CfB programme 2018-19

Our Belfast cercle, now numbering around 100 members, has launched its new season programme. With more events than ever before it seems likely that it is set to attract many more recruits.  In fact there are 12 meetings, not counting a special event that features readings of Seamus Heaney poems in English and in French and some Extra ! offerings outside of but related to its main programme.
The first of those events got underway on Wednesday 12 October at the Cercle's usual meeting place, The Dark Horse Coffee House in the heart of Belfast's Cathedral Quarter.  Here's a link reporting the September meeting on the Cercle's website.  The cobbled streets around the Dark Horse form a busy area that's popular with visitors to the city.  That night was no exception and it was fun  to meet up with a large group of French-speaking Canadians out-on-the-town.
Back to the programme...
Whether in English, French or both languages the talks are clearly labelled. In keeping with previous seasons two of the meetings will be conducted in French.  Mind you this shouldn't put off those who are not particularly fluent as pains are taken to include everyone regardless of their linguistic proficiency. The first of these Francophone meetings is a Cercle de lecture which focusses on a discussion of Françoise DORNER's La douceur assassine - a lovely book that's not too long and while dealing with themes of loss and jealousy is written in straightforward, accessible French.  Incidentally there is a film adaptation of the novel entitled Mr Morgan's Last Love starring Michael Caine and Clémence Poésy which would be worth a watch prior to the discussion.
The second Francophone event is a café-causerie - another discussion forum for which the theme is Les objets qui nous tiennent à cœur.  Here the idea is for participants to bring an item that's dear to them - that could be a photo, a piece of jewellery, a book, a song or even just a memory.  They then share why that item is something they love.
Check out the programme here.  There is plenty to engage those with an interest in French society with talks on Émile DURKHEIM, the father of sociology, a 50 year retrospective on the events of May 1968 and Feminism in France: Before and after de Beauvoir.
There are talks on Art, Literature and a couple of dégustations with tastings of Pastis and Beaujolais nouveau. Talking of tastings, the Cercle is planning on returning to the nearby Ulster University Academy training restaurant for its annual French-themed dinner.
It's quite a while away but the final event in June 2019 is really two-in-one as it will be a walking and a virtual tour of Belfast in French - that and of course all the other events are something to look forward to through the approaching dark winter evenings.

More
Membership of the Cercle is now open at £20 for individuals, £35 for joint membership and £10 for students in full-time education. There's a registration form online.

French Bouquet on VirginMedia


Just subscribed to French Bouquet via the WorldBox app on VirginMedia channel 834.  It provides France 2, 3, 5 and a cartoon channel for £6.99 a month. It also carries BFMTV whose news broadcast is onscreen as I write.
Not sure yet how it works for recordings if at all as it is a streaming service but will check that out. You can cancel subscription after 30 days but as the upcoming shows look great I think I'll keep using.

Update Feb 2019
VirginMedia recently removed the WorldBox app so French Bouquet is no longer available on its platform. That's a pity because TV5MONDE has also withdrawn its content from both Virgin and Sky. It's still available to stream free of charge and programmes are available through catchup.

Mazagran


Ever had a coffee that was too hot to drink? What about one that was too hot to hold?
That latter sometimes proves to be the case when we serve it in some cherished French porcelain Mazagran drinking cups.

The ones pictured above are part of a set purchased as a gift way back in 1974. They were bought in Vierzon at a weekly fair at which various artisans plied their wares. I haven't been able to trace where exactly they were produced but each carries the mark "Atelier de Tabalou" and I'm wondering if they come from the Limoges area, home to other fine porcelain products.

Mazagran refers to both the drinking cup and a type of coffee popular in Algeria. There's a little more detail over at this wikipedia link.

One way of cooling the coffee and the cup is to place a long handled spoon in the hot liquid - it dissipates the heat. I find though that if I hold the cup at its base, holding a finger under the rim for stability it's easy enough to manage.  Nice too on a cold day to cup the Mazagran between your hands to warm them. Sometimes visitors express surprise at the absence of a handle and look at us as if we weren't wise especially if the heat gets to them.

I have another set that are a bit taller / deeper and that makes it a little more difficult to clean the bottom of the bowl. That isn't a problem with these ones though they do pose the different challenge of protecting the delicate gilding and decoration. Requiring that extra bit of care, I tend not to trust the dishwasher with their cleansing.

That way, even as they are approaching their half century they look as if they will provide many more years of pleasurable use.

Time for one.



A simple marque-page


From time to time letters and cards arrive from friends in France and its great to see the range of colourful stamps on various themes or commemorations.

While usually I store the letters in their envelopes and reread them, from time to time I like to make a little bookmark, un signet / un marque-page from the stamps. If it also bears the postmark then it's also a simple reminder of the friend who sent it.

And you know friends are like books; the older the nicer.

À bientôt.

Un vrai Tourne Page - a real page turner

................
Alex
................

By Pierre LEMAITRE

Translated by Frank WYNNE

Maclehose Press, 2013

ISBN: 978-0-85705-626-9






This was a real page turner of a book from Pierre LEMAITRE, whose literary talents were recognised through the award of the Prix Goncourt for another of his works - The Great Swindle.  The book was translated from French by Frank WYNNE and published by Maclehose - the same publisher who brought us Karim Miské's Arab Jazz.

Alex is the second in a series which features the superbly drawn character of a diminutive Commandant Camille Verhœven (a talented artist himself) and the equally well crafted characters of his team at the Brigade Criminelle in Paris.

I've read Alex out of sequence but it was nonetheless a great read, recapping aspects of the previous book, Irène and anticipating the third instalment, Camille.

Look, there are no spoilers here...except to say there are twists and turns that although shocking were very satisfying. We start with a brutal kidnapping, incarceration, connected violent murders and painstaking police work.  Why not check out the publisher's blurb here and see if it gets you hooked ?

If it does, then settle down for a reading in one sitting of un vrai tourne page - a real page turner of French noir.




Le Pain Quotidien - table commune



It was a first time visit to Le Pain Quotidien in Kildare Village - and I wondered why I hadn't heard of it before. Of course the initial attraction was the enticing sign in French but a quick look inside was all that was needed to step into the allure of freshly baked breads on artist palette boards and strong flavoursome  coffee served in hand-warming bowls.


The concept is Belgian rather than French and I love the story of how originator, Alain Coumont's idea of a traditional bakery was eventually realised, how the name was chosen and how that very first table commune came about. You can read that story here.

The place has plenty to offer the vegan diner : Bircher bowls of overnight oats (a favourite in our house), Organic Turmeric eggs with Seaweed and avocado.  For those with a sweet tooth : Raw Nut Cakes of passion fruit and beetroot and the ubiquitous salted caramel - Coupable !  Guilty!

Taking up the central area was la table commune - made from reclaimed floorboards - It was huge and would be perfect for a convivial get together.  I thought as I looked at it that here among these diners was the physical expression of all the menu card had to offer.  As servers passed by with their large bowls of colourful food we tried very hard to match them up with their mouthwatering descriptions.

Time to go but first a stop at the inshore shop for some fantastic breads - baguette à l'ancienne and a quarter of a huge country loaf with baked in fruit.  They survived the journey home to Belfast where next day they were warmed and served around our own smaller table commune.

More : If you make it down to the Kildare Village you will find Le Pain Quotidien's only outlet in Ireland.  It is definitely worth a visit.
Check out the website at this link for details of its various food offerings, opening times and how to get there.
Finally, do you know of other establishments that  have a connection with France or French ?
If you do why not share your observations in the comments section below ?

Bon app !  À la prochaine !