Quince jelly and Songs of Sapa

A lazy Sunday today, southerly winds are blowing and even though it is pleasantly close to 25 degrees outside it is far too blustery to attempt an excursion. Today is about coffee, or it was, and then it was about radiators, and then about some piece of paper which had a phone number on it. Then it was lunchtime, but then one couldn't possibly ring a “Frenchie” at the holy hour(s), so then it really was all about lunchtime.

I needed something to calm a frantic mother. Garlic, ginger and chilli and a slap was what she required; time to bring out the Songs of Sapa cookbook. A beautiful collection of Vietnamese dishes with a prolonged commentary that even a travel book would be proud of. I rustled up a violently hot fish soup with mussels and some sort of French white fish, as for some reason I was all out of Vietnamese crab, pah!? This was accompanied by some peanut and soy rice cakes. Mother's boil switched to simmer and so I sent her down to the cellar for some wines. Here is what she came up with........


Pinot Gris 2008, D'orschwiller Kintzheim, Alsace :- A succulent and light nose of peach and ripe tangerine, off-dry on the palate with a lemon and melon flavoured palate. The flavours would normally seem exuberant but with the amount of chilli that I had decanted in to the soup, the sugar and vivacious flavours were used almost as a chutney dampener rather than a wine accompaniment. Delicious and a gold medal winner at the 2009 Paris wine awards.


Rasteau, Ortas, 2008, Cave de Rasteau,CDRV :- A deep and earthy nose, honest, mushroom, blackcurrant and spice. Generous to a point but not overpowering. A pleasing wine.

The afternoon has thankfully calmed down; Mother has even had the patience to make some quince jelly. How wonderfully nobbish. On another nobbo sidenote, if anybody does have 45 mins to spare, like me, check out Desert Island Discs Radio 4 and listen to Kathy Burke's entry:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b00tcz9/Desert_Island_Discs_Kathy_Burke.

A good way to spend an afternoon when the wind is too windy, the parents are too parental and the wine is most certainly flowing.

Only 3 hours before supper.

Bon aperitif