Monday, July 03, 2006

Another meal

Friday evening Husband and I attended a small dinner party. Despite having lived here for nearly 9 years and attending a fair number of social gatherings, I still always feel like there are about 2 levels of something that I haven't quite gotten the knack of yet. Like there was a conversation inside the conversation about the conversation. Whatever. Anyway.

We arrived at 8:30. We helped out a bit while we waited for the rest of the guests to arrive. Apéritif was cold provençale rosé and fancy crackers.

We sat down to eat at 10:00. Of course I inwardly groaned when I looked at my watch.

First course, l'entrée, was a variety of balled melon with fresh young goat cheese and balsamic vinegar. We wiped up the juices on our plates with rustic bread. More rosé.

The main course, le plat principal, was a variety of grilled meat and meat products. The meat was lamb chops. I was the only one to finish with my fingers, but I was not ashamed. So tender and so lamby. (Can you believe I was a vegetarian for 12 years?) Much too good to leave ANYTHING on the bone and I'm apparently not that talented with a knife and fork. I did not, however, sample the meat products. Boudin noir (blood sausage) and andouillette (chitterlings sausage- yes, that's guts - or small intenstines for those who want a more precise term). The smell alone is enough to, as my mother would say, gag a maggot. These kinds of meat products are referred to as les abats, coming from abattre, to slaughter. Roasted tomatoes (smothered with pesto) and roasted potatoes (smothered with Guérande rock salt butter and garlic and parsley) accompanied the main course. More rosé.

Dessert, le dessert, was a cold fruit stew, raspberries, strawberries, peaches, and fresh mint. Served with tuiles, literally tiles, which are very thin, curved, and delicate almond cookies. Yes, of course, more rosé. Dinner was over at 1:00 and we had to leave without coffee, which made me very sad. We were, AGAIN, the first ones to leave.

10 comments:

Lorraine said...

Just another evening at out place...oh, wait.

Nicole said...

Charlie - She's actually got a lot of phrases like that - she's from the south. So I'm actually living a tricultural life.

Lorraine, HRH, Lorraine - You wouldn't let me leave without coffee. I wish I could come tomorrow.

Nicole said...

Charlie - Always be nice to me or my mom will 'pinch a plug out of you'. Trust me, this hurts.

Nicole said...

Charlie - I know that, I just needed a way to use another one of her colorful expressions.

Anonymous said...

you sound more and more like her everyday

Anonymous said...

Ok, there is no way I could live in France. The only way I ever see 1:00 am is if one of the kids wakes up vomiting. No rose involved. Now that is glamour!

Anonymous said...

Dinner sounded a little wrong for my tastes, but the dessert sounds wonderful. My mouth is watering in my sleep deprived state.

Amy said...

HA ! - Being from the south myself - I too am familiar with the 'gag a maggot' phrase - and ... oh my, I can't believe I am going to type this - no, I shouldn't. Yikes, I can't help it.. even though it is one of the phrases I detest most in the world... But another popular southern phrase 'full as a tick' - OH.. I am shamed! Forgive me.

Anonymous said...

Maybe I'm naive, but do people actually LIKE to eat "blood sausage" and "small intestines?" My next question is if the smell could gag a maggot, why would you want to eat something like that?

I probably would also pass on some of the "interesting smelling" meat dishes, but would have no problem with the cheese, desserts and pastries.

Don't know if I would have even made it until 1 am. Though am up at that hour now cleaning and cooking for the 4th tomorrow (actually today).

Nicole said...

Amy - Oh bless your heart!

Beth - dinner was excellent, I swear.

Julie - My life is kind of surreal sometimes.

Kim - A question I ask many times. They all swear it's delicious. Hey! Stop cleaning and go to bed!

Everyone in the US - Happy 4th of July!