recently.

Pictured above is him becoming a member of Le Croustilot.

Rumour has it that he is making a tv programme on this area of France.

By popular demand a recipe from Aileen

2009-11-06T12:01:00.002+01:00

We've been picking walnuts for the past 2 weeks, some from our own trees. So as it's the season for fresh walnuts why not try this delicious walnut tart.

Shortcrust pastry:
225g plain flour
130g butter and shortening eg Trex (half and half)
Pinch of salt
1 egg
cold water

Tart filling:
225 g walnut kernels (preferably freshly shelled)
50 g plain flour
225g butter
225 g caster sugar
3 medium eggs
tspn vanilla extract
slug of Armagnac
Large spoonful of raspberry or plum jam

Blitz together the flour, salt and fats in a food processor (or rub in by hand) until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add beaten egg and a couple of tblspns of cold water and blitz briefly until mixture just comes together. Tip onto floured board and press gently together into a ball. Roll out to fit a buttered 20/22 cm tart tin and leave in fridge while you make filling.
Cream together the softened butter and caster sugar until light and fluffy (I use an electric whisk), then gradually add the beaten eggs, whisking all the time. Add the vanilla extract and Armagnac and whisk briefly again. Now grind the walnuts in the processor to a large crumb then add the flour an grind again briefly to a finer crumb - but still retain some texture. Fold the walnuts carefully into the sponge mixture.
Spread the jam over the base of the pastry case and top with the walnut sponge mix.
Bake the tart for approx 50 minutes at 180 deg C.

Serve warm with some cream - creme fraiche is nice, but if I was eating this in the UK I would have it with clotted cream! An espresso and an Armagnac go down nicely with it too... Enjoy!

2009-10-16T11:27:00.023+02:00

Our first wine tour took place during the first week of October - and what a great experience it was!
We couldn't have asked for better timing as the 'vendange' (gathering of the grapes) was in full swing and there was great action and excitement in all the vineyards we visited. We saw the grapes being snipped carefully by hand - these grapes will be used for the very best wines, the 'Excellence' of Cahors.
But the majority are gathered by the giant machines that trundle up and down astride each row of vines and shake the grapes into their huge stainless steel drums on either side. Once the drums are full, the machine meets up with the little tractors trailing large steel tanks and transfers the grapes for the short journey back to the domain or chateau.

They're then sorted from the stalks before being crushed and the deep purple juice flows safely into the enormous stainless steel or concrete vats to be metamorphosed eventually into delicious
black wine'.

The weather was absolutely fabulous the whole time and we enjoyed a great picnic - freshly procured from Prayssac market - in the warm sunshine, high above the vineyards with a fantastic view right across the valley.

If you fancy joining us on a wine tour next year click here.

2009-09-24T13:19:00.004+02:00

Our final cycling group of 2009 sets out on yet another beautiful sunny September morning.

If you're interested in a cycling holiday for next year, our 2010 dates are now listed on our Lot Cycling Holidays website - click on 'Prices' in toolbar above to see them.

2009-09-15T18:42:00.002+02:00

Lovely son Sam doing what he does best - soaking up the sun and making music - on his hols from UK last week.

2009-09-01T19:26:00.007+02:00

It was 38 degrees yesterday - and today it's 19!!! 1st September dawns and suddenly it feels like summer's over...but the sunshine is forecast to return by the end of the week, so we'll just enjoy the very welcome respite from the searing heat and look forward to the more manageable warmth of late summer slowly heading into autumn.

We knew that rain was due, so Saturday saw us gathering the last of the plums - about another 20 kilos! After giving several kilos to friends and making yet more jam, crumble, pies and compote for the freezer, I'm now planning a good hot, spicy chutney for tomorrow to use up the remaining!
We've also picked most of the pears and have now started on the figs! They are, of course, absolutely delicious straight from the tree- and we had a great supper the other evening of figs, Roquefort cheese, walnuts and some nice thinly sliced jambon de pays - delicious!

We've also managed to squeeze in a very welcome day out - to further afield in the Lot, to visit some of the 'most beautiful villages in France' that we've never been to.
Carennac, Loubressac and Autoire are all in the north-east of the department and are, indeed all very pretty. Although, the spectacular cascade (waterfall) at Autoire was rather too depleted of water to be much more than a trickle!

Ratatouille!

2009-08-22T15:57:00.003+02:00

Look what we got at the market - can't wait to get cooking!

Well and truly pickled!

2009-08-17T15:07:00.003+02:00

It's just too hot to do anything outside in the afternoons at the moment (35+ degs)- so we retired to the relative cool of the kitchen for a good old preserving and pickling session!
As well as our own glut of pretty purple plums, firm pears and jewel-bright tomatoes and chillies, the markets are all piled high with beautiful, colourful ripe produce that you just can't resist buying at such good prices!
So have made a huge batch of roast tomato, chilli and red pepper soup for the freezer - essence of summer we'll welcome in winter. Then to add to the plum jam from the other day we made another batch and some apricot, peach and pear and melon jams as well as spiced pickled pears and plum chutney.
There's something about rows of full jars on the shelves that makes me feel all warm inside!

Plums! From tree to jam in an afternoon.

2009-08-15T15:02:00.011+02:00

The plums have been plopping off the trees all week so we gathered a basketful, added some sugar and hey presto - they're now delicious jam!

The Original Malbec

2009-08-01T14:37:00.000+02:00

"France’s Cahors region stages a comeback with some help from the New World."
By Elin McCoy
Bloomberg Markets, August 2009
http://www.bloomberg.com

Mas de flory & Lot Cycling Holidays

2009-07-31T19:40:00.000+02:00

Wednesday 29th July

Fed up with the UK weather? - just take a look at the forecast here for next week! And it's been like that for weeks and will probably continue for several more yet!! One room left for next week (1 or 2 people) cut price. ASK US

So why not escape the rain and join us in the sunshine - we've cut our late August prices to make it easier!

Look here to find out more...

Sunday 26th July

Our lovely guests from last week went home yesterday - see them on their holiday below. John drove them to Bergerac and then stayed overnight as he was doing the Bergerac triathlon today - mad fool that he is - in temperatures of 35+ degrees (no wetsuits then!).

So as I sat in the courtyard last evening, toute seule, enjoying a relaxing glass of chilled white, I thought how amazingly blue the sky looked and how 'flory' was Mas de Flory - and just had to take some pics!

Thursday 23rd July

If you're considering one of our late summer breaks - either cycling, walking or the wine tour - there are some great low-cost flights to be had at the moment for September and October:

From either Gatwick or Bristol to Toulouse (with Easyjet) and and from London Stanstead or East Midlands to Bergerac (with Ryanair) are all around £65 return or less!

Sunday 19th July

Baby sanglier (wild boar) at Cazals market - but not for sale!

Sunday 5th July

The Observer newspaper (5/7/2009) features Lot Valley Cycle Route

The route starts in Cahors and is 160km long.

Our bike routes use this on Tuesdays and Fridays.

"Two Wheel Trail - Home to some of the most admired full-bodied red wines in France."

Monday 29th June - Phew! It's another scorcher at 32 degrees today. The River Dordogne looked stunning in the sunshine... probably the best place to be in this heat!

Sunday 21st June 25 degrees and beautiful sunshine. Collected 21 eggs this morning - the chickens must have been hiding them! So had delicious boiled eggs and soldiers for breakfast on Fathers day, a nice treat.

Friday 12th June - It's 10.30 am and already 26 degrees and beautiful sunshine. The meteo is promising a scorching weekend with temp's up to 35 - bring it on!

Sat. 6th June - Best Wine Trail:

Cahors, Lot, chosen by renowned wine critic, and founder of the Wine Gang, Joanna Simon.

Friday's cycle tour follows the Cahors Wine Trail.

Read more about Cahors wine >>

Tues. 2nd June - Fleur and Rosie-posie finding the shade under the fig tree:

Mon. 1st June - First day of another cycling holiday week

- departing under blue skies and warm and sunny:

Here's a pic of last night's pud - a trio of creme brulee

Lavender, prune and armagnac, rhubarb

Yummy!

Sat. 30th May - 29°C - more sunshine and blue sky!

Fri. 29th May - 27°C today. Sunshine and blue sky!

Cycled past this amazing field of poppies:

Thurs. 28th May - 27°C today. Sunshine and blue sky!