I often wonder if we can get too caught up blogging for others and forget about blogging for ourselves? This site has many facets, it started as a personal recipe site and cooking journal. Over the last 6 and a half years it is expanded to cover reviews, travel, commercial content and also serves as my portfolio. I have also pondered if it is time to ditch the blogger label and have decided that as my freelance career expands I need to blog more, especially blogging more for me.
On the last night of our holiday to Brittany earlier this year, Ed asked me to marry him, and I was delighted to say yes. This happened during a sumptuous meal at La Gourmandière, Vannes where we enjoyed about 10 courses. It is a sign of how out of touch I have become about blogging for me that this happened 3 months ago and I have only just put this post together; consequently I cannot actually remember that much about the meal – of course the proposal completely eclipsed the food.
I do remember the meal was very very good, but of course the food was completely eclipsed by the proposal. Service was excellent, I know I was impressed that our waitress referred to claret (why do the British call wine from Bordeaux claret? As a child I thought that claret was a term for all red wine).
Of course when Ed did ask the question I had to ask him to repeat it, as I was momentarily distracted by the approach of the next course, typifying my obsession with all things edible, although he has known me long enough not to have be unduly surprised by this.
Of the three friends who I texted with a admittedly somewhat cryptic, “You need to buy a hat … !” only one responded with congratulations, the others asked me why they needed a hat!
Ed once told me the story of a friend of his who asked his girlfriend to marry him before a journey back to London, apparently the chap was subject to wedding talk and plans the whole way back, and advised Ed never to propose before a long journey… I reminded him of this at some length on the drive across Brittany and on the ferry.
So this post is for me to remember the evening by, and certainly is not a review, although La Gourmandière comes highly recommended for that romantic special meal, or for a fine dining treat. We ate the € 75 Horizon Gourmand menu.
Elizabeth
That food looks amazing! Oh how I’d love to eat at a place like that. Congratulations on the proposal too!
Sally - My Custard Pie
As KP proposed by phone (from Saudi Arabia) this post has made me realise that we need to do it all over again – over a memorable meal. Congratulations and very best wishes my dear.
Helen
Thank you Sally, and yes you do need to do it again over a fantastic meal in an amazing place! Demand KP takes you on a weekend jaunt!
Vanessa KImbell
Oh Helen, Congratulations!
Yes it’s hard to be personal on a blog, between all the food that is !
x
Helen
I think that personal, but not too soul baring is good.
Babaduck
Zut a-feckin’ lors – what a chocolate dessert! We got engaged on top of a ferris wheel in Paris where there were allegedly no distrations (apart from me noseying into peoples apartments at lunchtime). How could I say no? Well, it was a long drop to the ground!
Many heartfelt congratulations to you & Ed. It’s the start of the rest of your lives together
p.s. I would have got the hat reference like a shot…
Helen
Thank you. And what an amazing place to get engaged! I adore looking through people’s windows, and browsing property on the internet.
Oddly that chocolate pud was the weakest course. But by that stage we were both too excited and too full.
liveotherwise
That’s some meal. Congratulations :)
Helen
Thanks Jax.
[email protected]
I feel like I have congratulated you in person so won’t say it again but do wish you and Ed so much happiness together. I also think that Breton pastry looks like something out of this world, and am jealous . The pastry is why I love France.
Helen
Thank you so much Laura.
The pastry was amazing, but really was far too much food! Who needs cronuts when the French make food like this?
Heather Haigh
Congratulations and best wishes for the future. x
Helen
Thank you so much Heather!
Maria @ Feisty Tapas
I am so glad to read the proposal story! I’m behind with all my posts and only have time for work (and a lot of it) at the moment so totally get it. Oh poor Ed heading back to the UK, was he very quiet and nodding with half a smile all the way back?
Helen
Thanks for commenting Maria, Ed was very determinedly concentrating on his driving! ;-)
Amie
Heavenly delights that I am sure will pair well with some gorgeous wines.
Thanks for sharing your story.
All the best.