10/16/2026
Fun Fact French Friday,
The Absinthe of Memory
Twelve years ago, Yvonne and I joined our friends Jean Marc and Sheranda and rented a boat to cruise the Canal du Midi in Southern France. The Canal links the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. It was constructed between 1666 and 1681 and features 63 locks, all the locks manned by a French Lock Master.
We started in Castelnaudary, home of the French Foreign Legion and over 10 days meandered through vineyards and small towns to Port Cassfieres near the Mediterranean and the town of Sete, "The Venice of France"
Over the 10 days of our trip, I had been regaling everyone with my recollections of discovering Sete, it's quaint harbour, the fishing boats and most importantly, "the magical Mediterranean concoction "the fruits de mer" the very special bouillabaisse of Sete, a rich saffron-scented fish broth combined with a variety of fresh fish and shellfish and served with crusty bread. Magnifique!
When we finished our Canal trip, I hired a taxi to take us to Sete and share my experience I had enjoyed 50 years previously.
We drove into Sete through the industrial zone, petro tanks, warehouses- none of it familiar. We arrived at the quay, found a small restaurant with a lovey patio and awning and mists of water to keep the tourists cool and comfortable.
The waiter was the prototype for a French waiter - an older gentleman with dark trousers and a stiff white shirt, inspite of the mists and the heat.
He handed us the menu and I quickly scanned it for my famour bouillabaisse. I couldn't find it so I asked Jean Marc if he could ask the waiter about my discovery of this magical potion in Sete, some 50 years earlier.
The waiter listened , his expression didn't change until he turned to me and then he looked at me with the countenance that only French waiters posses - something between condescension and pity-Alas!
He spoke slowly in English. "Monsieur, when the Carthaginians came to Sete and asked for the bouillabaisse, we said , Non and sent them to Marseille. When the Greeks came to Sete and asked for bouillabaisse, we said, Non and sent them to Marseille.
When the Romans came to Sete and asked for bouillabaisse , we said Non, and sent them to Marseille, we have never served bouillabaisse in Sete"!
I said "Merci"
The next evening in a small auberge near Avignon, all four of us ordered bouillabaisse and it was the most disappointing dinner of our trip!
Now that being said, Jean Marc and his friend Paul Walsh recently travelled to France with their spouses, Sheranda and Anne and in a small town called "Cassis", just a half hour out of Marseille they ordered bouillabaisse, and it was a hit, finally a "win" and they throughly enjoyed their dinner!. ( photo below)
brought to you by Cliff Prentice
"
