Although I rarely indulge anymore in the rich totally satisfying almost unbearably exquisite taste of french cuisine, I also was whisked away this year by my husband, with my mom and dad, for a two week food, wine, history, and art frenzy in Paris and Normandy. We were quick to head to a bistro in Paris where we all indulged in Foie Gras, Boeuf Bourgiugnon, and "regional" wines and cheeses. For two weeks, every activity was highlighted by the most delicious foods and wines.
Restaurant Josephine where we sat a few tables away from Gerard Depardieux.(We don't go gaga over actors in our family having lived in L.A. and had a good deal of involvement in and with Hollywood ourselves... But come on, even my husband who hates "star chasing" was in the mode of: "Hey, isn't that Gerard Depardiuex?")This place had the best foie gras and boeuf bourguignon of the whole trip!
Even while walking from one place to the next I can't resist how beautiful the street food is.
The Restaurant Vefour was one of the oldest snootiest places we ate at. Napoleon also ate here and it is a very pretty place. The food wasn't THE BEST, but the cheeses.....
Each of us had a plate of cheese like this. I can't believe none of us had heart palpitations. On one level of a cart brought to the table were a dozen different cheeses, each with a story and a location. On another section of the cart were jams and breads and other delectable condiments....
Blah, blah, blah, I digress!
Well, you get the picture. I do have a particular regard for fine cuisine. Fast forward to tonight. In the oven, as I tick away at the keyboard, is MY boeuf bourguignon cooking away. I am putting on the finishing touches, but my amazing beautiful beloved chef, Suzanna, did all the hard part. The whole house smells of wine, beef, spices and flavoring. The table is set with Wedgewood Osbourne China, and crystal goblets my parents brought back from Prague over a decade ago. Champagne is chilling and we will start with some Veuve Clicquot my good friends brought over yesterday as a gift. Lynne and Steve, Thank you sooo much! We have noodles and broccoli. To begin we have a mixed baby green salad with strawberries, fresh roasted pine nuts, avacado, and poppy seed dressing. Of course we have our Stoneground Whole Wheat Challah and our Chocolate Chip Challah (no whole wheat in that one) (literally, the flour is stoneground at our bakery) Our dessert will be a lemon pastry with fresh raspberries. Yummy blah, yummy, yummy, blah, blah.
My nineteen year old son is here hanging out with his video games, girlfriend to arrive later. As life can be cruel at times, her grandfather just had a small stroke and she is helping out in getting him to the hospital with her grandmother. We will miss her because she is wonderful, but we hope she and her family get through this with their health and happiness restored. My thirteen year old son is in his room with two friends listening to music, banging on drums, and facebooking. My twenty-one year old daughter and blogger extraordinaire will be here soon with her girlfriend. Her throat hurts, but that won't keep her away.
At dinner we will all review the year and acknowledge each other. I do love that part too! The fire will be roaring as we eat, and I'll take out my guitar for a few Shabbat blessings. We will talk and laugh and have a few toasts. I love it when my husband takes charge and opens the champagne and wine. It has become a ritual in our family with beautiful goblets, magical corkscrews, the bizarre but wonderful aerator for the wine, ice buckets, carafes, and the excitement over how will the wine be, and how high will the cork fly from the champagne--- and of course... How very much like ambrosia will it all be... or not I suppose... blah, blah, blah. We will celebrate life, and love, and family, and friends. We might even start to think about the dreams we want to fulfill this year; which trips we want to take, the achievements we want to produce, the difference we want to make...And then....the games begin: Taboo, Pictionary, Apples to Apples, and maybe some Boggle and Scrabble. It will be a long night. We WILL watch the ball in New York fall on tv--- a little tacky, but blah, blah, blah, and we LOVE it.
Tomorrow, more games, more inventing of our future and what we intend to celebrate next year, and maybe even a movie. We may never leave though because my oldest son is demanding a fervent game of RISK! We haven't played in a few years and I wonder if anyone can kick his butt this year! I am eager to see the King's Speech and somewhat eager to see True Grit. We will sleep in tomorrow and whatever contingency is left at the house is welcome to hike with me up to the stream and back before we start the gamefest. Blah blah.blah...life is really grand at times, and always a miracle! Even with these quirky moments we have at home...I wouldn't want it any other way! Happy New Year!
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 By the way, if you haven't seen it, see it! |
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If you cook and REALLY like decadent food... Shame on you if you don't have this cookbook.. I know... blah, blah, blah... |
Finally, these are three of the games that make our family whole and complete! More fun, exciting, WAY cheaper, and full of precious moments than even a trip to Disneyland....YES!
Now I must call some friends back who have left the most loving and thoughtful messages, check on the kids, and make sure the champagne's chilling and the beouf ain't burning. Once more, I wish you a Happy New Year and can't wait to look back next year... given the chance perhaps from Colorado in the snow!! Blah, blah, blah.... in the best of spirits!
