Vide Grenier.

Vide Grenier means empty attic, the French equivalent of a garage sale, where people sell what they do not want any more, to the delight of others who are particularly looking for an item at a good price. This vide grenier was held at St Pompon this morning on a very cloudy and cold day. However, this did not deter people from attending.

Stalls were found along the main road and the side streets

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St Pompon is great to walk around, with very interesting architecture so after browsing the stalls we sauntered through some of the streets

This is one of our favourites, you walk through the arch way and turn left towards the church.

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A little angel placed into a stone niche of a building, just before you get to the church.

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Events

A Special Odyssée for Easter Monday.

During its journey on the Dordogne river, the barge “Elina” will stop at the Port of Domme on Monday April 10, 2023. On this occasion a full day of entertainment is planned on the banks of the Dordogne.

On the program:
– 11 am: 2 conferences on the theme “History of wines from the high country” and “Phyloxera and daily life” –
12:30 pm: Gourmet market for producers to eat
– 2 pm: Cavage demonstration
– 2: 30 pm: Enoising competition
– 3 pm: Ramp tournament
– 3:30 pm: Herding dog demonstration
– Other activities throughout the day: Domme wine tasting, production of strips and walnut oil, Easter treasure hunt, exhibition, local authors, etc. .
– Gourmet producers’ market for dinner
– 8:30 pm: Theatre play

On arrival of the gabariers, symbolic loading of a barrel of Domme wine. Songs and ball as well as a Gabarot aperitif.

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Saint Pompon

Saint Pompon is a small village in the heart of the Perigord Noir which is situated about ten minutes drive from Daglan and gets its name from from “Pomponius” who was a bishop in Naples in the 6^th Century.

It has one main road, the D60, through the centre of the village with a few shops and restaurants, a bar and small supermarket. However, we have found like in so many of the local villages there are ‘hidden gems’ that you can discover tucked away in the maze of alleyways that you can stroll around at the side and around the back of the church. Houses rich in great architectural diversity which lead you back in time to the 13^th and 14th centuries.

Gorgeous stone work bathed in sunshine.

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I love this building dating from the 13thC

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Look out for the hidden cherub carved in the wall of a building near to the church.

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The Romanesque church of St Pompon

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Events:-

• Soiree du 13^th July Daglan.
• 14^th July Fete National throughout France.
• Domme – escape game, 3^rd to the 28^th July.
• Bouzic, Marche Nocturne, every Tuesday eve from the 12^th July at 7 o’clock
• St Pompon, Marche Nocturne, 9^th July to 20^th August every Saturday eve at 7 o’clock,
• St Pompon weekly market, Every Friday morning
• Cinema de plein air, Thor, Love and Thunder 17^th July Sarlat.

Ferme Auberge du Roc.

This was our first visit to Ferme Auberge du Roc, which is situated on the D57, route de Besse, 24170, Saint Pompom. We where invited by friends of ours as a special treat. They had heard good reviews about the restaurant and we were not disappointed with the meal or the service. Very high quality traditional périgourdine cuisine at excellent prices. Give it a try if you are in the area.

It is advisable to book a table before you go in French they do not speak English.

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A quiet and welcoming farm restaurant with tables inside and on the terrace. Serving traditional food which is all prepared by the owners. Menu at nineteen fifty euro or twenty five euro. The full range of food can be seen on their web site.

Ferme Auberge du Roc.

There is also a boutique shop which sells home cooked products and which can be bought on line. Plus you can book a holiday, bed and breakfast or full board.

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A free terrine of garlic soup with rustic bread.

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Just a couple of the choices of starters. The goats cheese was gorgeous so fresh.

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I had the trout with vegetables and Paul had the entrecôte which he said was very tender.

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The chocolate moose was delicious.

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Also, do not be surprised to be greeted by their friendly puppy who slept at my feet during the meal, gorgeous.

An excellent meal with friends in the countryside on a lovely sunny day, who could wish for more.

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Les Jardins de Picami.

Les Jardins de Picami just outside Daglan on the D60 road to Saint Pompon have the most fresh and delicious produce that you can buy. All organic, harvested the day of sale and at a low price. The farm shop is now open every Thursday from 16.30 to 18.30. They may not sell the same things every week because they rely on what is ready to pick and eat. Which I think adds to the buying experience. You buy the produce then decide what to make.

The entrance to the Farm Shop on the D60

Romuald and Laetitia offer their produce for sale in a variety of places locally:

At Cénac market on Tuesday morning.

At the farm shop on Thursday from 16.30 p.m. to 18.30 p.m, with or without pre-order (same form as for the lockers, link below)

At the market in St Cybranet on Friday morning.

By order and collection from the lockers seven days a week, twenty four hours a day with a pre-order the day before at the latest, instructions for the use of the lockers are at the end of this post.

The Farm Shop

If no one is there to serve just ring the handy bell.

Fresh produce which tastes amazing.

Romuald, ready to serve his delicious fresh vegetables

Reminder of how “Picami Lockers” work:

Step 1: You place your order by clicking on the order link, you can see what produce is ready to buy. Orders must be placed the day before your pick up at the latest. When ordering, you will have to choose a day and a two hour time slot on which you want to collect your order.

Step 2: You will receive confirmation informing you that they have taken your order into account. Usually they confirm orders at the end of the day.

Step 3: You receive the information for collection of your order the morning of the day you have chosen for pick up (they always harvest the morning of your order for absolute freshness), by email with:
* the allocation of your locker and the padlock code (which will change after each passage
* the amount of your order to be paid in cash or by check (payable to R. Jousselin)
or by text message if you have chosen this option in the order form
If you are a regular customer, they can also agree to a end of month settlement.

Step 4: you collect your order. The lockers are at the entrance to the farm by the road.
Because of the freshness of the vegetables it is advised to pick up the produce on the day and time on the order form. They will place your order in the locker just before the pick up time so that the vegetables are preserved as much as possible. Please do not leave it until after your selected time since it is possible that someone else’s order has to be placed there.
You place your payment in the locker in cash or by check and close the padlock.

Locker Order Form

Enjoy your produce.

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Signs Of Spring.

Spring is to be seen here with the arrival of blossom on our apple tree in the courtyard. We won the apple tree a few years ago at the Daglan Spring Festival. Thinking that we had won a small plant it came as a great surprise when it turned out to be a tree. But we are so glad that we did for it producers tasty apples every year. The apples are unique to this area, developed by a grower in St PomPon, they are quite small, sweet and tasty. We do not have the space to plant it in the ground so it resides in a large pot.

Apple tree full of blossom.

A close up of one of the pink and white apple blossoms.

The strawberry plants have all started to produce flowers, which means that the first crop of fruit should be ready to eat in May.

A slower start to the grape vines this Spring which have been hampered by the recent sharp frosts that we have be getting lately.

I just had to include Angel who follows the sun around the courtyard. Here she is sitting at the bottom of the apple tree.

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