Onion Confit

I'm about to do something I've refrained from for the past couple of years – compare the incomparable: the UK and France. We finally arrived in paradise, after years away, just for a week of the children's holidays. The morning greeted us with sunbeams softly slanting across the living room, right in the heart of Fontainebleau. Outside, through the hedge across the road, there was the same moss I once knew in the UK. But here, it feels deeper and lusher. Believe it or not, I'm a moss expert, and I can say this with confidence. Even the freshly mown grass at the nearby castle smells different: a touch of light bitterness mingled with the mind-blowing freshness, unlike the mown grass in London's Hyde Park, which is equally inviting but drier and more tangy. The smoke from the charming stone chimneys here is sweeter and more stimulating, like a soft cloud, unlike the rare chimneys of the bustling city we're yet to return to. Talking about food in a place where spring is warmer and the heart feels more alive is a game-changer. One bite into a baguette at a motorway service station on the way from Paris can alter your destiny: it's a different kind of sandwich, a plunge into a whirlpool of freshness and vibrancy from the ham, lettuce and eggs. And that's just a pitstop! What else lies ahead? There's so much more to savour. A simple brasserie on a square can surprise you with an ordinary salad topped with foie gras and duck that instantly captivates and excites. So much so that your eyes light up with joy. And breakfast made with supermarket finds can last over two hours – with wonderful cheese, the freshest jambon breton à l'ancienne and, of course, irresistible baguettes. Can you sense the excitement? Even lunch in the castle's cafe was prepared so exquisitely that words failed me. It's the kind of place where picking up what's left on the shelves at the end of the day is a pleasant surprise: citrus mousse, cucumber puree, delicately salted salmon and a herb-filled waffle tartlet. It makes me yearn for a country where the sense of taste is cherished, and products and dishes are passionately discussed. A place where culinary books, maybe one on jams, lead you to plan out the year ahead just as a result of flipping through the pages. Here's a gorgeous recipe for onion confit. France definitely inspires, n'est-ce pas?