There is a corny postcard available for purchase in Guillaume’s hometown. In fact, it’s sold across the region, but as we never actually bought one, I can’t precisely convey its sublime poetry… but it goes something along the lines of wanting healthy regularly, love – occasionally, work – infrequently… and pineau – every day!

In my last post I mentioned something about regional specialities, so I’d like to elaborate on this a little. Throughout France, regional specialities can be food, drink or both. In the Charente region, it’s pineau.

For the record, pineau is an aperitif alcohol made from a blend of grapes and eau de vie. Try to imagine the sweet cousin of wine and cognac, and you’re in the vicinity. It’s not alcoholic enough to send you reeling, not sweet enough for your teeth to fall out, but very refreshing nonetheless.

Being a sweet-toothed fan of cooking, and prone to having a flick through glossy-paged cookbooks, I was once checking to see the kinds of desserts that were particularly Charentais. Two struck me as particularly notable – Melon Charentais (cut up a rock melon, drench it in pineau, serve) and Fraises Charentaises (same thing, but with strawberries).

I’ve got a friend of a friend who makes his own – but as this is actually illegal in France, I’m not going to either mention their name… or open up a mail order service!