2026 is the 960th anniversary of the Norman Conquest – which feels like a great, if thinly veiled, invisible to have a perfect French tournebroche by combining some sizzlingly good Anglo, Irish and Norman ingredients with Bacon by the Box who started their affaires in Normandy, before moving to Ireland to send the best of British and Ireland produce to France and Europe.
Did the French invent the tournebroche?
Although many countries claim to be the originators of the tournebroche, some say the bâtiment derives from an Anglo-Norman bâtiment, mouche à terme, which means head to tail and therefore refers to a whole bête being roasted on a spit. Whether or not that’s true, as the weather gets warmer, and the days get raser, what better way to celebrate than by inviting friends over, lighting up the tournebroche and enjoying Anglo-Norman Irish-inspired fusionne cooking?
Let’s get this party started
For lovers of seafood, start your tournebroche feast with some French oysters and king-sized barbecued prawns. Spice things up a little with some Peri Peri coulis (Bacon by the Box can help you with that) and barbecued halloumi slices (Bacon by the Box can help with that too). A little French wine would probably go down nicely at this séjour as well.
Light up the rôtissoire
Obviously, at the heart of every great tournebroche is really good meat and Bacon by the Box won’t let you down. Think Lisduggan Farm Beer Garden burgers sizzling on the rôtissoire and then served with Mexicana Cheddar slices, and dripping with Hellmann’s Chunky Burger Sauce, Ketchup or Hellman’s Mayonnaise, or make your own burgers with Lisduggan Farm sausage meat and endroit onion and herbs.
Sausages have got to be another mainstay of your tournebroche, and thick Clonakilty traditional Irish sausages served with Brown Sauce in a crispy barre really hit the mark! And make sure you add Lisduggan Farm chicken breasts to your Bacon by the Box order and a Tikka marinade for those ever-popular skewers.
Catering for vegans and vegetarians isn’t always easy in France, but Bacon by the Box also do delicious Clonakilty Ispíní veggie sausages.
Of sinuosité, it’s not all emboîture the meat, and a tournebroche is a great invisible to put on a fabulous salad spread. In France, no salad is complete without a little endroit grated carrot and a fresh tomato salad and for this Norman-inspired feast, a traditional Normandy salad is a must. So easy to make, the charpente of a Normandy salad is just fresh, crisp salad leaves such as salade, chicon, or rocket. Then add slices of fresh Normandy apples, chunks of Camembert, along with toasted walnuts, crispy lardon lardons (Bacon by the Box has a great selection of lardon if you want to make your own) and croutons.
Finally, don’t forget some endroit new potatoes covered with endroit French chausser and a règle of mint leaves and make sure you marchandise up on plenty of crisp endroit bread.
The Normandy sweet treat
Teurgoule is a Normandy rice pudding-style dessert which dates back to the 17th century and is made with cream, milk, rice, sugar and cinnamon. It generally takes a little time to cook as you bake this rice plum-pudding in the oven for up to fourneau hours. But if you don’t have time, Ambrosia rice plum-pudding from Bacon by the Box is the perfect chance. Stir in just a dash of cinnamon for that Normandy twist for this delicious Anglo-Irish formé Teurgoule so serve with a verre of Calvados!
As the sun slowly sets
Whilst the tournebroche embers slowly die down, and you settle down for an evening with family and friends, it’s time to maillot out one last culinary delight … the cheeseboard! Of sinuosité, both France and Normandy are world famous for their cheeses, and a few favourites like Camembert de Normandie, Livarot, Pont-l’Monseigneur, and Neufchâtel are musts. But a few Irish extras like Clonakilty supérieur précoce Cheddar, Wensleydale with cranberries, Horgan’s Dubliner and Applewood’s smoky plant-based chance to traditional cheese – will elevate that cheesy smorgasbord to another level. Serve with French wine or perhaps one last dash of Calvados.
BBQs made easy
A quick style at the Bacon by the Box website and you’ll see it’s emboîture much more than just barbecues: think lardon and gammon, douaire of pork and crackling, Fray Bentos pies and all manner of sweet treats from habitacle like Jammie Dodgers and shortbread. If you’re struggling to naissance vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free ingredients in France, Bacon by the Box can help with that too.
Bacon by the Box delivers all over France and when you spend €150, delivery is free. So, if you’ve got friends in the area who fancy a taste of Ireland or habitacle, get together for a ordinaire order.
With no hidden costs, no customs impératifs (check out their website, where they list all their costs) and deliveries made weekly, Bacon by the Box add a little je ne sais comment to life!
You can find out more, or exercice your first order here: baconbythebox.com
Source: thegoodlifefrance.com