It is Sunday in France. That means that we MUST have a great Sunday meal especially with friends. We all are interested in a seafood meal. Linda, Ron and I head off to nearby sea-side Valras to find a seafood purveyor recommended by the owners of the house, Barba (I went to their Bezier location for our dinner when the Grunows arrived).
Along the way we find a HUGE supermarket that is open on Sunday–a unique thing. We stop there for other provisions that we need and we are amazed at all it offers. On to Valras! As we see that we are getting closer to the coast and we are at the edge of what looks like a permanent market, I pull over and park. We are close to the market and, now we see, close to a car park. Maybe I should have parked in the car park… Maybe I’ve parked in an “interdite” zone (forbidden)… Oh well, what will be will be…
We do not see any signs to stop us so after we park we head off to the market. The alley is lined with all sorts of shops: food and otherwise. We find one larger “shop” that has several seafood vendors and other food vendors. (There are the weirdest “squidly” things I’ve ever seen!) We continue on toward the ocean to find Barba. We find ourselves at the water’s edge but so far no Barba. We head back the way we came and I ask a shop-owner where I can find Barba. He tells us down the street on the left. He indicates some measure of length and I ask him if it’s straight ahead on this street. He says “Oui” and I believe him and I believe what I’ve said and what I’ve heard. So on we go! It is a bit of a ways down the road but we find it!! We buy fresh anchovies, skate (a sea ray fish) and squid. On our way back to the car we stop by the larger shop we found earlier and buy fantastic HUGE but succulent asparagus to grill later. The lady gives us parsley and an apricot for free; they talk to us as if they enjoy talking to English speaking people. I know it’s an oxymoron to say “huge asparagus” and “delicious” but it’s true here in France!
What follows can best be described as the “Big Chill” of France. (I hope you all have seen and enjoyed that film.) The six of us take MANY hours to cook and enjoy the foods we have purchased and prepared. After each course we pause, enjoy our wine and watch the next course prepared. The experience of this Sunday lunch takes many hours and it is an experience we will not forget.
The first course is prepared by Howard and is fresh anchovies. You think you know anchovies? You do not! Fresh anchovies are a delight and we are so happy to have found and prepared them.
Second course is fresh squid with pesto
served with pasta. The Franks prepare this incredible dish! Frankly (no pun intended) I would have never expected this dish to “work.” I think I am secretly a squid avoider but, oh la la, it was great!
Third course is skate in brown butter. Howard and I prepared this. We find skate, a very mild fish, frequently in France.
The Grunows grill incredible asparagus!! 
And, of course, we have great bread (it’s France, after all).
For dessert I make a bread pudding with the huge amount of old, dried bread we have. It was pretty good…
Our meal is enhanced by rose sparkling wine and a rose wine from Chateau Valmy, a vineyard near Collioure.