Southern Fried French

The Art of the Detail

Details details! It's what makes French architecture, from a distant era, so interesting and beautiful. And nothing speaks of beauty like the French door and the French window. Which is why I always seem to end up with a collection of them in my photo files.

In a French town or village, there are often rows of stucco or stone townhouses, close to the road. So sometimes a door or window is what gives  these rows of homes a soul, and they are often adorned with flowers or lace curtains or fancy doorknockers.

And then there are the elaborate carved window and door details from historic buildings that stop you in your tracks. So from the lowliest abode to the finest château, here are some French windows and doors to make you smile.

 

A carving over a medieval gothic window

 

Windows like these, common in France, are called oeil de boeuf, a bull's eye window. But this is the first one I've seen with a fitted shutter.

 

White roses, lace curtains--oh so French!

 

Some fabulously ornate windows in Nancy

 

Love the peephole!

 

A couple of lovingly adorned windows on street-front houses:

A flowery wall frames this arched window

 

Here I was intrigued by the wonderful peeling paint, the collapsing shutters, and the small effort of the five plastic roses stuck in abandoned window boxes

 

A very old and unique doorway in Saint-Gengoux-le-Nationale

 

This old door, in the Lanquedoc, is about 4 feet tall

 

Two very pretty entries in Châteauneuf

 

Brass bells are common doorbells for houses in la campagne

 

I love the serious overhang on this door in Mersault, like the dome on a church

 

In Beaune, a back-alley entrance to a cooking store

 

At the Château de Bagnols in the Beaujolais,a very old and impressive entry door

 

Even the backplates for a lock get special attention

 

Right on the street,  an entry with no front yard gets dressed up with a pretty doorway and a grapevine

A lovely doorway at the Château Sainte-Sabine

 

Our reader and friend, artist Tom Vieth, is obviously taken with French doorways as well

You can see more of his paintings here.

 

In the COMMENTS: Paula, sorry about your tulips, and I have no idea how the gardens keep them on schedule and perfect. Cindy, rivers of color is right, it was spectacular. Hi there Virginia, and yes, with Joan and Benito, it was fun. Bonnie, glad you enjoyed Beaune. And isn't it fascinating that the variegated tulips were caused by a virus? Hi Thea, and yes, we are carrying on, Covid-cautious but still having fun.

Favorite Reads: Our official Reader Natalia says she heard The Anomaly, by Hervé Le Tellier, was great --but she can't get into it. Have you read it? Meanwhile, I reserved a copy of the mystery The Paris Apartment, but my husband got hold of it and now he won't let it go!

 

 

The Long Arm of French Cuisine

The famous French Cuisine has a long reach, and inspires cooks all over the world. With its rich sauces, sumptuous ingredients, and classic preparations, it has prompted many a distant chef to mash up, mix up, juggle and prod it into something that is a little French and a little new.

Case in point: I discovered an interesting French restaurant this very week, in the unlikeliest of spots. I'm visiting the states for a reunion with my three college roommates, one  of whom lives in Franklin, North Carolina, where we gathered.

Now unless you've dropped off the Appalachian trail to pick up supplies or you're a snowbird from Florida looking for a quiet retreat, you may have missed the small but charming mountain town of Franklin, with its one block long main street of 19th century brick buildings. We decided to dine at Franklin's finest. This is a unique restaurant just outside of town called Caffé REL, which is attached to the back of the Hot Spot Gas Station. We had to arrive at the decidedly un-French hour of 5:00, because by 5:20 the crowd is always lined up outside the door and the wait is long.

Despite the Italian spelling of the name, you will know it's a French restaurant by the Eiffel Tower on the cover of the menu, and les fleurs de lys which were scattered about everywhere. The decor is country kitsch with French flair. On the walls surrounding the tables were dark Victorian furniture pieces displaying homey do-das, and shelves  packed with antique cameras, country bric-a-brac, and photos from Paris.The walls prominently featured someone's rather extensive framed butterfly collection plus lots of French posters. On the wall of the  open kitchen there was a large flag of yellow, red, and black stripes, which turned out to be the flag of Belgium. When asked about it, the manager said cheerfully, "we just liked the colors".

Adding to the festive international air, our charming waitress was Asian American. The food was French-ish, tossed around with a little Italian spice and some distinctly regional flavors. Photo left: Fuel up your car and your soul at Franklin’s hot spot for dining.

They kind of lost the plot when it came to desserts, which suited us just fine. No petite and delicate French pastries here: on the counter there was an assortment of super-sized, over-the-top southern cakes and pies. There was a mile-high chocolate cake, a caramel cake, a sweet potato cheesecake with a nut crust, an old-fashioned chocolate pecan pie. And I'd walk a country mile, or even a French kilometer, to eat there again.

Caffé REL, 459 E. Main St., Franklin NC, 828-369-9446

IF YOU GO to Franklin, there is a sophisticated and delicious new farm-to-table restaurant on main street called The Bowery, which is also not to be missed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo left, truly the "Hot Spot" in Franklin for French cuisine. Above, by 5:15, the place was packed and the wait was on.

 

 

 

 

 

Above, Eclectic decor at Caffé REL; below, the French theme was abandoned for a groaning board of southern cakes and pies.

 

Recipe: French Blue Batard 'Caffé REL'

A batard is basically a sandwich-sized baguette, shorter than a regular baguette.

 For one sandwich: Sauteé a finely chopped shallot and chopped garlic clove in a bit of olive oil, for about 2 minutes. Add a hearty serving of cooked, fresh blue crab claw meat (or use chopped, cooked shrimp); stir and sauté for one minute more. Remove from heat, stir in a spoonful of capers and some chopped scallions, and drizzle with lemon juice.

 

Spread on a split batard (or a baguette cut to sandwich length) and top generously with grated parmesan cheese.  Wrap in foil and heat in 375 degree (175C) oven until nice and hot, about 15 minutes.  Serve with baby spinach drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette.

 

 

 

Favorite "Listens" from the COMMENTS: I was thrilled to get so many great recommendations for French music, for dinner parties and beyond. Author MJ (see MJ's  books here) likes Carla Bruni's (a.k.a. Mde Sarkozy) Little French Songs. Natalia likes the nostalgia of Paul Mauriat. Both Leslie and Alix recommend  Pink Martini, who do the classic Piaf and Brel songs, and more. Barbara of First Reader Consulting has a long list, including Paris To Cuba, which I know and love. Carole has a good idea: classic French composers, and French movie themes. Paula suggests some gypsy swing, which I LOVE, like  Django Reinhardt & Stephane Grappelli. Bonnie, I did not know Canadian singer Stacy Kent had an all-French album, Raconte-Moi, and I will try your other suggestions too. Something here for everyone!

 

Photo above: Toasting our college days with a little French wine while we await our table: that’s me on the left, with Barb, Nancy, and Lynn