Real and simple pleasures are deliciously picardian

In Picardy, there is a deep attachment to the land, to sure and certain values dictated by commonsense and to the joys of sharing. The people of Picardy have a taste for the “good” and the “fine” things in life, always with this notion of a pleasure shared – swapping recipe tips for a special dish or a culinary knack, or good places to eat nearby or the tricks of a trade/hobby. “Living a real life” in Picardy is an art where simplicity and discretion combine – the happiness of both sharing and of being “secreted away with the brood”.

In Picardy, life’s pleasures are both subtle and generous – the pleasures of the garden or fishing, but also the joy of being round the table. When it comes to food, Picardy abounds with decent restaurants, guest houses or farm inns with menus offering local Picardy produce and straightforward cuisine: “Picardy’s difference lies in the way food is prepared – simply and generously,” says André Gaveau, a restaurateur in Montgrésin. Furthermore, and not widely known, 10% of the official champagne producing area is in the Aisne in Picardy, along the Marne valley.

There are also some essential spots to visit which provide the opportunity to discover or rediscover somewhere that is a pleasure for the eyes and the taste buds alike. Such local treasures include Chantilly and its chateau, but also its cream of course. The Picardy restaurateur who, some twenty years ago, had the idea of reviving the Condé prince’s hamlet in the chateau grounds and recreating the original recipe, sometimes surprises visitors with a demonstration of whipped cream followed by a tasting... Enjoying a few red fruits from Noyon topped with Chantilly cream is a fine way to savour the passing time…

“Let us make haste to enjoy life today, who knows if we will be here tomorrow?” So as to obey Racine’s exhortation, Picardy people imitate Picardy rivers, showing more haste and less speed. Time here also passes at a leisurely pace.
“I sow, I watch, I tend, I harvest and I leave time to time" - generations spent working the land has taught the local people patience, humbleness before the whims of nature and respect - in Picardy, preserving the environment are not empty words.
It’s a whole philosophy of life that the people of Picardy are proud to share with their guests while they stay.

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