My name’s Louisa Foti and I write my blog from a quiet little corner of South West France (in the department of Haute Pyrenees) where I moved with my husband, Philipe, Freddy the dog, and two small children at the end of 2010. Desperately wanted to leave London we’d bought a dilapidated old farmhouse set in six hectares of forest and land overlooking the Pyrenees with no neighbours and at the end of a no through road. About as rural as you can get!
Our daughter Francesca is now just over three and a half, and son Jacques just turned two. They’re my two biggest food critics!. We now have seven chickens that keep us in supply of the best eggs you could have and a new little Collie puppy called Dotty (the Destroyer). We’re hoping to increase the Chez Foti clan with a few animals soon too.
Before our lives here we lived in London for a few years and in my previous unmarried life I lived primarily in Yorkshire and Newcastle though travelled extensively in Latin America, Asia and Australia.Few would deny that food is a big passion in my life, and I want to share with you my family recipes, inspirations and ideas. I blog about what we eat, be it a meal I’ve cooked just for the wee ones, a family dinner for us all or an evening supper I’ve made for my husband and I. My food is always seasonal and most of the veggies are straight out of my garden. Usually it’s a recipe I’ve made up myself over the years, but sometimes it’s from one of my cook books. You won’t find too many fancy recipes or ingredients here, just plenty of hearty, healthy and wholesome family meals that can be put together quickly and simply. Afterall I am myself a busy full time mum, and most of my meals are made during the few precious moments of a nap time or with terrorist toddlers running around loose around the kitchen.
My apologies if some of my photos aren’t too great as in reality I usually only have seconds to get a snap, before hungry tums and greedy fingers take over!. Although I’ve recently acquired a great SLR camera (a Canon EOS 30D) I’m just getting to grips with it and these tiny people just won’t wait for me to fiddle around and do it justice. One day I may just have the luxury of a little more time!
Not a day has gone by without us rejoicing about our new lives in rural France, we love the space, the nature, the gentleness and the appreciation of a much simpler life. My first project here was to set up a veggie patch (or a ‘potager’ as they’re called in France) and grow all our own organic veggies….plus a little bit of fruit (please drop by my new Veg Patch page for more about my beloved potager). Philipe’s first was to get the house habitable for us all! An ongoing matter that he still sees as more important than my wonderful veg. At present we are still cooking and eating out of our ‘temporary’ and very basic, but fully functional kitchen. One day next year, or the year after, we’re hoping to have a wonderful new kitchen in the barn at the back of our house.
I really hope you enjoy my blog,
Louisa
Chez Foti 
March 6th, 2012 at 1:14 am
wow! looks like you are enjoying life – as one chicken keeper (but in a city garden in central brussels!) I envy your lovely lifestyle. we escape where possible to life in brittany, do pass by and read my new blog on
http://thebeachhousefrance.wordpress.com/ which is also going to include recipes,
or my older postaday blog on
http://lifewithlizzi.wordpress.com/ about life between the 2 locations.
keep up the great posting
lizzi
April 11th, 2012 at 8:45 pm
Hi Louisa
As you know, I’m a great fan of your blog 🙂 so I’ve given you a VBA!
http://maddogwomanofshackleford.blogspot.co.uk/p/versatile-blogger-award.html
Lesley x.
April 12th, 2012 at 3:18 pm
Thanks Lesley! My first VBA!
April 12th, 2012 at 4:23 pm
Hey, enjoy it! A bit of blogging fun x.
September 27th, 2012 at 11:34 pm
Hi Louisa,
I nominated you for the Wonderful Team Member Readership Award.
http://unihomemaker.com/2012/09/27/wonderful-team-member-readership-award/
All the best,
Anne
October 1st, 2012 at 5:56 am
Thanks Anne! Sorry I’m so late in replying, I’ve had two poorly children at Chez Foti this last week, looking forward to checking out the others too, Louisa
October 1st, 2012 at 5:48 pm
No worries –hope all is well, take care.
-Anne
October 13th, 2012 at 8:42 pm
Hi Lou, I really am enjoying your blog! You really are fantastic. I have often said to Enda you could throw your hand at anything and my God you have! Would love to skype for a proper catch up sometime. Hope all is well. You put us all to shame!
Lots of love,
Derval
October 17th, 2012 at 12:43 pm
Hi Derv, thanks so much! I don’t know about putting to shame though, I think what you’re doing in SA is very much putting me to shame! Would love to have a proper catch up, I’ll email you my Skype details L xxxx
January 15th, 2013 at 11:06 pm
Hi! I’m really glad to have found your blog – it looks like you have lots of lovely ideas. I also live in the Southwest of France – in the Landes…
January 16th, 2013 at 1:27 pm
Well hello there! You’re not too far away from us then. I’ve just bobbed over to your gorgeous blog too and am mightily impressed. I LOVE IT! What fabulous drawings, photos and recipes. Thanks so much for introducing yourself, Louisa
February 6th, 2013 at 1:56 am
Lovely sentiments and you are lucky to live in such a stunning part of the world, look forward to your posts, Tracey.
February 12th, 2013 at 7:27 am
great recipes with great photograph, Excellent blog!
keep up your great work !
February 12th, 2013 at 1:25 pm
Thank you very much, though I’ve just had a little look at your blog too…and your photos and food are truly AMAZING!
April 2nd, 2013 at 9:44 pm
Omg what a beautiful story, I have always wanted to visit France and if possible live there for a year. I love visitors from other countries so thank you very much for visiting my blog and for liking my posts and for leaving me a note. I really appreciate. I want to follow what you are doing so I will follow your blog. I look forward to your posts. Best wishes to you and your family. Merci beaucoup pour ta vista, Je ne parle pas bien Francais!
April 21st, 2013 at 3:40 pm
What a beautiful blog you have here! You have the life many dream of but are too scared to take the plunge and actually do something about it. Thank you for sharing your day to day life.
April 23rd, 2013 at 9:26 am
Ah thanks Lisa! It’s certainly been an adventure!
May 1st, 2013 at 9:00 pm
Very interesting … I like the courage and willingness to move to this place after a big city life and be in nature …. and enojy this peaceful place. It looks great ….. I envy you very much on fresh vegetables and meat from the farm. :-)) I am looking forward to your posts! Big regard
May 4th, 2013 at 8:59 am
Thanks Chefina, I’ve just been over to your gorgous blog too and what a wonderful array of recipes. And what a wondefully exciting array of countries you’ve lived in! Looking forward to following you too, Louisa
July 7th, 2013 at 6:07 pm
You have a beautiful blog and your posts are very inspiring! I am still going through it…. Kind regards, Bridget 🙂
July 30th, 2013 at 12:29 pm
I came across your recipe for Smoked Salmon and Broccolli penne – I just prepared the meal and it was so simple to make, yet so delicious. Thank you! Warmest wishes from Sydney, Australia
August 3rd, 2013 at 9:53 am
Oh thanks Tanya. How lovely to think someone over in Sydney has tried out my recipe! Fab! And so glad you liked it, definitely still one of our family favourites.