Pate de Foie Gras
by hquittner
Lovers of liver pate exist in all parts of the world. The most ubiquitous pates are based upon chicken liver or livers of large farm animals (beef or pig).such as liverwurst. A more exotic source is pate de fois gras produced by force-feeding maize to ducks or geese to induce enlarged fatty livers. This technic is used widely in the Perigord but the center for the commercial product is Toulouse. (Strasbourg is another site). So great is the demand in France, that there is widespread importation of the essential ingredient. All pates use much fat and flavors, but it is the natural animal essences in the liver fat that make foie gras so delectable. There are canned varieties that can be bought and taken home. Only the more expensive ones taste like those served in the better restaurants in Sarlat. Our foie gras experience reminds me of my understanding of the material. Lovers of liver pate exist in all parts of the world. The most ubiquitous pates are based upon chicken liver or livers of large farm animals (beef or pig).such as liverwurst. A more exotic source is pate de fois gras produced by force-feeding maize to ducks or geese to induce enlarged fatty livers. This technic is used widely in the Perigord but the center for the commercial product is Toulouse. (Strasbourg is another site). So great is the demand in France, that there is widespread importation of the essential ingredient. All pates use much fat and flavors, but it is the natural animal essences in the liver fat that make foie gras so delectable. There are canned varieties that can be bought and taken home. Only the more expensive ones taste like those served in the better restaurants in Sarlat.
Chateau des Milandes
by Beausoleil
I'm puttng this Tip under Sarlat because Milandes doesn't come up on a Virtual Tourist search. It would be an easy day trip from Sarlat-la-Canéda, La Roque Gageac, Beynac, Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, Domme or any of several other Dordogne towns and villages. It is far enough off the beaten track that you will undoubtedly want to stay at one of the aforementioned towns for hotels, restaurants and other things to do.
That said, Chateau les Milandes was the former home of Josephine Baker, best known for dancing wearing a banana peel costume that covered nearly nothing. It is unfortunate that this is the only memory most have of her since she was active in the French Resistance and marched with Bob Dylan and Martin Luther King Jr. in Washington DC in 1963. She received the Legion d'Honneur in 1961.
In the 1950s she started adopting children and eventually adopted 10 boys and 2 girls of various races and nationalities. She called them her "Rainbow Tribe."
The chateau is full of Baker memorabilia and no photographs are allowed inside. You may purchase a small-size DVD disk of photos at the gift shop.
The fun reason to visit the chateau is their Raptor Show every afternoon. They have 2 falconers and one of them puts on a marvelous show outside the chateau and you may take as many pictures as you like. We saw falconer Patrick Mercer and he was wonderful. You could tell he loved the birds and his little ferret helper. He also let members of the audience don his leather glove and hold some of the birds. The show is in French but you do not need to understand French to have a wonderful time. The birds are beautiful.
Bird shows are at 3:00 PM weekdays from April to October and there is an additional show at 4:30 PM on weekends. In July and August there are bird shows at 11:00 AM, 2:30 PM, 4:00 PM and 5:30 PM every day. Check the web site for other times and prices.
The birds are all protected by the Washington Convention if that is a concern. They were very happy birds obviously caring greatly for the falconer.
The official address is Castelnaud-la-Chapelle and it is along the south side of the Dordogne River just off D53. It is well signposted. E-mail is josephine-les-milandes@wanadoo.fr although I'd check their marvelous web site listed here.
Continue On to the "Lanterne des Morts" (7)
by hquittner
At the end of the first courtyard there is the 12C Chapel of the Blue Penitents. The route leads through a passage until a small tower is seen preceded by a staircase which is ascended. This mysterious structure is called the “Lantern of the Dead” or St. Bernard’s Tower after his 12C visit. It probably was some sort of chap
Sarlat
by mexicruiser
Capital of Black Perigord, Sarlat is an exceptionally well preserved city.
Sarlat became a city in the 8th century. An exceptional number of buildings are registered or classified as, and Sarlat has been featured in many historical films.
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Les Cabanes du Breuil
Hotel Restaurant Le Perigord near La Roque Gageac
Fishing Vest
New Wing
