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Thursday, July 30, 2009

Friday Photo Shoot Out: Outdoor Food

Collecting pictures of Outdoor Food this week, I didn't get many of Outdoor Eating. So here's a group of friends having a coffee pause at one of the many many many outdoor cafés of France. In fact, most cafés and restaurants have some kind of outdoor seating. It takes up most of the sidewalk in a lot of places. You can hardly walk down a Paris sidewalk without having to weave through café tables at some point.
Not much food is portable in France. You can walk around with ice cream of various sorts, but you rarely see people with paper cups of coffee (coffee must be served in real cups, it's a ritual), or eating their burger & fries on the run.
So on to food that is outdoors. Please ignore the attention-seeking rabbit. This sweet corn is doing pretty well in my garden, and I should be having guests in a week or two to eat it. Outside. I promise pictures.
Other outdoor foods are growing on my trees in great numbers. These are mirabelles. About the size of cherries, but yellow. Rather like plums, only the pits resemble those of apricots, only smaller. I'm pretty sure there's more food outside the house than in it.
These are wild plums. They're good before they get too ripe, when they're just insipid. I've got to get mean with this tree soon - its branches scrape against my bedroom wall and also against the metal car shed whenever there's any wind.
The apricots just two weeks ago. Not a one left now!
Tomatos. I'm putting up a LOT of tomato sauce this year.
And apples. I just love apples fresh off the tree. The first ones should be ready soon.
And once they start getting ready, there will be a deluge. Perhaps I should have thinned them out even more. This year I'll be making crispy apple chips in my nifty food dehydrater, and enjoy apples all year long. Reminds me to go get some containers...
So that's all for Outdoor Food. I'm posting early because tomorrow, which is the real Friday, I'm gonna be Out Of Town. Out Adventuring. Hopping a train for Parts Unknown.
And be warned, I'll tell you all about it!
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15 comments:

Unknown said...

you have all of my favorite fruits here. nice shoot out!

haitham said...

Thanks so much for your kind words! I will probably keep up a blog for my teachers and students in a mix of English and Japanese, although my exploits back in New York City will be less than earthshattering : ) I will certainly keep on checking in on your blog--you lead an examined and charmed life, I'd say! Best of luck with your jam/sauce making from all those beautiful fruit and I hope the canicule doesn't get the best of you--drink lots of water!

Your friend in Kagoshima (for the next few days anyway!),

haitham

Si's blog said...

When I returned to my home computer and normal life and saw the topic for this week, the first thought that came to my mind was the cafes and outdoor markets in France. We loved them all.

Barry said...

All that fresh fruit is making me hungry.

I remember all those outdoor cafes from my last visit to Paris. They almost define the city.

Word Verification is "lance". Strange because it is an actual word. Wasn't Lancelot French? I don't think lance has anything to do with outdoor food though.

Bagman and Butler said...

Ah...to be standing in a street in France eating something...anything.

Anonymous said...

Great photos! what an abundant garden!

Sara Diana said...

Fabulous photos! Fruits I have never even heard of too!

Unknown said...

Your garden looks very tasty! I don't blame the pink bunny for hanging around....probably wants first dibs on the corn!

Heather S-G said...

I love all of your food growing!!! Great shots :D

shabby girl said...

I hear rabbits like corn...
Your yard must be amazing! Nothing like fruit right off the tree, right? Great photos!

Unknown said...

love all the pictures of your growing areas. I'm jealous!!`

Gordon said...

Fantastic! Maurice, I'm jealous of your adventures.

Carrie said...

Wow - I am so impressed with all of the wonderful food that you are growing! I would love to be sitting at an outdoor table in Frande right now...Enjoy!

RedLan said...

Thanks for sharing your outdoor food. I can see real happiness and that pink stuff toy makes me smile

GingerV said...

I know i am slow getting around to all the shoot out gang, but I did.... lovely fruit and I know they taste better because they are grown in France - people should only eat in France and Italy - (sorry but I love italy too) - we are talking about 4 days in Paris in the spring.... can't wait.

If you were taking the train from Paris to Rome - what small towns would you stop in to eat,drink and see some of France.