Wine stocks were getting perilously low and with no trip to Nice on the horizon and a brief interlude between French workers’ strikes, time was ripe for a quick jaunt to Calais. A choppy crossing each way rendered walking about a poor idea, so on the return leg, for just under £20 I enjoyed a proper dinner with good wine, starched napery, professional waiter service and sea views in a sanctuary from the staggering hordes. With perfect timing too: we docked at Dover just as I washed down an espresso with the last of the San Pellegrino.
Being insufficiently hungry for the £15 2-course deal I opted for the £11 pièce du boucher (unidentified steak) with 3-peppercorn sauce and chips. It came quickly, was cooked as requested, reasonably tender and tasty; pretty good in the circumstances. Even better was the half bottle of Chapoutier Côtes du Rhone at £6. All in all it made the 90 minute ferry ride sheer pleasure for once: well done, SeaFrance.
A motley assortment of Good Things to buy in (northern) France
- Dijon mustard
- Marseille soap
- fruit tarts (pack carefully)
- Guérande salt
- an enamelled cast iron pot
- boudin blanc
- Belgian endive
- tomatoes (Summer only)
- garlic plaits
- espadrilles (Summer only)
- cheese
- frozen flageolet beans
- crates of oysters (Winter only)
- interesting non-alcoholic apéritifs
- pastis
- wine, wine, wine and more wine (French only, please)
Gastroplod 
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