Three Kisses Each (New Year's Eve European-style)

New Year's Eve started out normal enough. Sarah and I met Claire late morning at the chinese food street vendor where we stand in the cold for several minutes while Sarah orders egg rolls and ravioli poulet (chicken in a fried wonton-type wrapper.) Kind of funny because it's chinese food, however the name has a french word and an italian word in it. Just one of the many quirks you encounter when you travel. Probably the same thing occurs when you don't travel but at home you're not in the mood to care.

Anyway, as I mentioned, we were standing in the cold w/ Sarah's food, eating, and here comes Claire. It is now about lunch time and although Sarah had just eaten we went to another place for lunch. I ordered a sandwichie (sandwich), Claire ordered an italian marinara lunch crepe and Sarah ordered a dessert crepe. The waitress came back a few minutes later and said something to Claire in French about not having any bread for the sandwich so Claire orders something else for herself. Then I said, "Well I thought you ordered a crepe...I,m the one who ordered a sandwich. Why would they not have bread for your crepe (which doesn't even have bread) and yet have it for my chicken curry sandwich?" She said she didn't know and seemed confused. At this point we were having trouble differentiating between a sandwhich, a crepe and a flying saucer.

Anyway when the food arrived we had the two things that Claire had ordered and the desert crepe for Sarah....not a chicken curry sandwich in sight. Plus the waitress put Claire's marinara crepe in front of me. I tasted it and said, "I don't think this is a sandwich and I don't think it's chicken curry. Instead of just realizing that we screwed up, I asked the waitress where my chicken curry sandwich was and she explained (again) that they didn't have any sandwich bread.

And so our days go....what fun!

Our next stop was a bar where we each got an amaretto on the rocks. This put us in a slightly better mood.

We then went back to the hotel to get ready for the party that was supposed to be at Claire's host home, or so we thought.

We'd been invited to spend the night so that the host dad, Diddier, wouldn't have to drink and drive but I'd decided to just take a cab home so we wouldn't have to pack up a bunch of stuff and also so we'd wake up at our hotel in the morning. We get to the host house and it's very dark and not even a fire going in the hearth. There is no food or drink out and I'm thinking, "hmmm, doesn't seem to be much of a party...they don't even have the heat on."

Next thing I know they're packing us all into the car and we find out that the party is not at the host home it's at their good friends who live about 45 mins. away in a town of which I still don't know the name. (There goes my taxi idea.)

So off we go (like captives) w/ no pajamas or tooth brushes, etc. to our European -style New Year's Eve Party. We arrived after an interesting ride (Sarah asleep on my shoulder) to the party. It was the home of Benoit (a friend from college of Diddier) and Jenniline (a Fillipino woman...his wife who he met and married in the Phillipines) and their 14-year-old daughter, Amelie. They gave us a warm welcome and 3 kisses each as is their custom when greeting friends and family.

They had an amazingly beautiful home, charming and modern at the same time...extremely comfortable....not too big, not too small...just right for the 13 (!) of us. We had wonderful canapes to start w/ French sparkling wine. French sparkling wines made outside of the Champagne region of France are called Cremants. The Cremant was delicous and I'd love to bring some home but I don't think my suitcase can handle it.

A little while later we went into the dining room for dinner where a beautiful table was set. We started with fois gras and homemade bread. Claire and I ate all of ours (first time I'd ever had it) but Sarah was less than fond. She said she might have liked it if she didn't know what it was....he, he, duck liver pate. (Do you know that they force-feed the ducks w/ tubes they put down their necks?)

Anyway she completely devoured the main course....roast pork w/ an amazing sauce, roasted potatoes in rosemary and olive oil (why don't mine taste this good?) and a mixture of fresh steamed peas and string beans (haricots verts.) This was all served w/ some delicious burgundy wine from year 2000. (I made a silent toast to Jerry and wished he was there with us.)

Did I mention that when you party European-style that you spend several hours at the table?

By the time we finished eating the main course it was almost midnight plus some of the more cognizant of "les enfants" (the children) noticed that it was snowing. What a delightful thing to see on New Year's Eve.

And so the party continued...this time w/ champagne (not the Cremant we had earlier). As we counted down the seconds in French (...cinque, quatre, trois, deux, un...) we all became very excited and there were 3-kisses each all around encore (again.) Three kisses each between 13 people is 39! There were fireworks going off somewhere that we could see in the distance.

Now it was time for dessert, so we all headed back to the table where we were served crepes suzettes made by Jenneline.

Jenneline is a fabulous cook and I was overwhelmed by her hospitality and good nature in taking care of so many guests in her home. Also she and her husband Benoit spoke very good English so at any time we had a couple conversations going....one in English and one in French.

By about 1:30am I was dragging and mentioned that I was thinking about going to bed but before I could leave the table they started exchanging gifts and even had some for us... (Did I mention that I was overwhelemed already?) Well this was over the top.

The girls followed half an hour later. Apparently the rest were up 'til 4!

In the morning there was more food....wonderful homemade breads for breakfast with nice jams and spreads, coffee, tea and pancakes.

More visiting at the table (for several hours) which then segued into lunch which consisted of homemade onion soup and beautiful plates of cheese and meats. The cheese was from all over Europe and absolutely TO DIE FOR! Meats were from Belgium, Franch and Italy and also TO DIE FOR.

More visiting at the table...it's getting late....as a matter of fact it's dark again, but no one is making a move to leave. I'm wondering if we're staying yet another night.... I'm also wondering how many more meals for 13 Jennaline has in her and whether or not she's about to crack.

But alas, around 6:30 we get packed and bundled up as it's about 24 degrees outside and head for "home"

....but not until we get and give 3 kisses from everybody.