CHILLED CUCUMBER SOUP

 INGREDIENTS:

•4 Large Cucumbers: peeled, lightly salted, left to purge for 30 min, drain excess water

•1/2 Large White Onion •1 Qt. Non-Fat Plain Yogurt

•4 Garlic Cloves

•Handful of Fresh Mint

•1/2 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

•Juice of 3 Whole Lemons

•1/2 Cup Buttermilk

•Salt & Pepper to Taste

DIRECTIONS:

 •Blend together in a blender: Cucumbers, Onion, Garlic Cloves •Place blended items in large mixing bowl •Mix in Yogurt, Olive Oil, Lemon Juice, Buttermilk •Salt & Pepper to Taste •Chill for 30 min, serve cold Makes 1 Gallon Keep Refrigerated Holds up to 4 days

 ROSEMARY CUCUMBER AND TEA INFUSED GIN AND TONIC

 *Make a simple syrup rosemary hot tea (equal weight sugar and hot water with a tea bag and sprig of Rosemary) and set aside to cool.

-Muddle 4 slices (diced) cucumber in bottom of glass and then add ice.

 -Add 2 oz gin (Hendricks works best with Rosemary) , 1oz of the previously made simple syrup and 4 oz Tonic

-Pour into another glass and then back to the original glass to mix.

*Garnish with a cucumber slice*

Maurice, our gluttonous Guard/Office Cat, recently made acquaintances with a wandering Garbage Pig. This swindling swine stumbled upon L’Auberge Provençale one day last June and has shown no intentions of leaving since.

On a sizzling hot day this July, in desperation for shelter from the sweltering summer sun, portly Maurice made a “shady” transaction with the newfound stranger. In exchange for his well-earned table scraps (we told you not to feed him…) Maurice received a handful of “Enchanting Provencale Seeds,” that the hideous hog ensured would hide our fat cat (and his hefty belly) from the summer heat.

Fearful that Celeste would find out he’d been coercing dinner guests on the patio for provisions, Maurice concealed his recent fortune in the flowerbed outside his humble abode. As Maurice dozed off in one of his daily catnaps, the magic seeds (nestled deep in the garden plot outside his air-conditioned office) began to grow and grow… and GROW.

Chilly from the cranked up AC, Maurice awoke and decided to relocate to a warmer location outside for his routine afternoon sunbath. Much to his dismay, he found a 20-foot sunflower stalk standing taller than the office itself and obscuring the sun from his favorite resting spot.

What is to become of Maurice, the Pig and the Sunflower?

Will his stout physic be able to scale the statuesque stalk?

Is there a giant castle hidden in the sky with magic harps and golden eggs?

Or will Celeste scold him for doing business with pungent pig?

To be continued… Fee-fi-fo-fum

It’s never a quiet day here at L’Auberge Provencale, there’s always another crazy project on the books! Our latest adventure (coming soon…) has been a year-long endeavor to design a video that captures the essence of our Virginia Bed and Breakfast and the full guest experience.

Produced, directed and edited by Madame Borel, no expense was spared to portray the full vision. The shoot started in February and wrapped in June; the seasons were captured at their worst and best.

We started with food, food and more food. Shot from the garden to the dining room, the film recreates the inner workings of the kitchen, the chefs and the talent that goes behind every plate and bedroom.

It doesn’t stop there! Celeste dragged the patient videographers all over the Shenandoah Valley to capture our guests’ favorite activities. From the shops in Middleburg, the Vineyards and Wineries in Delaplane, the Old Mill in Millwood, views from Skyline Drive and even an impromptu flying lesson with Alain in his airplane We’ve got it all on film! Please enjoy a sneak peak of pictures from our shoot and stay tuned for the final production to be posted later this summer.

It was a beautiful day on June 26^th – hot, humid and a chance of rain, typical of early summer days in the Shenandoah Valley. Thirty lucky guests joined us indoors at L’Auberge Provencale for a cool, leisurely lunch in our Sunny Peach Dining Room. The ambiance was reminiscent of all that is Southern France and the essence that is Provence.

The “Taste of Provence” wasn’t merely just another wine dinner – it was a Wine Experience.  Guests dined around round tables, adorned in crisp cream linens and fresh garden flowers picked that afternoon.  Rosemary bread and fresh baked French Baguettes were drenched in our house-infused Garlic and Herb Olive Oil. Our guests embarked on the traditions and customs hidden behind Provençale Cuisine; great conversation, food and wine!

The wines and food, paired perfectly with much thought and collaboration by L’Auberge Provençale’s Executive Chef, Jacob Jasinski, Madame Celeste Borel and Wine Consultant, Jason Bise of Country Vintner Distributors. Every taste was a delight to all the senses. In between the flights of fare, Jason Bise took time to educate the party on the riches behind each region we were visiting in our minds and palates. Highlights of the meal started with the Caramelized Onion Mushroom Tartlet next to a bed of Oysters in Sorrel, Caviar and Citrus. The second and third flights showed off Chef Jasinski’s talent for Duck Galantine, Petite Bouillabaisse, A Duet of Gazpacho, and not to overdo it, House Cured Duck Ham & Foie Gras Royale. Just when guests thought it couldn’t be topped, Chef Jasinski sent out Local Lamb Rack & Loin and Slow Cooked Culotte, which melted like butter in everyone’s mouth. The fifth and final flight ended the afternoon on a sweet note; showing off Citrus Crepes Suzette and Apricot Tart Tatin with cool serving of Nougat Ice Cream, a specialty of our Pastry Chef, Duane Copeland.

The company, food and wine told the perfect story of an afternoon dining delight in sun splashed hills of the Southern Region of Provence. We thank each of our guests who made the journey to Provence with us that Sunday afternoon in June. We look forward to our subsequent Wine Dinner next month.

Stay Tuned…

Our next Wine Dinner will be in August, 2011

Date & Time to follow

Featuring Wine Importer & Author, Roy Cloud

To Burgundy and Back Again: A Tale of Wine, France, and Brotherhood

Reviewed 5.0 out of 5.5 Stars on Amazon.com

Read the Editorial Reviews

The menu will feature wines handpicked from Roy’s book and travels through France.

Autographed books will be available for purchase.