The Independent has a great recipe which combines some of the grastronomic riches of South West France into a suitably seasonal winter dish.
The combination of the rich duck with the fruity plumminess of the prunes is "cut" by the sharpness of the Armagnac. To my mind French ducks always taste a bit gamier than farmed British ducks - and if you can, use some Agen Prunes mi-cuit (half-baked)
Serve with cornichons (gherkins) and maybe a glass of the local rich Madiran or Cahors wines.
For more French Food, Wine and Travel see www.frenchduck.co.uk
Keywords:France,Southwest,duck,armagnac,prune,Agen,Madiran,Cahors
Agen (47 Lot-et-Garonne, Aquitaine) is the home of the Pruneau d'Agen (Agen prune) - but these "black coated workers" as my parents used to refer to them when used for medicinal purposes, are much more succulent and thinner skinned than the tinned versioms then available. The Agen Prune is an "Appellation Controllé" product, which means that only prunes grown in the region and cooked according to certain rules can be called Agen Prunes. "The Agen prune has been part of the culinary heritage in south-western France for centuries. Prunes are natural, tender and full of flavour : a treat for the palate that satisfies every requirement for a healthy, balanced diet.
The harvest traditionally takes place from mid-August to mid-September. The ripe plums are dark purple in colour with a bluish tinge. They are ready to harvest when the fine, firm skin is easily removed from the sweet, tender, juicy yellow flesh.
Once harvested, the plums are transported to the production site where they are washed, sorted, graded and dried."Agen prunes are natural, tender, full of flavour and energy : a treat for the palate with nutritional qualities that meet every requirement for a healthy, balanced and tasty diet.
Agen prunes are both a source of true gourmet satisfaction and an everyday health-giving food. They are low in calories, rich in fibre and have a high mineral and vitamin content : they are an ideal source of energy in a balanced diet and also help strengthen the body's defences against various complaints.
The Agen prune - good to eat and great for health !"
More info and recipes from www.pruneau.fr
