Weekend Cooking: Widow Cliquot

I love a good film festival, and here in Melbourne, the British Film Festival has just started. As usual during this annual event, there are more films that I want to see than I can possibly find time for. However, as soon as I saw that there was a special preview for this film, I jumped at the chance to see it, and of course chose the option where we had a glass of Veuve Cliquot in hand whilst we did so.

This film tells the life-story of Barbe-Nicole Cliquot basically starting from her marriage through her widowhood as she fights to be able to continue to run the champagne business that her husband, Francois,  left her when he died and trying to raise her daughter Clementine.

The story is told in a very non-linear way. The movie opens as her husband, Francois, is being buried, and before the wake is even finished, the men from the local champagne producing families like Moet are deciding how they are going to divide up the Cliquot vineyard. However, Barbe-Nicole is having none of it. She is determined that she is going to continue the work that she and Francois started and she begs her father in law to give her a chance to prove herself. Unfortunately though, she soon comes to learn that she is facing an uphill battle, and world events are not helping her. Many of the traditional champagne markets are closed to her due to Napoleon's trade embargo, so in order to succeed she has to think outside the box. Fortunately she has her wine dealer, Louis Bohne, to assist her in this regard. And she has her own new ways of creating champagne that changed the face of the industry.

The other factor is that Napoleonic law has very strict rules about what a woman can and can't do, and it does not allow a woman to continue to operate a business if she remarries. With many of the men hoping that the Widow Cliquot does not succeed, these laws can and are used against her.

Through the mechanism of flashbacks we see how the Cliquots worked together building the vineyards facing challenges together, whilst still in the throes of young love. It is easy to differentiate between the flashbacks and current story. In the earlier story, everyone is dressed in white and it is all bright and fresh. We slowly we begin to see how Francois is struggling with his demons so the colours become a little muted, and then everything after his death is dark, everyone clothed in black for mourning clothes.

Earlier this year, I read Rebecca Rosenberg's book Champagne Widows, which also tells the story of Barbe-Nicole Cliquot, and I know that there are at least a couple of other books about her as well, including the book The Widow Cliquot by Tilar J Mazzeo, which this movie was based on. This movie didn't concentrate as much on Barbe-Nicole's childhood, including her family's connections or her "nose" which enables her to use her sense of smell as she developed her wines which we saw more about in Champagne Widows. My review of Champagne Widows is here.

I really enjoyed the performances of the three main actors. Haley Bennett effectively ran the gamut of emotions from joy to despair, from challenge to triumph. Tom Sturridge was great as the rapidly descending Francois and Sam Riley bought a devil may care attitude to the role of Louis Bohne.

This is the story of a woman who changed the way that champagne was made, who triumphed despite adversity and continues to leave her mark in the world. After all, the very name of the champagne house, Veuve Cliquot, means Widow Cliquot.

Here's the trailer

Weekly meals

Saturday - Butter chicken
Sunday - Out for dinner
Monday - Mac and cheese
Tuesday -
Wednesday - Out for dinner
Thursday - Out for dinner
Friday - Toasted ham and cheese sandwiches

Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page

Weekend Cooking: Champagne Widows by Rebecca Rosenberg

 

I know I am not alone in planning my next trip to France in my head, even though we have no plans to do so just yet. Last time we went to Normandy and the Loire Valley, as well as Paris. Next time we go I suspect we might go back to Normandy and I would love to spend some more time in the Loire, but I would love to go to the Champagne region. Oh, and Paris! Never forget Paris.

One of the things I would love to do is visit one of the great champagne houses. After reading this book, maybe I will ensure that it is Veuve Cliquot.

Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin has grown up in the Champagne region of France, and she has inherited (genetically) Le Nez from her grandfather. Le Nez means the nose, and she is exceptionally sensitive to smells which in turn enables her to be able to smell and taste grapes and wine and be able to tell exactly how ripe they were, where they were grown etc. Her family is keen to marry Barbe-Nicole off but Le Nez is a curse, something to be hidden. Imagine having such a sensitive nose but then being sent off to marry a pig farmer? The only man that Barbe-Nicole wants to marry is her childhood sweetheart, Francois, but he has disappeared while off fighting for Napoleon.

When he returns, he is a changed man. He is haunted by the things he has seen and done, but they marry. Francois wants to make champagne and Barbe-Nicole has the perfect skills to be able to assist in this regard. When he dies, Barbe-Nicole can inherit the business, but the Napoleonic code is clear - if she remarries then all of her assets transfer to her new husband.

This is not the only way that Napoleon impacts the new widow, who is now known as Veuve (widow) Cliquot. With his never-ending march across Europe, the market for French champagne is constantly proving more challenging, bringing her into direct conflict with Napoleon. Fortunately, Barbe-Nicole's chief sales manager is a very canny and clever man who finds a way. With Barbe-Nicole's talent, sheer hard work and determination and Louis' ability to make a sale, they persevere, sometimes more successfully than others.

Years ago I did a wine tasting in California where they talked to us about how you can have different tasting versions of the same type of wine depending on where the grape grew. The harder the vine had to work to survive, the more robust the flavour, and I think this is probably a good way to describe Barbe-Nicole. She had to struggle against her families wishes, against societal expectations, against nature, war and more, but she persevered and today Veuve Cliquot is one of the most famous brands of champagne in the world!

Whilst this is ostensibly Barbe-Nicole's story, it is interspersed with aspects of Napoleon's coalition wars, which provides interesting context for the rest of the story.

I also loved the humour in this story, including the names of each chapter which are sayings that are presented in both French and English. For example, one chapter's title is "Un barbe ne fait pas le philosope" which translates as "A beard does not make a philosopher."

A note about the cover.... I think it is a really fun cover. It gives off 1920s party girl vibes to me, which is great except...this book is not 1920s vibe. So this is definitely a case of don't judge a book by it's cover. Although it would have caught my eye in a bookstore, so it works from that aspect.

I have the next Champagne Widows book here to read at some point. It is called Madame Pommery, Creator of Brut Champagne. I am looking forward to reading it.

I am sharing this post with my fellow participants of Paris in July, hosted at Words and Peace, and Foodies Read, hosted at Based on a True Story. 

Weekly meals

Saturday - Out for dinner
Sunday - Fennel Pork roast and lemon and oregano potatoes
Monday - One Pot Pastitsio
Tuesday - Enchiladas
Wednesday - Pepper Beef Pie
Thursday - Takeaway
Friday - Eggs, bacon on toast

Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page

Weekend Cooking/Blog Tour: A Taste of Italian Sunshine by Leonie Mack

In this week's Weekend Cooking post I am sharing a review  of A Taste of Italian Sunshine which is all about life in the hills of Veneto. There's lot of information about making prosecco and grappa, and plenty of delicious sounding Italian food!



¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬

Jenn Park has a nose. I mean, most of us have noses, but Jenn has a particularly fine sense of smell which is exactly what she needs in her job as a successful wine taster. Her boss, Filippo, has sent her to the hills of Veneto in Italy in her first solo gig as a buyer. Her tasks is to get an in with the producers of prosecco wine and make a deal so that their wine’s can be stocked in the hotel’s locations around the world.

The only problem is her nose is very sensitive. And bubbles are something that doesn’t agree with her, causing her senses to explode. She therefore doesn’t like tasting prosseco. She also is great at tasting, but she is something of a lightweight when it comes to drinking. She also doesn’t have a drivers licence which is going to be a problem getting around the various wineries she needs to visit. She was never going to tell Filippo that though, given that she has had an unrequited crush on him for a long time.

Jenn is booked into stay in an old farm house where Tiziano lives in a converted out-building, helping out his Nonna as she needs, as well as numerous other friends and family. Tiziano gives every impression of being a bit of a layabout. He lives in his grandmother's barn, spends his time doing a bit of farming, a bit of fishing, a bit of this and that. But Tiziano isn't exactly what he seems. He has secrets from his past that still continue to impact him.

Jenn tries to bulldoze her way into the various wineries in the area, Tiziano tries to show her the way of the locals, the importance of relationships, of understanding the history and the traditions of the town, and of the vineyards.

After initially being resistant to her surroundings and to Tiz, uptight Jenn begins to loosen up, with Tiz by her side in various situations, often secretly shielding her from the things that trigger her, and yet fully respecting who she is. They both know that Jenn is going to need to go back to her life in London, so they have a limited time together, but it could be that this short time is going to prove to be a catalyst for them to both move on in their lives. The question is, will they move forward together or separately.

I have to say I loved Tiziano. When you read a fair amount of romance novels, you begin to think that a lot of male love interests are somewhat cookie-cutter. They are always tall and muscular, with great abs/pecs yada yada. Tiz is somewhat wirey, with a tongue piercing, a sparkle in his eye and a bit of a mischievous attitude. 

Last year I read Leonie Mack’s Twenty One Nights in Paris. I was impressed with her sense of place, the way she described Paris. Now, she has turned her focus to the vineyards of Veneto and once again she took us right there. There are the hills covered in vines, the river, the food, the people and a lot of interesting information about the production of both prosecco and grappa and I found it all fascinating. For example, did you know that there is a type of prosecco which has a lower fizz factor?  We also get Jenn's tasting notes for some of the wine throughout the book

I wonder where Leonie Mack is going to take us next? Wherever it is, I will be joining her through the pages of her book.

Check out other links on the tour for their thoughts.

Rating 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher, Rachel's Random Resources and Netgalley for the review copy!

About the book

A Taste of Italian Sunshine

Jenn has always prided herself on being a city girl – she insists on easy access to good coffee, great food from around the globe, not to mention an easy commute. So, when her job takes her to one of the most famous Italian wine regions in search of the perfect Prosecco, travelling to meetings on a tractor is a bit of a culture shock.

Tiziano hates the city. He was made for the mountains and vineyards of Veneto, and generations of his family have earned their living from the land. But times are changing even in the Italian countryside, and the arrival of Jenn at his grandmother’s B&B opens up a window on a different world.

Jenn has two months to persuade the Prosecco producers to trust her with their business, and Tiziano has one summer to persuade Jenn that there’s more to life than the rat race. But can a city girl and a country boy ever find enough in common to see a future beyond one long summer of sun…

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/ItalianSunshinesocial

About the author

Leonie Mack is the bestselling author of romantic novels including My Christmas Number One and Italy Ever After. Having lived in London for many years her home is now in Germany with her husband and three children. Leonie loves train travel, medieval towns, hiking and happy endings!

Social Media Links –

Facebook: Leonie Mack - Home | Facebook
Twitter: Leonie Mack WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE VENICE (@LeonieMAuthor) / Twitter
Instagram: Leonie Mack (@leoniejmack) • Instagram photos and videos
Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/LeonieMackNews Bookbub profile: Leonie Mack Books - BookBub

Weekly meals

Saturday - 

Sunday -  

Monday - Chicken Schnitzel, chips and gravy

Tuesday - 

Wednesday - Pressure Cooker Spaghetti Bolognaise

Thursday - Beef Stroganoff

Friday - Takeaway

Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page

Weeking Cooking: The Tasting (Le Degustation)

With each international film festival that is on here in Melbourne I am making an effort to see at least one movie. It will be no surprise to you that my favourite festival is the French Film Festival and It has been running for the last month or so. There were a number of films that I had earmarked to see. I had already seen two, but there were two foodie films that I still wanted to see but I was running out of time. Luckily, the festival was extended by a few days and I convinced my somewhat reluctant husband to come and see this movie with me.

I first watched French actress Isabelle Carré in Romantics Anonymous which is still one of my favourite French movies to watch and which I posted about here. I have since watched her in the movie Delicious (review here) and now in this movie. In a way, this movie has some similarites with Romantics Anonymous, particularly in the first half where we meet two characters who have difficulties in establishing and maintaining romantic relationships.

Hortense is a single woman with a big heart. She is a midwife, she volunteers with a group of homeless men, and she looks after her cantankerous mother. She has one great desire, to have a child, but she has been unlucky in love and so it has never happened for her. Her mother constantly reminds her of her failings.

Jacques is a wine merchant who has been told by his doctor that he needs to stop drinking as he has a heart condition. Jacques is in denial about his drinking. His wine business seems to be struggling but he really seems to be emotionally disconnected from his life. His only real friend is Guillerme, the local bookseller.

Jacques is convinced to give an internship to a young man called Steve who lives in a homeless shelter. In return for giving Steve some work he will receive some badly needed funding. At first, he asked Steve to help clean up the basement, but Steve wants to be doing more glamourous customer work

Hortense meets Jacques when she comes to the wine store to buy a bottle of wine. Soon she is returning more often, even buying quite pricey wines to take to serve to the homeless men she cooks meals for. She notices a poster saying that there are wine tasting classes available and so Jacques agrees to run a lesson, even though it will be quite difficult for him given that he can't actually drink the wine. Now, he just needs to find some other people to come to the classes. And so it is that Hortense, Guillerme and Steve attend the tasting class.

The first half of the movie is very much a comedy, but as Jacques and Hortense get to know each other we learn their secrets, and the movie takes a more serious turn. There are reasons why Jacques has closed himself off from the world. And Hortense has her own plans for the future that very much will influence their relationship before it even gets started.

I really enjoyed this movie. It was a lovely way to spend a couple of hours on a rainy Saturday afternoon, and Robert also laughed out loud and enjoyed the movie. And now I am thinking about watching Romantics Anonymous again.

Here is the trailer for The Tasting.

The two movies that I did see where The Innocent and Two Tickets to Greece. The other movie I wanted to see what Sugar and Stars (French title À LA BELLE ÉTOILE) so I will be trying to find that so that I can watch it. We also saw the trailer for a Gerard Depardieu movie called Umami. Now, I have studied the festival program at length and yet I never noticed this film. Now I need to find this movie to watch too.

The next festival is the German Film Festival, and I am sure I will find something to watch, although I haven't decided on which one yet. Unfortunately it doesn't look like there are any foodie films on this list this year. Maybe there will be some in the Spanish film festival which is the one after.

Weekly meals

Saturday - Steamed fish, veggies and rice

Sunday -  Chicken Cacciatore

Monday - Easter Celebration Cake

Tuesday - Nasi Goreng

Wednesday - Tuscan Chicken Pasta Bake

Thursday - Takeaway

Friday -BBQ

Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page

Weekend Cooking: Blind Ambition

I don't know about you, but when I am thinking about the great wine regions of the world, places like France, California, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa are the ones that come to mind. One country that does not readilly come to mind is Zimbabwe. So, it is something of a surprise to watch a movie about the Zimbwabwean Wine Tasting team.

Every year, national teams from around the world travel to France to compete for the coveted title of 'World Wine Tasting Champion'.  24 teams from countries around the world, must identify the grape variety, the country, the region, the producer and the vintage and the team that gets the most factors correct over the course of the competition wins. The Olympics of wine tasting, if you will. 

Tinashe, Joseph, Pardon and Marlvin are all Zimbabwean refugees who moved to South Africa for a better life.  As Joseph says the fact that he ended up working with wine means that he is "living a life for which I had never planned". After crossing the border illegally into South Africa Joseph started working in the garden for a restauranteur. While he didn't enjoy his first taste of wine, it was enough to make him curious about it and from there a career was born.

He isn't the only one who had never had wine before. Marlvin comes from a very religious family where alcohol was definitely not allowed, so he had never tasted wine before he came to South Africa. His family have had to accept that maybe that wine might be Gods's plan for him.

Whilst we learn more about each of the men's backgrounds and their personal struggles to get to where they are now, there is also the struggle to get Team Zimbambwe to the championship. They have to raise £6500 to even enter the competition, they need to do as much training as they possibly can and they have to find someone to coach them.

One of things that is a challenge for this group is that many of the more traditional reference points in wine tasting, like being able to taste berries on your palate, are not the fruits that you are familiar with if you grew up in Zimbabwe. Maybe I need to do some more training as I am not sure I can ever taste the lingering aftertaste of apricots, or whatever it is that you are supposed to be able to taste in wine.

The training for the competition is intense. At first they train with the South African coach, but once they make it to Europe the training really ramps up. They take a route through many of the famous wine regions, tasting different types of wine whilst travelling, at truck stops, in the middle of the night. Whatever it takes.

They hire an irascible, very opinionated French coach who ends up being an interesting character but also ends up being problematic.

One of the comparisons that I have seen around the place is with the Jamaican bob sleigh team so famously portrayed in the movie Cool Runnings. This is a very different movie, in that it is more documentary and deliberately more serious. This is a feel good story at it's heart about a group of men who overcome adversity, who are lucky ones who make a success of their new life, and who don't forget how lucky they are and where they come from.

The producers have made another movie about wine called Red Obsession which I will watch at some point too.

 Weekly meals

Saturday - 

Sunday -  

Monday - Pork chops with mash

Tuesday - Beef broccoli mushrooms

Wednesday - Take Away

Thursday - Pork Nachos

Friday - Take away

Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page