French Spring Cooking from the Market

Recipe for Duck & Turnips: A classic French dish with my own twist.

Inside Faire Press #8

March has been a good month after all, as the Giboulées de Mars- those blustery, wet, and chilly days- have been well balanced by many more days of French sunshine and warm afternoons- in the high 60s and low 70s. The seeds for the potager are germinating on schedule, and Harriet and Allison has worked diligently so that the beds are cleared and ready to receive the first vegetables once the frost date has passed in early May. It’s hard to be patient, but I’ve learned that the few plants I put out too early, get stunted by the late cold and struggle to reboot when it really warms up. The voice of experience speaking here.

All the peach and nectarine orchards that surround camont are in full-on pink blooming mania, with the white blossomed plums, apples, pears, and pale pink quince to follow. Spring is a long, protracted season in Southwest France, beginning in February and sliding all the way through May. It’s one of the things I love best about Camont, as it spurs my gardening energy on. And look what happens in a much-loved garden!

Sakura Garden Party Installation with Janice Jacquet

Each year, I revel in the sparkling petals that paper the garden gate path like so much Spring confetti from a solitary Japanese flowering cherry tree. This year, we celebrated a French Sakura Fête with a garden party for a dozen friends and an impromptu art installation of color studies by the first resident of the season at the Relais de Camont, painter Janice Jacquet. Finger-sized egg salad sandwiches, smoked mackerel on toasted baguettes, and mini jambon/beurre sandwiches were washed down with Rosé Floc Spritzers before an abundance of cakes appeared at the table—lemon sponge, ginger orange, carrot cupcakes, and a blowsy tiramisu-like strawberry Frasier made with a homemade sponge, mascarpone, whipping cream and fresh strawberries made with a simple sponge cake- (recipe in the last issue of The Camont Journals.)

Fraisier

Faire Press

I’ve enjoyed a special collaboration with Ruth Ribeaucourt Founder and EIC of Faire magazine, since we first met on a photo shoot for My French Country Home Magazine in 2020. As Ruth launched her own magazine, an homage to the creative spirit, I have been pleased to work together, share resources, and sing her praises! In the current issue of Faire No.8, photographer Kate Divine returned to Camont to shoot a stories as I wrote about the big transition from Cookign school to Creative retreat at Camont. You can see more here and order a copy!

Faire No.8