Tonight is a special night at the Tuani campsite, there is live music in the restaurant. Everyone is going to be there, it is necessary to book a table to dine by the river with Corsican tonalities in the background. Families, couples, groups of friends… and why not me, too? I go to the bar a little early, they write down my name and “table for one”. No questions asked, they have already noticed me around. It’s 8 pm, time for dinner in France and on the island. Should I dress up? For what? For whom? Well, I end up doing my hair a bit and putting on the most decent clothes I have. I’m nervous. What will they say, what will they think, will I be taking the place of a couple, a family, a group of friends? Is it a space that is not meant for me? I’m not sure, but I’m going anyway.
The table is set, a plate, cutlery and a single cup. I feel like all eyes are on me. I go with the Corsican menu: a charcuterie board, will it be too much? I may have to ask if it’s meant to be shared. For the main course wild boar civet, thank god I haven’t eaten much for lunch, and I really want to order this dish. Hunting is a deeply rooted activity on the island, which is why traditional knives are sold everywhere as souvenirs. They used to be given to boys as a coming-of-age symbol when they killed their first boar.
To drink, Clos Santini, a smooth Corsican white wine to go with the food. I don’t think I’ve ever had alcohol alone before, it brings me the cinematic image of the desperate and resigned to life who drink in solitude. It’s not the case, but nobody dare take a picture of me right now. Here comes the waiter, “Dessert?”. Who said tonight wasn’t a special night? Chestnut cake it is. Corsica has about 35,000 hectares of chestnut trees, which are used for various purposes, such as the famous Corsican beer, the Pietra.
And so much for the evening. Intimate, very intimate. Good night.
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