Paulhogan Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 Went on Saturday, thanks very much Living France for the tickets. First visit for 3 or 4 years, last time we were on the verge of buying our little piece of France so wa very much an informatioon gathering trip. This time no such pressures so we had a great time looking around the various stands but like Will was surprised at the lack of regional tourist boards, no Gites or Logis de France, and fewer individual artisan stands. Watched a couple of the demonstartions in the Food Theatre and listened to Philip Faiers recounting his 50 day journey along the GR10 in the Pyrenees and sampled the food at Le Gavroche. All in all an enjoyable day.Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 [quote user="Coco"]Oh I'd have been disappointed if they'd cut down on the regional stands and Loire wasn't there. As Will says, we had a fine time getting tiddled at 10.30 in the morning. Imagine a wine tasting that early with ten wines to try!!!! [Www] And not one of them a bad one![/quote]So good, in fact, that we had to go back for another go, if I remember rightly.This year there seemed to be plenty of wine merchants with £15 a bottle upwards, which I am sure were very good indeed, but I did miss the Loire and similar stands which gave the chance to try the sort of wines that are good enough to enjoy but cheap enough to not have to keep for a special occasion, just the sort of thing the Loire does so well. There were a few artisans and crafts there too, but if I am honest, a bit too much of the Country Living idea of French style rather than the real thing. You need more than distressed painted furniture and chipped enamel signs to create the authentic ambience. There was some very nice oak furniture - but made in England. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWINKLE Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 [quote user="Renaud"]As Gay's photos show, there is a stage that has fashion shows and otherwise string quartets and the polite kind of rock music. [/quote][8-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renaud Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 Twinkle, I am a Van Morrison, man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Posted February 1, 2007 Share Posted February 1, 2007 Many thanks for the tickets, and apologies for the late reply.Gay, I did get there on the Friday, but we (my wife and I) arrived a little late, and had to leave a bit early to beat the rush hour.We were staying in an hotel in Greenwich, and we went by underground with me in my wheelchair. Quite an experience - perhaps a long story for another day. The underground system seemed to be in chaos that morning, and after eventually getting to Earls Court we found the trains to Olympia were up the creek, so we gave up and got a taxi for the last bit.I did go to the Living France stand at about one o'clock, but the stand was almost empty with only a smartly dressed young lady, and a smartly dressed young gentleman, with both looking very formal, harrassed and busy. Far too busy to disturb. I hung around (or lurked) at the edge of the stand in my wheelchair for a while, but they remained busy and no one else turned up, so I left. I returned about half an hour later, but the same happened, so I gave up.I did enjoy the exhibition, but it seemed much smaller than before. I was disappointed with the food, there being only a very expensive restaurant, taster restaurants for about five pounds for literally a taste of food which could not satisfy hunger, or sandwiches. The last time we were there a few years ago there was a self service restaurant selling good hot French dishes in reasonable portions for reasonable prices, but that was not there this time. Perhaps that was a condition of the expensive restaurants appearing there?While I was there on the Friday, I saw only one other wheelchair user.I was sorry to have missed you all, but perhaps next time?Best regards,DavidEdit - I also missed the pastis stand! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coco Posted February 1, 2007 Share Posted February 1, 2007 [quote user="Will"] There were a few artisans and crafts there too, but if I am honest, a bit too much of the Country Living idea of French style rather than the real thing. You need more than distressed painted furniture and chipped enamel signs to create the authentic ambience. There was some very nice oak furniture - but made in England.[/quote]Hey Bill, remember when, after the Loire wine tasting we discovered the "brocante" selling absolute rubbish for exhorbitant prices - buffets with broken glass panes and woodwormed backs to them. I remember Mrs Conq attacking one such piece of furniture and almost destroying it. It was very distressed indeed. [;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blanche Neige Posted February 2, 2007 Share Posted February 2, 2007 re "the "brocante" selling absolute rubbish for exhorbitant prices " I bought a little bundle of old fabrics from one of these Vive la France brocante stands, (O.K. I will admit that I have a habit of collecting / hoarding old fabics) [:$] I turned the pieces into a small wall hanging which will be displayed in an exhibition next week! (if anyone is in Surrey and wants to see the exhibition please P.M. me for details)[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted February 2, 2007 Share Posted February 2, 2007 I'm hoping to visit Gills exhibition on the Saturday, so if anyone is within striking distance of Dorking and is going on the same day, do let me or Gill know !(As an added incentive its at a vineyard !)Good Luck Gill [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Head Posted February 2, 2007 Share Posted February 2, 2007 I'd love to do shows like that but the costs of exhibiting for the small business/artisan are just wayyyy too prohibitive, in our terms, it's monopoly money to exhibit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted February 2, 2007 Share Posted February 2, 2007 Vive la France or Denbies Vineyard ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted February 2, 2007 Share Posted February 2, 2007 I somehow want to make a joke here about people organising a pi.. sorry, exhibition, in a brew.., sorry, vineyard. But I can't quite find the words [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted February 2, 2007 Share Posted February 2, 2007 http://www.denbiesvineyard.co.uk/main.asp?pid=53 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miki Posted February 2, 2007 Share Posted February 2, 2007 [quote user="Will"]I somehow want to make a joke here about people organising a pi.. sorry, exhibition, in a brew.., sorry, vineyard. But I can't quite find the words [:D][/quote]Might work..............."Couldn't organise a degustation in a vinnery" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blanche Neige Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 the costs of exhibiting for the small business/artisan are just wayyyy too prohibitive, in our terms, it's monopoly money to exhibit. LOL Chris, absolutely right,BUT ................once in a life time.............................. just to give the quilts an airing![:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blanche Neige Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 "Couldn't organise a degustation in a vinnery"MikiDuring February, Mon. to Fri. only Denbies are offering "Two for One" on their wine tasting tour which they do well. Maybe a little far for you to travel [8-|]but worth doing if anyone is visiting and has time to spare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 I went past there this morning. There was only me, but I shuppose I could have tasted everything twice... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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