What we ate in Villeneuve-les-Avignon

 

Working backwards, sketching on the TGV train heading back to Paris at 10:04 am

Leaving Villeneuve-les-Avignon  far behind us

The town was the resort of French cardinals during the sojourn of the popes at Avignon in the 14th century. It reeks of medieval history, crenelated walls & knights in shining armor etc.

Of equal importance, our last breakfast at HOTEL DE L’ATELIER.

My last breakfast - local chèvre/goat cheese, pruneau d’Agen, Provençal dried apricots. Always a hard-boiled egg. Not shown plain yogurt (inside my pocket for the train ride, along with the d’oeuf 🥚)

My room/l’atelier at Hotel l’Atelier. 

The desk is an essential feature where ever I stay - a place of calm, order & serenity.

Unlike my chaotic workspace in Paris. (And this is a neatened-up version)

I always start off warming up

Making basic warm & cool paint swatches to reflect the color palette 🎨 of a place. 

My head is still back in Roussillon. Eventually moving on to full sketches.

I had a sweet petit patio, but it was too bloomin’ hot 🥵 (30-32 degrees) to paint outside. 

Perhaps if I’d had someone to fan me…Hotel de l’Atelier is a dreamy little place. 

I was Shannon’s guest at the hotel last year giving watercolor demos during her Chocolate Retreat. 

This time I was PBer Carolyn’s guest (recovering from her luxury week in Saint Remy overeating).

 and giving her watercolor leçons.

But mostly we went foraging for heirloom tomatoes 🍅 

The French call these ‘Tomates oubliée’/forgotten tomatoes. 

We had them our first night at Aubergine 🍆 in the square.

And the next day at  Maison Bronzinifor lunch.

Which reminded me of my heirloom tomato 🍅 letter 💌

The fresh tomatoes above are from a small vegetable store in Roussillon, Le Petit Charreton, where I bought apricot jam (fait par la grand-mere), some amandes nature and a pêche 🍑 de vigne (grown in the vineyards so deep red inside).

Not to forget the gorgeous salad of fresh figs, chèvre and jambon I had at La Petite École in god-forsaken La Chène, near Gargus (when the bus did not show up because it was Saturday 😬). 

The owner is both the chef & waiter and everything else. He is reliant on word-of-mouth. He refuses to do instagram etc. No time I guess. 

I forgot to shoot my yummy melanzane 🍆 Everything was so delicious 🥰 PLEASE rent a car 🚗 and go…or miss the 915 bus. I think I did more eating than painting this 4-day trip 🙄 

Does that happen to you? Food in Provence IS Fabulous!

Back in rainy Paris, parents are waiting to pick up their kids at school.

If you'd like to receive Parisbreakfast letters, maps & watercolors in your mailbox, look in my shop.

The view out my window 🪟 🙄