Dinner with the French

At the weekend Mrs Faz and I were invited to friends in our village for dinner. What would they give us?
It turned out that they went way over the top - Mrs Faz thinks they were nervous about having us.

Champagne to begin with was nice.
Then we ate:
smoked salmon quiche (a huge slice) with extra smoked salmon on the side
soup of chestnuts, cepes and pumpkin (really good)
a sort of cake made of layers of goat cheese and beetroot, with orange dressing and salad
stew of wild boar plus baked pear, mushrooms and chestnut puree
a cheese platter
huge slices of tart with fruit compote and Italian meringue

It was a jolly evening but two pastry courses and two cheese courses were a bit much.

I think Tilly should have been there to finish off what we couldn't.

Sounds like a job for the hungry hedonist - although heavy even for the likes of a greedy bastard like me. Did they serve varios different wines to match the dishes or what?

Now I didn't want to spoil this by mentioning the wines.
There were six of us. We began well with two bottles of champagne. Then it sort of dribbled out. The host was in charge of the wine and kept the bottles close. He poured and once I had to ask for my glass to be filled. ONLY TWO BOTTLES OF RED. Shame the French have forgotten their wine drinking ways.

I went back and forth for many years between 'friends' (mere acquaintances) who went over the top for every invitation (and made me feel obligated to do the same) and others who were not embarrassed to spontaneously invite me even if all they had on hand were a few slices of ham and an old runny camembert, along with wine poured into mustard glasses.

I quickly decided that I far preferred the second group, even though I do enjoy a good meal. In friendly gatherings, sometimes we eat quite well, and other times the high point is just our friendship and who cares about the food? Often, I am the one who will bring on the giant prawns or the foie gras, just because I can more easily afford them, and that point is well understood by my more modest guests. The point is to have fun together, not to pretend that it is the ambassador's reception with Ferrero Rocher.

Ah Kerouac, you live in Paris and have French roots. We live in the boonies and are British citizens. Invitations in cities may be different. We were delighted to be asked to their house. And they were (so we hear) delighted to have us. I think they'll be more relaxed next time.

I would have been well pleased to assist. If you ever need similiar help in the future, a simple call will ensure my services.

We have some fiends who do this kind of meal very well, it is always over the top and we sit in there kitchen feeing like we just stepped out of homes and gardens magazine spread but it is lovely to have this now and then. They are not showing off they are just like that so it comes across very relaxed. They also have lots of wine on hand :)

Mostly dinner at friends' homes is food that comes out of big pans and can be heated up when we are all ready to eat and remember hunger through the wine induced haze.

what, no digestif? how very mean...

Two bottles of champagne and two of red: that's a bottle of wine each, ye greedy baztard!

Moreover, I write as an alcoholic.

Alas no, Tony. Another couple helped out. So 4 botles between six is not much.

For numerous years we had to 'entertain' at home and provide exciting meals. Then when we became pig farmers we were too knackered to do dinner parties. What we did was cook enormous quality pork joints, have loads of vino and just put it on the farm house kitchen table. All helped themselves and we TALKED - great times.

4 bottles between 6 is a mere aperatif....

Top troughing there, Ze Mayor...but have you eaten since?

I agree, Geeky. When I travel on my own I always order a bottle of wine for myself at a restaurant. But I don't do it at breakfast.

"Alas no, Tony. Another couple helped out. So 4 botles between six is not much."

This changes everything. Don't your French hosts know that etiquette demands three bottles of wine per guest?

I think our host grasped the elements of hospitality. Alas, he kept the bottles beside him and sometimes I had to plead for another glass (half was given). Me, I am of IanUK's opinion. I go round the table, pour the first galss, then tell them to help themselves. Wine is like bread - just part of the meal.

"All helped themselves and we TALKED - great times."

There is a lot to be said for just talking with each other. About 15 months ago me and beloved re-discovered the joys of talking over a few bowls of porridge. And I jest not.

The grim reality of a formal dinner is that you don't dare help yourself to the wine. That's why I prefer the other kind of dinner.

"I think our host grasped the elements of hospitality. Alas, he kept the bottles beside him..."

"Alas, he kept the bottles beside him..." As luck would have it, this is in my dictionary of antonymous phrases for the word 'hospitality'.

"The grim reality of a formal dinner is that you don't dare help yourself to the wine."

You're far too polite: just lift the bottle and pour. It's very easy after the first time.

Ha55is?

Just STFU on GS.....for once....Honestly...

Go to bed...

s/o - if I've said sth. offensive I apologise.