For years French restaurants in London and worldwide have had their menus written in French, a handy way to brush up on your French. Wine bottles from France, on your restaurant table, to drink, or as table lamps, on your own table at home, or in the supermarket, provide another reminder.
In London, England, we have some cheese shops providing French cheeses. One of my early discoveries was Gaperon d'Auverge, a soft garlic cheese. The amazing thing in French restaurants in French hotels and outside, is that when you ask for cheese they appear with an entire two level trolley of assorted cheeses, the way hotels used to do with desserts.
The Effect of Cove-19
With buffets disappearing, due to Covid-19, perhaps the trolley, operated by one person, with covers over the bowls, would be an alternative, offering the temptation of the sight of the food.
In London, England, we have a cheese shop, La Fromagerie, near Madame Tussauds. Although the opportunities for tasting cheeses in shops and visiting them and sitting with groups of friends and sharing plates has diminished, the numbers of items sold online by businesses and supermarkets is increasing to offer an alternative to the buyers and sellers of food worldwide.
Asia - Singapore
Worldwide, including Singapore, cheeses are available. Singapore has some very expensive speciality cheese shop. You can get all sorts of things if you are prepared to pay. You can go onto their mailing lists and read about what they are importing each seek.
Most weeks we sit and tut over the prices. Then once or twice a year we say, It's a birthday. We aren't eating out. Let's treat ourselves. No worse than the price if we ordered cheese in a restaurant, and we can eke it out over two or three meals.
In Singapore, Brie is increasingly common, and Camembert. We can buy brie in Singapore from the more expensive and upmarket supermarkets. We look for the special offers. Buy now and eat now.
My favourite things from France as you drive from the ferry port over the Channel from England are the shutters. Wooden shutters. They frame the windows. You can paint them contrasting colours. They look rustic and olde world. Or brand new and smart.
Practical too. No need for nets. Just close the shutters and you get shade and privacy.
So many kinds of shutters. Arched shutters. Flat shutters, horizontal shutters. Striped shutters. Vertical shutters. Lattice shutters. Shutters with a heart shape cut out.
I thought, on my next trip I shall measure up my windows. I could even phone home and ask family, friends or neighbours. Great if you are building or renovating a house from scratch.
However, there's one problem. As I found.
Would you believe it - British windows open outwards. Yes, so? But French windows open inwards.
We looked at our London windows. With shutters closed from outside, you cannot open your window.
Now, you could buy purely decorative shutters for a window which does not open. Such as a fixed window on a shed or conservatory, designed for light but not air. (Or with a vent on top.) But that would not match any other windows on the front or back or side of your house.
It might do for a dormer window, an attic window which was sealed permanently shut for safety reasons. to prevent accidents or burglary, to keep in your baby or child or cat or valuables.
If, on the other hand, you have a second home in France, no problem.
You can also use them indoor to frame a mirror or painting creating the trompe l'oeuil of a scene outside to enliven the wall in a home lounge or a restaurant.
What about inside? I love the French net curtains which are picture curtains.
Useful websites
CHEESE
La Fromagerie, London, England
https://www.lafromagerie.co.uk/
SHUTTERS
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/540353093/heart-primative-shutters-wooden-window
About the Author
Angela Lansbury
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