We Celebrate Alain's Birthday and the start of the holiday season
For Alain’s birthday we invited Beau-Dad, Annie, Bruno and Alex and Josette to have lunch with us. On the way to the market, the marble tiles at La Place de la Liberte were wet – and wouldn’t you know it? I slipped and landed on my left knee – so now I have a matching set of bad knees! (I bruised it and scraped it, but I’ll live.)
We spent several days discussing the menu – one thing that I’ve learned to appreciate – if not understand – is the Frenchman’s need to start thinking about what they’re going to eat at the next meal – before they’ve finished the one they’re eating now…Alain says it’s necessary to prepare the stomach for what’s coming – to get the juices flowing!
Our final decision was to make a fairly light (for us) lunch. We had a selection of meats (raw and cooked hams, saucussons – dried sausages), a chef salad, and I made two pans of lasagne. Followed by a selection of French cheeses – we had a Saint Nectaire, a Comte, a ewe milk cheese and a nice Camembert) and then a cake – a delicate sponge cake topped with red fruits, which Annie and Bruno brought.
It was a fun day, and everyone had a good time. One of the things I love about living on the French Riviera is the way we people come together to celebrate. Before I came here, I would never have believed that it was possible to spend three or four hours at the table – in fact, I thought it was a joke, when Alain first told me that this is common. But it’s true – when you have good food, good company and sparkling conversation, time flies quickly.
So our next family celebration will be for Elsa’s and Luc and Fab’s birthdays. (I’m hoping Luc and Fab will be able to get away), and for me, this is the start of the holiday season. I’m looking forward to fall, and the coming of the Chestnut cart on la place de la liberte! For me, the chestnut man signals the start of the autumn season!
Tags:Alain's birthday,Chestnuts,Daily Life
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