大象传媒

Arthur's Diary - in the Pas de Calais

We drive to Arras and, due to my map reading arrive late to find an English guide from the tourist office looking distinctly pissed off. Our apologies do not seem to improve her temper and she takes us on a route march around town all the while dispensing long, word-perfect but un-interruptible chunks of guide book.

In the afternoon the flamboyant super Gaul, chef Jean-Christopher Novelli turns up and leads us on a personal tour of his hometown, culminating in a 5 hour dinner in the best restaurant in town. My French is pretty good but not good enough to understand the Basque chef. I tell S-J that we may not be well advised to rely on me to translate when we go to the Basque country later in the series. Jean-Christophe is on great form and performs magic tricks after dinner. Despite protestations from our dinner companions S-J and I return to the hotel at 1am - aware of our early appointment at the bakery tomorrow.