Happy Easter ~ Joyeuses Paques

I survived Easter dinner and it was magical. Food has a way of bringing people together unlike anything else.  What started out as 5 friends quickly became 19 adults and 4 kids, a few we'd met the day before, all from different parts of the world and different walks of life. Everyone got along famously and truly enjoyed the evening. "Convivialité" as they say here in France and to me this is truly what life is all about. 



My charming blue-eyed butcher Serge provided me with 3 beautiful gigots d'agneaux (legs of lamb) deboned and rolled with parsley garlic butter that I roasted to perfection surrounded by garlic cloves, rosemary sprigs and huge sage leaves. The kids rolled their own dough and made pizzas and were quickly coated in a layer of flour. I was too crazed to take pictures of the food but some should be emailed to me soon. Recipes are forth coming but until then, the menu will have to suffice....

Bienvenue à Paris
Joyeuses Pâques
Dimanche, 27 Avril 2005
Chez Gerkens

Canapés
Endives avec Roquefort Crême Fraîche et Framboises
Saumon Fumée sur Brioche Grillé evec Citron Crême Fraîche

Antipasti
Speck, Proscuitto, Mozzarella, Coppa, et Salami
- Moët et Chandon  Champagne

Entrées
Aubergine Farcis

Haricots-Verts avec Roquefort et Noix
- Chateau St Martin de la Garrigue Chardonnay

Plat
Gigot d’Agneau Rôti avec
Pommes de Terre Rôti
Panaché de Légumes de Printemps Vapeur
- 2001 Nuits Saint George « Les Charmottes »

Assiette des Fromages
Morbier –Jura
Chevrotin des Aravis – Haute Savoie (AOC)
Tomme de Chevre – Haute Savoie
Blue de Queyras – Alpes du Sud
Comte Été, Juillet 2003 – Jura

avec Fruits de Printemps :
Fraises, Framboises, Poires, Pommes et Kiwis
- Chateau d’Yquem Sauterne

Desserts
Macarons de Pierre Hermé
Assortiment de Petits Desserts Français
- Chateau J. de Telmont Rosé Champagne

Comments

[Lil]

wow, the menu looks good so looking forward to the recipes...! :)

[molly]

Next year, I'm coming over for Easter...

[Samantha]

Bonjour Laura!
We've just got back from Prague and we are filled with wonderful memories, your Easter dinner being one of them. What a treat that was! And how kind of you it was to invite us. We met great people and we will certainly keep in touch.
Angelina's will stay one of my favorite experiences. What a wonderful hot chocolate! I'm melting just thinking about it.
Anyway, Prague was wonderful. We ate goulash and dumplings, Czech blueberries pancakes with cream, a dessert called "Empty Head", which does leave you with an empty dizzy head afterwards, fruit dumplings, smoked cheese; we also tried many different kinds of coffees. My favorite was the speciality of a place called Slavia Kavarna, it is made of coffee, absinthe, whipped cream and peppermint liqueur. Gorgeous!

Anyway, I'll write you a proper email.
Gros bisous from London!

Sam