Madam Blå: Danish delights.

                           

Anyone who knows me well is probably aware of my love of food from different countries. I have bored many of my close friends with tales of an incredible Indonesian rice dish I ate in Amsterdam and or an amazing apricot-laden kebab at an delicious Afghan restaurant in Kilburn. Simply put, it makes me happy. So I was very keen to try out Madam Blå, the Scandinavian cafe in Nantes that my Swedish friend suggested.

I've never really tried that much Scandinavian cuisine, having always associated it with smoked fish, which is more my Dad's kind of thing. Madam Bla, a little cafe in the centre of Nantes, certainly would suit his tastes- it serves big salads of herrings, salmon and shrimp. However, there is of course much more to the food from this part of the world. The Danish Smørrebrød, made on dense, dark rye bread, can be topped with anything from salami with fried onions to meatballs. Or herring, of course, if that's your kind of thing.

On this occasion I tried out something sweeter: the famous Swedish dessert, Kanelboller. It's essentially a cross between a Danish pastry and a cinnamon bun and is absolutely delicious:

The whole atmosphere in the cafe was lovely, from the Danish-French owner who referred to everyone as 'mon ange' to the ornate handwritten menus. They also host creative writing classes, sewing groups and art exhibitions in the space. Anyone passing through Nantes who is craving a meatball or two should head there immediately.

Madam Blå
8 rue Armand Brossard
44000 Nantes
www.madambla.com

La Grille commence.

Today was a big day - it marked the beginning of our proper work schedule and the end of the training stage. This essentially means that we have to produce about two programs a day and that if we don't, we will HAVE to sing on air (in the words of one of the journalists.)

Luckily, I didn't have to do any singing today, although I am pretty exhausted. Today I wrote and presented a press review of what was going on in the newspapers in the UK, Ireland, Switzerland and Belgium (I feel slightly limited by being unable to speak any other European languages.. any Finns out there feel like helping me out...?). I also did a 'revue de caricature' about some offensive cartoons alluding to Fukushima and the Tokyo Olympic games in Le Canard Enchaine. Tomorrow I have to go interview someone about European Mobility Week (turns out there are a LOT of different European weeks...)

It is fun getting to write about and interview different people everyday and I'm sure that as it goes on, it will also become less tiring. The website has seen a spike in hits after publishing a video of a French minister swearing at a journalist (draws in many more viewers than actual news!) so people do actually seem to be listening to what we are producing, which is both daunting and comforting at the same time.

We'll see what tomorrow brings...

A plus. xxx

Now in Nantes.

Hello readers,

I apologise profusely, for I have terribly neglected this blog - I thought I'd resurrect it so that those who are interested can read about my next adventure...

For the past three weeks I've been living in Nantes, the sixth largest city in France. It's more well-known than Zhuhai - the main attraction is a giant mechanical elephant that walks around the city. Yep. Here it is:

(This photo is slightly deceptive. It moves very, very slowly. It does, however, spray water out of its trunk.)

I'm working at a radio station which focuses on combining local and European news. I am part of the journalism team, along with two Swedes, two Spanish girls, an Italian and a German, all of whom have completed journalism degrees. I have not completed any degree at all, so feel slightly out of my depth. I also have to keep calling people on the phone and describing myself as a journalist, which feels mildly ridiculous!

The hours are long, the work is difficult (mostly trying to work out how to use radio editing software in French having never done so before even in English) and it's tough knowing that I can't go home until Christmas. I'm going to miss my family, friends and boyfriend in London and Oxford a lot,
(I already do...) and already realise how much easier the student lifestyle is, even that of Oxford. I'm actually looking forward to doing Finals, which I never thought would happen.

Anyway, no one likes a moaner so I shall try and describe some of the more positive experiences I've had since coming here. They mostly involve food, unsurprisingly!

• Before starting work, I spent a lovely week in Noirmoutier, an island in the Vendée-We spent lots of time cycling around and visiting the dune beaches of the Atlantic. We also became well-known patrons of the local ice cream shop. I celebrated turning 22 with more ice cream and was told by a man in a sandwich shop that my French was good which made my birthday even better.

Plage de la Luzeronde (where Sam's bike seat was stolen. Not the bike, or the wheels, no. JUST the seat. Interesting crime - maybe the thief's seat wasn't cushioned enough?)

• Sampling the delights of Nantais cuisine

La Creperie de la Broceliande in the centre of Nantes has some of the best galettes I've ever tasted: I'd recommend it immensely!

I've also enjoyed being able to cook, even though my kitchen is pretty tiny. Today I made Smartie's cookies. That was great.

• Work

Despite feeling quite out of my depth, what I have to do at work is actually interesting and varied. So far I have interviewed a germanist about the similarities between Nantes and Hamburg, a Japanese journalist in London and the head of an airport trade magazine among many others. I do like the fact that I basically get to do new things everyday.

So hopefully the next post will include more exciting culinary discoveries as well as more optimism in general! Stay tuned (promise I won't leave it two months this time.)

xxx