French Friday

Friday evening is one of the best in the week. The whole weekend stretches ahead: perhaps a lie-in, or the promise of a good newspaper (and some time to read it in), and of course a superb coffee, taken at leisure.

Last Friday the balmy spring day made me yearn for Florence and a table outside our favourite enoteca - bliss! I proposed to the gent we meet for a glass of wine and he immediately suggested La Trouvaille in Soho. Please don't go. It is wonderful and I want to always get a table.

I arrived first so took a seat inside along a little wooden bench and spent my time choosing - and enjoying - a glass of Les Greilles (Domaine Causse Marines, 2008). La Trouvaille only buy from independent companies in the South of France and have good-egg policies about no pesticides and chemicals. They also seem interested in biodynamic methods of farming - about which there is quite some trendy hoo-ha at the moment - but I was more interested in drinking the honeyed deliciousness.

The gent went in for something like the Picpoul de Pinet (Domaine Coustellier, 2009) which he found 'minerally'. In a good way. We soon unwound and began to feel somewhat continental... which turned out to be only a short hop to hungry.

Not moving from our seats we took a look at the bar menu, ordered two portions of cassoulet, then had a heated debate about whether the meat should be confit or not. It was, and it was divine and filling. So we had a glass of Cahors (Domaine Cosse Maisonneuve. Le Combal, 2007) to celebrate. I haven't even looked at the restaurant menu but I would wager a glass of Picpoul that it would make for a blissful evening.

Really there is nothing like Florence - however for a spot of French atmosphere on the doorstep this is the place I will return to.