Noumea-Bread and Chocolate
Noumea
Farewell New York, Bonjour French Bread
New York and I have decided to see other people - I Love (French) Bread too! This tropical adventure led me to the enchanting shores of Nouvelle-Calédonie, where every bite tells a story of French culinary heritage meeting Pacific island paradise.
- Charles de Gaulle
The French Paradox in Paradise
When it comes to bread, everyone in France - and even its loyal islands like Noumea - agrees: there's only one, the Baguette. We call it French Bread, but all the bread in Nouvelle-Calédonie is French.
Sure, "the whiter the bread, the quicker you're dead," but there is this thing called the French Paradox - basically you have a grace period for your entire life where you can drink, eat, smoke whatever and whenever you like, and then one day, you die peacefully in your sleep at the age of eighty to ninety something.
Island Encounters & Culinary Discoveries
The D word - diets are like airplanes - I don't like to be on them - so I have been eating less and enjoying it more. I have even began eating Ham and Eggs: a day's work for a chicken; a lifetime commitment for the pig.
Inspired by my recent visit to the island of Dravuni where I really did "Meet My Meat," this journey became more than just about food - it was about understanding the connection between land, sea, and sustenance in these beautiful Pacific islands.
And then there were the Chocolate Butter-croissants... Each bite was a symphony of French technique meeting tropical indulgence, creating moments of pure culinary bliss against the backdrop of azure waters and swaying palms.
Reflections from Paradise
This journey through Noumea taught me that sometimes the most profound travel experiences come not from grand adventures, but from simple pleasures: the perfect crust of a baguette, the delicate layers of a chocolate croissant, and the gentle rhythm of island life that reminds us to savor each moment.
In this French corner of the Pacific, where European sophistication meets Polynesian warmth, every meal becomes a celebration, every bite a memory, and every day a reminder that life's greatest luxuries are often the simplest ones.