Obviously it wasn’t made in Bordeaux. The city didn’t invent food and wine matching. All I’m looking to do here is point out that everyone forgets two massive things about Bordeaux when they think about it as a big name in wine. Firstly, the city is magnificent! And secondly, so is the food!
I was lucky enough last year to head off to JB and Vincent’s hometown with them for the town festival. That was probably the first time I’d ever realized about the food. I’d been to France before, I’d had my steak tartare, I’d had my fill of cheese, I’d had the incredible sauces. But this was nothing like I expected!
Bordeaux, and further down the South West coast of France, is all part of the Bay of Biscay, i.e. Basque country. There’s a huge culture of festivals, funny hats, and bull fighting. But more than that, there’s a culture of pintxos, the skewered tapas style food that I’d first encountered on my stag do in San Sebastian.
Of course they’ve all got different names for this stuff than over the border in Spain. If you think though about kebab skewers with every (and I mean every) part of the duck on offer, spicy sauces, fresh seafood, and incredible pastries and puddings. All washed down with those refreshing whites and monster reds that we all love!
It’s serious party food and wine for a region that goes mad for its festivals.
Lovely stuff
Mike