Do arbousiers grow where you live?

Today we made it to Homps, on the Canal du Midi and went back to a restaurant we've visited a few times before on previous visits several years ago. It's called L'Auberge de l'Arbousier and is lovely in a straightforward, gentle and unpretentious sort of way. You can see pictures of my meal which concluded with an utterly wonderful dark and white chocolate mousse. While we were eating we looked out onto the Canal du Midi and the overcast morning began to change into a wonderfully sunny afternoon, with the promise of walks along the tow path.

Until we came down to this part of France 10 years ago I had never heard of the arbousier tree or indeed of its fruit. In English it is sometimes called the strawberry tree and our local Chinese restaurant in Ferney sometimes serves deep red coloured tinned "arbouses" as a desert. I have to admit I rather prefer the lychees that are usually also on offer. So for now I prefer the auberge and its cuisine to the fruit of these intriguing little trees.