Sipping my morning coffee in the sun kick starts my mental processes, gets the juices flowing, and pretty soon I’m thinking about food. I can’t imagine, at least I try not to imagine, life without bread, cheese and wine. Each is produced by one form of fermentation or another, and each exists in a bewildering multiplicity of forms, from the most humble to the most extravagant. The combination of the three of them is sufficient to produce the most delicious feast, or a simple snack. Try baked brioche stuffed with Perigord truffles accompanied by a glass of Gigondas, or a simple “pan bagnat” with a glass of red vin du pays. Both are delicious; admittedly there has been the tiny addition of butter and truffles in one example, and tomatoes, garlic and olive oil in the other, but calorie counting is not part of my remit. My taste in wine has become much simpler. I used to collect wine, and, on occasion, I even got to drink some of it. Most stayed behind the firmly locked doors of bonded warehouses, or in the cellars of various merchants scattered around the English countryside. I used to pride myself on having a little knowledge. Now I drink to enjoy, not to swoon or share arcane thoughts on fine wines with similarly inclined adults. Don’t be fooled, I still love tasting delicious wines, but it isn’t that important to me any more. I’m much happier being in my neighbour’s “cave”, sitting on the old car seats that serve as arm chairs, with a glass of local red and a bowl of walnuts.
Extract from my book “Simply Fed” (there’s a preview link on the side of this page)
Food, Photography & France 
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One of my favorite meals is the cheese and bread board at our favorite local bar. Such a simple, satisfying meal.
There are seemingly endless combinations of the three things. With 3,000 cheeses in France, and a similar amount of wines, it’s hard to run out of options.
Very nice post!!
Thanks for that, Ayako:)
Contentment…. I love it. it’s a state of mind that many of us need to visit more often.
It’s my favourite holiday spot:)
I’m with you, Roger. Life is just too short to shut the simple pleasures of life away for posterity. That glass of local rd and the walnuts: they sound perfect.
I adore that first picture. I’d love to just step into it.
It’s the vineyard of a friend of ours here. He and his wife make the only serious wines in the Vendee.
I so agree with you, Roger. I can thoroughly enjoy a good bottle of wine, a fine cognac, aged scotch, or a mellow port but they bring little pleasure locked away. If such a bottle enters my home, it will be enjoyed with friends and family without reservation. Life is too short and I’d rather have a drink with these people than have them use it to toast me when I’m gone.
I may well be toasting over hell fire, so I don’t want any additional help from the living:)
There is no life without bread, cheese and wine!
Dead right:)
Wine is best when enjoyed!
No question about that. Why did it take me so long to work that out:)
Is that your view!?! It is gorgeous. One of our favourite meals is homemade bread with french and english cheeses and a great red wine.
It’s not my view which is sad to say in one way but not in reality. It’s the vineyard of a friend of ours, not far from our house. A vineyard is great as a view but a back breaking nightmare to own – particularly in France where employing people is too expensive, so all the work is done by him and his wife – a cousin helps out now and then.
Yes that is something people don’t realise, the copious amount of hard work that goes into making it look that good. They are doing a wonderful job though.
Too right:)
I like the sound of the cave. And cheese and red wine is a classic combination that never fails to lift the senses beyond the mundane moment.
The “cave” is a real haven. It’s something that I never knew in my previous life in the city.
Sounds perfect to me.
🙂
Am attempting to analyse why you always make me smile [that is after being crabby because I cannot verbalize as well as you !] – perchance because you bring the really important things in life to a common denominator I can relate to [oops, grammar!] . . . sounds perfect to me too . . .:) !
Making people smile makes my day:)
Truly, the simplest pleasures are the finest. I try to remember that but the world gets a bit crazy around here. Just reading your post gave me the sense of simplicity and calmness, so thank you.
Calm and I have been strangers for most of my life. We’re just starting to get together:)
A day without wine is like a day without…well, I can´t even begin to imagine it!
It’s not worth stretching the imagination that far – could be dangerous:)
Beautiful images, both. La cave du voisin sounds awfully good to me.
It’s a favourite:)
I have a friend who’s finally getting into wine, and now we’re going to do a wine tasting over Thanksgiving. Though, after your post, I’ll be enjoying a glass of red myself as I comment on other blogs!
That’s a wise decision:)
Absolutely gorgeous photos. coffee, wine, cheese, red wine – the makings of a well enjoyed life. a good life. like yours 🙂
Yours is looking pretty good too:)
My sentiments exactly. The great wines are wonderful but the simple ones can make me happy as well. Now if only I had a piece of the baked brioche stuffed with truffles.
I thought that the brioche and truffles would be right up your alley:)
You are so right!
🙂
just a simple amen to everything you’ve said…and to your photos, fabulous!!
Thanks, Antoinette
As I’ve said before, how do you live in such a place. Oh well, life is tough. You’ll get on.
Someone has to do it, Greg. Just think of me from time to time:)
Hi Roger, my apologies for not getting around to commenting on your posts more often. Be assured they all great delight, surprise, and impress me.
When I am at work I can’t comment on them, and when I get home I too often just ‘veg out.’
With best wishes – christian
That’s very kind of you to say so, Christian. Many thanks.