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I do enjoy going out for dinner, but not as much as I enjoy a long lunch — especially Sunday Lunch!

 

Sunday lunch in Cannes with my friends Shardie and Astrid!

 

 

In France, as in many parts of Europe, Sunday lunch is a sacred time with family and an opportunity to cook up some favourite dishes to enjoy late into the afternoon.

 

So, while in Cannes this spring, I asked my French friend Astrid if she would prepare a typical French lunch for us, and graciously she agreed.

 

It started the day before with a rather frantic visit to Le Marché Forville, the well-known local market where we tore around picking up the ingredients for the five-course lunch.

 

 

Marché Forville on a busy Saturday morning! Sunday Lunch

 

Astrid pointed out that we would be visiting her particular vegetable stand, her regular fromagerie, and her favourite butcher shop./Sunday Lunch

 

Astrid always goes to the same lady for greens! But you have to get there early.  This vendor runs out of her produce quickly./Sunday Lunch

 

Our Menu

 

Sautéed spinach and cheese drizzled with honey

 

Twice cooked lamb

with

Swiss Chard

Baby Turnips

Small Potatoes

 

Green salad with a light vinaigrette

 

Fresh strawberries

 

Three Cheese plate

 

Café

Chocolates

 

 

On Sunday morning, Astrid arrived around  11 am to take over the kitchen, and thus began a whirlwind of activity.

 

It was a simple meal but with lots of pieces and parts to organize.

 

With the deft expertise of a practiced home chef, Astrid readied two cuts of lamb, tenderloin, and chops, seasoned with fresh herbs, before they were boiled and then sautéed.

 

 

Lamb chops/Sunday Lunch

 

Presented with fingerling potatoes/Sunday Lunch

 

 

The chard, and the turnips, which were cut up in quarters, were put into various pots to boil.

 

 

Swiss Chard/Sunday Lunch

 

Turnip boiled and sautéed. A teaspoon of honey was added./Sunday Lunch

 

The appetizer plate was assembled.

 

Indeed this was a crowd-pleaser that I would make again.

 

 

The appetizer or entrée!  Sautéed spinach with a slice of cheese and honey./Sunday Lunch

 

 

Madame est servie!

(Dinner is served or lunch in this case)

 

Astrid’s husband, Jean-Yves, joined us as we sat down at a table on the balcony.

 

It was fortunately one of those sunny days on the Riviera when the blue sky takes your breath away.

 

Jean-Yves was in charge of libations which included a rosé from Provence and then a bottle of champagne chilled to perfection.  (Nope, don’t remember their names!)

 

Our hosts are Astrid and Jean-Yves!/Sunday Lunch

 

I love having an assortment of cheeses after a meal. Don’t ask me what they were. I forgot to ask./Sunday Lunch

 

 

*Note some of the photos were taken by my Travelmate BFF Shardie Stevenson who was the sous-chef for this meal.

 

I was too busy eating!

 

My sincere thanks to Astrid and Jean-Yves for this wonderful day.

I miss you so much! (Vous me manquez beaucoup!) 

 

Salt, pepper, honey, lemon, and herbs at the ready!/Sunday Lunch

 

 

SO–is Sunday lunch a thing at your house? And what dishes do you normally prepare?

 

Please comment below.  Your comment might win you a free book — see further down!

 

 

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16 Comments

  1. Rosi on June 12, 2022 at 7:15 am

    Lovely lunch! Great ideas!

    • Luci rizzo on June 12, 2022 at 8:03 pm

      Sunday lunch is not the same now as when I was young and we all went to Grandmas for a feast of spaghetti and meatballs in Sunday sauce every week. Yumm w great memories.

  2. martinn key2paris on June 12, 2022 at 8:28 am

    Nice to see Astrid after discussing with her on the phone over 1 hour. Thanks for the contact Diana. And Shardie and hyou are looking great and happy. Sharing the good addresses with guests is a pleasure for sure….

  3. Shardie Stevenson on June 12, 2022 at 10:21 am

    It was such a fun experience ; the market was fabulous ….the fruits , veggies , flowers and … the cheese!!!! I could barely drag myself away and must admit I went back several times on my own!
    And I loved being Astrid’s sous chef! It was so interesting to see how she prepared various things! My favourite take away was the use of the delicious honey.. drizzled on the cheese with the bitter greens on the side and used even when sautéing the baby turnips …… delightful! Jean Yves brought a lovely rose from Provence and …. it was Champagne , Diana. We were indeed spoiled by this wonderful couple! ❤️

    • martinn key2paris on June 13, 2022 at 5:16 am

      Bonjour Shardie, here martinn in Paris. Tomorrow I have guests for an apéro,actually more like and early dinner with no dessert or just strawberries.Guess what ? One of the recipe is a Camembert fondue. Spices in to the cheese… and a drizzle of hoeny ! I will post on Wednesday or Thursday. With South Western cheese, I like to present eityher quince Jelly or black cherries preserve etc etc. Cheese and sweet blend well. I’d say a bit “rich” though. Need to stroll after that. Have a Happy Spring and Summer.

      • Diana Bishop on June 14, 2022 at 2:06 pm

        It’s Diana actually Martinn. Shardie is my BF who you met when we were last in Paris. But people do often confuse us!
        I have been to your house for lunch and what a meal that was! You were the inspiration for this blog Martinn as you always make lunch a special affair! Diana

        • martinn key2paris on June 15, 2022 at 12:13 am

          Yes I know Diana, I thought I was replying to Shardie and her comment on your blog. I must have hit the wrong button. And thank you for your nice comment on my cooking; I hope to share more with you when you come back to Paris

          • Diana Bishop on June 16, 2022 at 11:51 am

            No worries. Always great to hear from you!



  4. Lynda Davis on June 12, 2022 at 10:44 am

    Looks divine! Thanks to your notice Diana two and a half years ago I am now in Paris having just completed a six-day Paris Writing Retreat for Women that included six divine women and two amazing hosts. We enjoyed multiple al fresco lunches and picnics in Paris parks plus so much more. I’ve posted a few pictures on my FB page (Lynda Duff Davis) and will be covering my trip more extensively in my blog Boomerbroadcast.net. Thank you so much for making me aware of a wonderful event in Paris I would never have otherwise been aware of. Merci beaucoup!

  5. Bonnie on June 12, 2022 at 12:59 pm

    Diana,
    What a divine lunch! And on a sunny French balcony! This is what dreams are made of.
    My typical Sunday lunch is a pot of homemade soup made in my favorite, small, Dutch oven. Loaded with fresh vegetables with a grain or pasta tucked in. Always including baby bok choy, and often a spin on a minestrone soup.
    When you are home, do you have a favorite Sunday lunch?
    Bonnie

  6. Gretchen Greene O'Brien on June 12, 2022 at 1:41 pm

    That Appy of sauteed spinach with cheese topped with honey sounds DIVINE – a must try, for sure!

    • Diana Bishop on June 14, 2022 at 2:07 pm

      That waws Shardie’s favourite dish too! One to remember. Great to hear from you. Diana

  7. Patti Robinson on June 13, 2022 at 3:24 am

    This Sunday lunch on the terrasse sounds fabulous …from the bustling market , to the food preparation, to the shared meal with friends. A lovely afternoon !

    • Diana Bishop on June 14, 2022 at 2:07 pm

      Patti — yes, there is always something to learn from other people’s culinary skills and dishes. Thank you for the comment Patti. Diana

  8. Catherine Willis-O'Connor on June 13, 2022 at 8:19 pm

    Sunday lunch is a barbecue experience. Whatever Randy cooks is delicious. Then we add homemade whole-wheat bread and fresh vegetable salad followed by his famous chocolate chip oatmeal cookies made with honey. Is it Sunday yet?

    • Diana Bishop on June 14, 2022 at 2:04 pm

      What fun!

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