Les joies de Cheese on Toast

What is the difference between cheese on toast and cheese on toast? It depends how French you want to be about it. In the UK you might take a slice of Mother's Pride, toast it, grate some Sainsbury's mild cheddar over it and slap it under the grill. Very tasty, but you should really try the strong cheddar and add a few slices of cherry tomato...

In France, however, to keep up appearances, you really have to make a song and dance about it, so this is how it goes. Buy a fresh baguette from your exquisite local boulangerie, and a goat's cheese log from the local market. Cut the bread into 10cm lengths, and then in half lengthways. Toast it lightly under the grill. Rub some garlic over the bread and dribble over some virgin olive oil. Slice the goat's cheese and put 2 slices on each piece of bread. Sprinkle some herbes de Provence, more olive oil, salt and grated pepper, and grill until lightly brown.

Eat, accompanied by a salad of walnuts and fresh spinach with a balsamic vinegar dressing and a sprinkling of shallots, and of course, a glass of your local red bought for a song at the cave down the road.

Enjoy, preferably al fresco, warmed by lucid spring sunshine and a purring cat.

Is that bliss? Well, it comes stamped with the 'agreeable living' designation, and the smug knowledge that such a meal would cost around 8Euros in the trendy restaurant in town.

Of course, the question is, did my boys eat it? Nah. They had nems... with salad, yes yes, they did. But despite being sort of French (okay, sort of half French) they don't like cheese! All my fault, undoubtedly...