Framboise Mousse Cake and Gateux a Noix. Gramat, France. 25th June 2011

We'd arrived at our destination for this journey. Jack's parents house perched on the top of a hill, surrounded by sheep, just outside of the village of Bio in the Lot region of France. Feels like home and it's so good to be there. We were housed in the smaller of the two barns called the Hangar and that was where we feasted on the first of todays delights, purchased from Patisserie Quercynoisse in the nearby town of Gramat. It was a hot hot day so it called for something light and refreshing.

Framboise Mousse Cake

The first we tried was the Framboise Mousse. A lighter than light (we probably lost calories eating it!) mousse layer cake. A wafer thin chocolate sponge base, a thin layer of mousse, a layer of sponge soaked in sweet raspberry coulis, then a thicker layer of mouse topped with glaze and fruit. Angel Delight for grown-ups! Not too sweet, not at all cloying, lovely for the hot weather. One of the best!

Cake rating- 9/10 Cost- 2.40 euros

Gateux a Noix

Our second had to wait until the next day because it was a sharing cake and we had company for lunch. The local speciality for Quercy is the Gateux a Noix. We had expected quite a heavy nut tart, but no! It was a lighter version of a Bakewell Pudding, made with the local walnuts. Sweet, light with a bit of a maple syrup flavour. A textural delight with an almost meringue like crispy top and slightly gooey nutty centre- yum!

Cake rating- 8/10 Cost- 7.50 euros (fed 5 people)

And we had to show you the setting, beautiful!