August 13, 2007

Saturday's Apéro Evening

I think the highlight of the evening, for me, was watching an 8 year old as he expertly opened the fiddly little valve on a box of Les Trois Blasons wine. Teach them young, that's what I say! My husband's was singing with our neighbor then tasting some homemade Cognac liqueur. Cognac liqueur. Talk about gilding the lily!

It was a much bigger event than last year, with about 45 of our neighbors bringing everything from quiche Lorraine, pissaldière, tomato and olive tapenade, potato salad, poached salmon, raw tomatoes stuffed with tuna salad, pizza, melon and mini savory muffins to share. Drinks included whiskey, pastis, white, rosé and red wine, homemade cartagène and muscat. We gathered at 7 p.m. and finally cleared everything away at midnight.

I, of course, embarrassed myself by mispronouncing the word "l'alcool" (alcohol-I was trying to describe how an English trifle is made) in front of my sweet, 80+ year old neighbors. Apparently, in French, it sounded as if I was trying to "put my butt" on genoise sponge cake then cover it with fruit and whipped cream. Definitely one of my finer moments.

We continue to be amazed at how lucky we were to have ended up in this beautiful village that is full of such kind, wonderful people. Can't wait until next year! Pin It

6 comments:

Andreea said...

that sounds like so much fun. tres french :)

Katie Zeller said...

Now I'm frantically scrabbling through my French dictionaries trying to find the verb: 'to put one's butt'
God only knows some of the things I've said....
Sounds like a wonderful evening and you are lucky!

Jennifer said...

andreea
it was!!!

katie

It was my poor pronunciation of l'alcool. My friend said I said something like "au cul." Basically it sounded like I was talking about my butt!
oops

Jennifer said...

riana
:)
I know...I'm such a dork!

Figs, Bay, Wine said...

heehee. Putting your butt on genoise - I love it! And I REALLY like the idea of raising kids to know that alcohol is not the "demon liquor" it's made out to be on this side of the Atlantic!

Jennifer said...

figs
it was quite embarrassing, but mistakes like these are part of living here! :)
We find the French aren't big drinkers, in general. They enjoy an apéritif before a meal and wine with dinner but don't just sit around drinking loads of beer or cocktails. Again...in general....there are always exceptions