Goats Cheese...yum

This Sunday, just gone, that would be the 22nd May 2011 took us to the "Le Mas Rolland" in the stunning hamlet of Montesquieu for the annual festival of all things goat and goats cheese.

The farm has 80 goats which have a pretty brilliant life. Raised in the most natural of country side with views down to the sea, no wonder they produce such fantastic cheese.

The village comes alive with food and wine stalls, giant games for children and craft workshops for children and adults.

But the main event is, of course, lunch. Our good french friends had secured their tables by 11.30 and were tucking into the delicious offerings before 12.00. Needless to say, we should have been more organised. Our hopes were shattered when we queued for the mouth watering plate of apéritif delights - verrines, tapenades, charcuterie and a delicat, lightly dressed salad - only to be told we should have ordered in advance. Not to be defeated, I headed off with the children to fetch generous plates of moules, fresh and sea tasting, some goats cheese salad and a kilo of plump, ripe cherries. Darren meanwhile, had found fresh boudin sausage (black pudding) and an array of little goats cheeses. We found a shady spot on some steps and drank chilled rosé kindly supplied by our lovely friends Isla and Paul from Sarabande wines, and watched the world go by.

Opposite us, in a more civilised manner sat a group of locals who took a good 3 hours over their lunch - each time I glanced over, more bread was being cut, more wine was being poured.

Then for the jazz..some local farmers and their gruff voiced leader got us dancing and whooping for more!
A hot sunny day in the company of friends and little ones with fresh cheeses, all kinds of wonderful foody delights and of course some pretty splendid rosé - no better way to spend a Sunday.