Eyes bigger than…?
As some of you may know, OH & I went to France for a few days a while ago. We stayed one night in Honfleur in Normandy then travelled down to Tours in the Loire valley. As we were quite a way south, we decided to re-visit La Rochelle.
We had been there about 10 years ago when we were holidaying with our son. He had been in a bit of a mood having just broken up with a girlfriend so the visit was not a success. One of the things we had wanted to do was to have a ‘fruits de mer’. This is a fantastic dish of shell-fish, lobsters, oysters – well anything that lives in the sea almost!
Obviously, when we returned this year, that was what we were aiming for. We roamed the harbourside looking at the variety of bars, cafes & restaurants all trying to entice you to stop & fill your tummies with their delicacies. Many of them had ‘fruits de mer’ on the menu.
As you know, we eat with our eyes way before food ever gets to our mouths. Looking at these amazing towers of sea food together with bowls for the debris & bowls with lemon water for your fingers we decided that the whole fruits of the sea experience was probably too much for us at lunch time. So, we chickened out (excuse the pun) & went for a paella instead.
We have eaten this Spanish dish here in the UK many times before. Based on a variety of shell-fish & chicken mixed in a rice base, we felt that was better for us. Not so much ‘unpacking’ as OH commented as there are usually only a few shelled prawns put on for display to tackle.
Right – so here is what we were given!
Even the chicken was on the bone! It was a case more of demolition than unpacking to find the rice! We were the subject of many gazes as we attacked them. That was after I had stopped saying OMG! OMG! OMG!
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This post is for Tara Cain’s Gallery which has ‘Food’ as the theme for this week. Do pop over & get your mouths watering with the other entries!
The Paella looks good to me but you really should have gone for the fruits de Mer – it’s expensive but worth every cent!
Really shouldn’t have read this before having had my tea! That looks scrummy…
That looks delicious, I adore seafood and eat it every time I can
OMG it is massive!!
My mouth fell open! They certainly couldn’t be accused of being stingy could they. Hehe…..bet it was delicious. 😀
One between us would have been enough but frowned on I suspect! Thanks for stopping by!
You have reminded me now. I think I have a shot of lunch we had one day in the top floor restaurant at El Corte Ingles in Barcelona. Half a lobster and half a chicken with a pile of rice. OMG. And the starter of prawns with avocado was about 3 avocadoes and a mountain of prawns.
That sounds a similar experience! As long as they have cranes to me move me about, I’m up for it!
I can’t stand seafood but when professionally prepared it always looks stunning.
Too good to eat & spoil really! Thank you for popping in!
OMG! Was it all quite dead?!!!
It was! Had it moved, I’d have moved too! Great to see you here!
My mouth. It waters.
It was really yummy! Thanks for stopping by!
So funny! I would loved to have seen a photo of your face when that was plonked down on the table in front of you!
They like their seafood there then do they?!
They certainly do!! I was gobsmacked! Thanks for popping in!
Blimey! What a plateful!! Did yon eat it all though?? Good on you if you did. Great post and a very mouthwatering photo :0
No I didn’t! OH did thoug so it is possible!
That is a good plate of food! Hope you enjoyed.
Mich x
More like a banquet I think!
WOW!
With a meal like that you simply have to get your fingers dirty!
Too right! The bowl for the bits was huge too! Thanks for visiting!
OMG INDEED! How much food! Bet it was tasty!!!
Mmmh
Maggy
Once we had battled our way through – yes!
Well obviously I’m not going to say it looks yummy but I am laughing at the thought of the look on your face when confronted with that lot! x
It was a picture! I had that few seconds of absolute panic!