Duck

[Frenchie]

Less common than in France (SW) but still manageable. We (E) did some duck filets in the pan today, having marinated them in soy sauce and honey for a while first. Served with new potatoes in the pan, covered with the sweet and sour marinade. Hum...

[gonzo]

For some reason, meat in the UK is either chicken or processed. Unless you've got a good butcher then the world is your meaty oyster!

Duck's common in the SW of France? I'm really going to be in cullinary heaven for 3 months!

[Frenchie]

Duck's common in the SW of France? I'm really going to be in cullinary heaven for 3 months!

You bet!! You haven't done your research right if you haven't found that out yet Gonz'... 

These are only some of the main courses. Hit "Entrees" for the starters...

Try the various confis, cassoulets, magrets, fois gras... You'll need to cycle a bit to eliminate all of them though! 

[FatBloke]

For some reason, meat in the UK is either chicken or processed. Unless you've got a good butcher then the world is your meaty oyster!

Duck's common in the SW of France? I'm really going to be in cullinary heaven for 3 months!

Duck is cheaper than chicken in our local supermarkets! 

[gonzo]

You bet!! You haven't done your research right if you haven't found that out yet Gonz'... 

These are only some of the main courses. Hit "Entrees" for the starters...

Try the various confis, cassoulets, magrets, fois gras... You'll need to cycle a bit to eliminate all of them though! 

I didn't want to get my hopes set too high! Looks like I'll be needing to improve my language skills in the area of food!

Duck is cheaper than chicken in our local supermarkets! 

Duck...going cheep?!? I thought it went quack.

Is that my coat that you've just thrown out the door?

[spesh]

For some reason, meat in the UK is either chicken or processed.

Depends on  your local supermarket...

I can get Gressingham* duck from my local branches of Sainsburys, and then there is the monthly farmer's market, from which I've been able to procure wild mallard.

Every so often, Sainsburys do a half-price promotion on whole Gressingham ducks - as I usually don't have room in the freezer for a whole one, I'll joint it, and use the carcass for stock.


* A wild mallard/Pekin crossbreed. If memory serves, supermarket-bought duck used to be an Aylesbury/Pekin crossbreed, but Gressingham has more flavour.

[spesh]

For some reason, meat in the UK is either chicken or processed. Unless you've got a good butcher then the world is your meaty oyster!

Duck's common in the SW of France? I'm really going to be in cullinary heaven for 3 months!

Duck is cheaper than chicken in our local supermarkets! 

If the chicken's proper free-range, I could well believe that.

[fiendish]

Duck's common in the SW of France? I'm really going to be in cullinary heaven for 3 months!

We took the tandem across the south of France (Bayonne - Narbonne, bike express).  Other half ate duck every day for two weeks.  I'm vegetarian and was pregnant at the time.  Ate a hell of a lot of bread.

[andrewc]

For some reason, meat in the UK is either chicken or processed. Unless you've got a good butcher then the world is your meaty oyster!

Duck's common in the SW of France? I'm really going to be in cullinary heaven for 3 months!

If you are going to South West France you should be in foodie heaven anyway!  Whereabouts are you going ?  I did a lovely tour some years back from the La Rochelle area to past Sarlat and back. Good cycling country.

I seem to remember Duck being a regular feature on the menu.  I didn't get round to trying the geziers  though, I believe they are really tasty.

[gonzo]

Marseillan, but it's December through to the end of Feb thus I'm expecting a fair bit of the good stuff to be out of season.

[andrewc]

I've not been that far down. Looks a good spot, Avignon to the east & Carcassone & the foothills of the Pyrenees to the west.

Photo's here

Woophy - Home

[Frenchie]

Duck's common in the SW of France? I'm really going to be in cullinary heaven for 3 months!

We took the tandem across the south of France (Bayonne - Narbonne, bike express).  Other half ate duck every day for two weeks.  I'm vegetarian and was pregnant at the time.  Ate a hell of a lot of bread.

In France it is a bit hard!! 

[giropaul]

[

In France it is a bit hard!! 
[/quote]

Hard, it's f....in' hard (f...canard) Sorry - very old joke.

PS I briefly raced for VC Canard - sponsor thought it was witty (Duck v Witty Joke etc) Worst kit I ever raced in!

[fiendish]

Duck's common in the SW of France? I'm really going to be in cullinary heaven for 3 months!

We took the tandem across the south of France (Bayonne - Narbonne, bike express).  Other half ate duck every day for two weeks.  I'm vegetarian and was pregnant at the time.  Ate a hell of a lot of bread.

In France it is a bit hard!! 

Yebbut we'd planned the trip before I got up the duff and was planning to eat cheese and drink wine the whole time - was a bit put out.  At least my morning sickness had stopped, we were sat by the toilets on the Bike Express

Other half tells me geziers are great.  He ate them twice on one day.

[JohnMcB]

Marseillan, but it's December through to the end of Feb thus I'm expecting a fair bit of the good stuff to be out of season.

Food in Marseillan is good all year round. At that time of year Oysters are in season, one of Marseillan's main industries and you can get them at one of the many coquillages. If you want to buy duck there is a covered market every Tuesday with a poultry specialist - good duck at that time of year. The butcher doesn't really do poultry so it is Champion the rest of the week.

Good fruit and veg shop and plenty of good restaurants. Some of the best duck I had was part of an 8Euro meal in Marseillan Plage, but everything will be shut there over the winter. Le Boulevard is a good bet if you like meat and are on a budget. Other local specialities are Tiele (cuttlefish pie), Noilly Prat and wine, that don't really go out of season.

No bike shops though, watch out for the dog shit and get ready for an accent.