The Ritual Master The horizon may look the same, but there are no two shores alike. And even though I have not met the Carribean of Gabriel García Márquez and his shipwrecked sailor, the story transports me to a sea I know. Of smells, of tastes and oh so lovely sounds, a sea of freedom that breathes with every wave that comes to shore.
An absence of sound pollution, more than silence, the book invites us to experience the sea in simple details. A moment of meditation…
Perfume : L’artisan parfumeur, Un air de Bretagne.
I am alone in the middle of the sea. What do I smell ? It must be salt at first, I’m covered in salt, my nostrels have been overwhelmed by the sea water, and the tiny crystals are forming right where I can smell them. Then comes the seaweed, a fresh and balanced smell of chlorophyle and fish, organic and mineral at the same time. And then the oxygen, the most invigorating feeling, binding all the smells together, giving me hope of a closeby shore. L’Artisan Parfumeur has captured all of this in their creation, Un air de Bretagne, and given it a touch of nobility, with a drop of cypress and a subtle hint of amber. They describe it quite lovely so I’ll give myself permission to quote them : Fascinated by the wild Brittany coast, the perfumer Juliette Karagueuzoglou wanted to capture its iodized oxygen in a bottle.To delicately evoke the sea sprays, she first composed a marine accord imagined as a salt vapour. A canevas on which she overlayed the absolute of seaweed and the absolute of cypress, which balance the tempestuous heart of the fragrance and also bring a touch of green that evokes Britanny.On the skin, the breeze gives way to an addictive softness… The storm outside progressively becomes a comforting murmur.
Oysters
No other product of the sea has the power to transport me like the oyster does. And I am fortunate enough to live in a country that prides itself on exceptional oyster farming. This time, I am tasting some Marennes Oléron, in their variety Fine de Claire. They come from the Charente Maritime region in France, where they start out their life in the Atlantic Ocean. When they get to maturity, they are transfered for several weeks into the Claires, shallow water ponds with an impermeable clay bottom. Here, they perfect their taste, and leave behind the wild ocean character, in order to refine a more delicate aroma. It is during this process that the claires of the Marennes Oléron basin impart the subtleties of regional flavours. A less fleshy oyster, rich in water and balanced in flavour.
Pouilly Fumé
And what could be better to accompany these marvels of nature, than a nice Pouilly Fumé. A dry white wine made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes, it is one of the Loire Valley’s most revered wines. Between the soil made of limestone and flint that have excellent heat-retention and light reflecting properties, and the cool climate of the Pouilly-sur-Loire village, the Sauvignon Blanc develops mineral aromas complimented by streaks of green fruit. These fresh notes take our oysters to the next level, and bring together a moment of travel and discoveries for the palate.
Gabriel García Márquez’s novels are always a journey. But if you take the time to listen to your inner compass, the novel becomes the pretense for an extraordinary moment. The sea as a friend and as an enemy, like everything in life, made out of light and darkness, balanced in its wild appearance. I hope you have enjoyed this maritime break, maybe to bring back memories or to prepare you for the season to come.Until next time, enjoy your reading, and your rituals !
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