When I think of the word ‘elixir’ it is normally in the sense of ‘what should I drink with this gorgeous food?’ It’s a pleasant thought. When I travel I try to order a local wine, if there is one. Here’s a selection from my Google Maps restaurant reviews… no one is looking for restaurants at the moment!
Food can definitely be orchestrated. A meal may be a symphony… but it’s probably an accumulation of well planned quartets. My buy, lunch in France!
We are lunching at La Vache Au Plafond, in Limoges. It’s a lovely room with a great staff. It being lunch, I’ve chosen a number of entree sized plates… hopefully something for everybody. Feel free to order yourself a drink…. there’s a good wine list and any number of fruit juices and non alcoholic cocktails. It is luchtime after all.
From Les Jardins de l’Acropolis, Rodez, a tomato/ melon gazpacho… with goat’s cheese and serrano ham.
From Le Sphinx in Figeac…. a do it yourself tartare…. yes, the meat is raw, but you have an alternative. Hint, it’s really delicious.
From L’Auberge du Fort in Aubin… a tartare of betrave… beetroot. Tangy and fresh. 
Still at L’Auberge… a very stylish dessert, rasberries and chocolate. 
Coffee. You can also order a noisette (short black) or even a digestif… I’ll have a cognac.
Please choose your seat!
I’m dipping into my photo library for this Discover Prompt… I’m enjoying looking at my photos from years ago. Things in pairs. Start with pelicans… two from home, Dangar Island, one shot from Kangaroo Island, South Australia.
And a pair of olives… the last of their tribe. Delicious!
I can normally make a Discover Prompt entry in 10 minutes, but this one set me back. I took a lovely stroll through my photo archive reflecting on the many great dishes I’ve eaten. This little blog is currently clocking up about 30 views per day. My Google Maps food photos are just about to reach 6,000,000 views.
Some of the tastiest dishes don’t make the best photos. From La Vache Au Plafond in Limoges, France, Oeufs en Meurette. A remarkable sauce made from Burgundy wine, onions and butter is heated in the oven. At the last moment, a raw egg is dropped in. Add croutons and serve. You should get a perfectly poached egg with a runny yolk. 
From Le Quai in Narbonne, France. Gazpacho… a tasty cold soup on a very hot day. How did they know I was a musician?
From l’Allee Des Vignes in Carjac, France…. A Michelin starred dessert…. the special plate is designed so that your partner can’t see what you’re having and demand some of it.
Back to Limoges… the National Porcelain Museum…. dishes made by Picasso.
I could add 100 more photos!
I’ve been doing a lot of food shots for reviews on Google Maps. This wonderful creation is not dessert, as you may imagine, but the entree. It’s foie gras layered with fromage blanc and rasberry coulis. Layers of tastes, textures and images.
Bon Appetit!
Art et Galet, Villeneuve, France
I always planned to blog about food… a fitting first for post number 300
Red capsicums (bell peppers) were cheap this week, so I got some to set fire to. After this stage they go into a paper bag to cool down and get deskinned. I throw away the seeds and the other bits of the insides then cut them into small pieces. Finally they’re put in jar with balsamic and ordinary Italian vinegar and a dash of olive oil. Tasty and cheap as well.
Hot off the grill, a few fresh photos.
Silver service breakfast, Majestic Hotel, Nagasaki, Japan.
Click to enlarge.
The Ambitious Drifter 