palate cleansing

A bit of post partum today. I finished the draft of my next book and feel in between worlds. Knowing that this is a draft, revisions, rewrites ahead but for now needing a break. Feels like I'm floating underwater, in a middle land, there's bits and lines of dialogue that jump out at me and dutifully I write them as notes - but it's like giving birth and the newborn's out of bounds for a few days...tests, procedures etc and you need to let it rest. Right away I'm thinking of the next story, lots of ideas but wanting 'to let the sunshine in' and to cleanse the palate as the les Français say you should between courses. Not a bad idea.
In a French cookbook it says "Palate cleansers, by nature, are used in the middle of a meal to remove lingering flavors from the mouth so that the next course may be enjoyed with a fresh perspective. They also use them as an all-important digestive, to avoid heartburn, indigestion, and to stimulate the appetite.There is not much written instruction on the art of palate cleansing during a sumptuous, multi-course French meal. "
Alors, sounds just the ticket. Time to digest, avoid the indigestion of rewrite for awhile then a stimulation to new ideas. A fresh perspective.
Further on it says "It has become something of a prized tradition, passed from generation to generation in the local enclaves of France. Each region has a special ingredient, usually a locally produced product that the locals swear by."
Several listed are lemon and grapefruit sorbet

Or another is listed: Le Trou Normand.

 There is a film with Bouvril and a young Brigitte Bardot of that title but not that.

"In Normandy, locals rely on apple brandy as a digestive. Le trou Normand, or the Norman break, is a fiery shot of Calvados right in the middle of the meal.

It hits hard and fast, yet is inexplicably effective as a palate cleanser and appetite stimulant.

 And it comes from apple country

 And goes through a distilling process

It’s yet to be determined whether it has as successful an astringent property on one’s palate as it does one’s wits – but either way, it does work."
I like the hitting hard and fast and could use an astringent on my wits - if I have any left.
What about you - any palate cleansers you use?

Cara - Tuesday