An Unconventional Thanksgiving: Lourmarin

Lacking a football game and a mountain of potatoes to peel, my friend Jennie and I headed off to Lourmarin in search of some unconventional Thanksgiving entertainment.  After a petit aventur on the public transport system, having been unsure where the buses we rode on would actually take us, we arrived at the tiny village known not only for a Camus grave and a Renaissance chateau, but also as one of the loveliest spots in the Luberon.  The winding narrow lanes, ivy covered buildings, and bright blue shutters combined in such a way that it certainly lived up to it's reputation (although we may have been biased slightly by the clear sky and unseasonably warm sunshine).  The place was virtually deserted as most places in France are on a Sunday, but we found a bistro for lunch.  I know you are supposed to eat turkey on Thanksgiving, but as always I could not resist the Magret de Canard, and I never would have discovered my intense liking for côte de Luberon red wine otherwise. 

We found the Chateau on the outskirts of town.  The most magnificent spiral staircase led us up to three floors, each decorated in the style of a different era of the house.  We peeked in the windows of the library, closed to the public unfortunately, for a look at three foot high tomes and other rare volumes housed there.  The basement had an exhibit of the history of the book, something I wish my sister had been there to see.  We wandered through the surrounding orchards for a while, once more admiring the beauty of the Provencal countryside.  We stopped by the cemetery to visit Camus' grave and left a pebble on the pile of stones in front of it.  It got dark, and cold, so to wile away the hour or so before our bus arrived we passed the time in the only place open - a gallery of European naive art.  I was pretty impressed, despite the popularity of lurid technicolor paint.  When the bus arrive, the driver kindly offered to drop us outside the restaurant where we were to meet the rest of the group for Thanksgiving dinner.  The repas was excellent, traditional fare with a french twist, although I was still so full from lunch is was hard to take full advantage.  Still the waitresses were kind, and brought out the turkey to show us before they carved it in the kitchen.  Once again an excellent Michelin starred meal, wine compris, courtesy of Wellesley.  Unconventional, but a good Thanksgiving nonetheless.

Le Moulin de Lourmarin

Thanksgiving Menu

Crumble de potiron butternut au parmesan 

Butternut squash crumble with Parmesan crust 

Dinde rôtie sauce aux airelles, purée de patates douces, oignons caramélisées et marrons au jus

Roast turkey with bilberry sauce, sweet potato puree, caramelized onions and chestnuts in gravy 

 
Tarte tatin aux pommes

Apple tart tatin

Mignardises: Amandes, noix et noisettes au chocolat

Almond, hazelnut, and chocolate finger cookies