When I want to live dangerously, I try to put a French twist on the traditional Thanksgiving dinner, either in the stuffing for Big Bird or some of the side dishes or more modestly, a salad or a cake.
With the holiday almost upon us, I woke up wondering if anyone else had musings or real experiences of Thanksgiving a la Francaise.
I caught a few examples in my net.
First was Thanksgiving, French Style by Camille Labro (The Paris Times, November 05).
It sounds like food wise, in her opinion, it's not before she returned to France after 9 years in the US that she could have a pleasurable experience.
Here's what was on the menu for that Parisian reinvention:
"For apéritif, we had oysters and champagne. Once we sat down Randal started pulling dishes out of the kitchen like so many rabbits from a hat: garlic mashed potatoes, swiss chard au gratin, green beans with almonds, steamed baby turnips with orange zest, apple and sausage stuffing, mesclun with quail’s eggs, and braised turkey paupiettes. So, that’s how they got it in the oven! Not only was it more manageable, but those little bundles of tender and aromatic meat were the most unforgettable turkey I’d ever eaten. Following a beautiful platter of cheeses served with crispy baguettes from Kayser bakery came dessert: flat apple galette, citrus pumpkin tart, chocolate fondant… It was a serious food moment."
One for the gourmets...
If you are an Expat in France nostalgic for the good old US comfort food, Thanksgiving American Market in Paris should help.
Are the prices exotic?
Don't want to work yourself into a frenzy over cooking and treating guests like royalty, simple pleasures might make sense as Carolynn Lacasse suggests in picture below.
I might have added Pate, Cornichons and Saucisson to the mix and a rustic set of blades.
Thanksgiving 2009 # 2
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