Repas annuel des anciens!! – Part 44

Yesterday, Sunday, was the annual luncheon for local residents, held at the local Salle des Fetes (community centre). I had my first “taste” of this luncheon last year, so this year brought no surprises. I took a French friend with me this year; she does not drive, so it was good to have company. We sat down at 12h30, and only arrived home at 18h00!! 

I am on the left, glass in hand!

The menu was as follows:-

A glass of punch, (not as strong as last years!)

Apéritifs
(Various bits and pieces on sliced French bread)
Potage de Légumes - carafes of red wine arrived at this stage
(Vegetable soup)
Salade surprise de la mer aux agrumes
(This was mussels in pastry served with a grapefruit slice)
Coup du milieu
(A pink sorbet served with cognac)
Rosbif et son jus de cuisson, champignons farcis et asperges vertes
(Roast beef and gravy, with stuffed mushrooms and green asparagus)

Served with red and rosé wine.
Salade fromagère
(Cheese and salad)
Chaud froid de pomme flambé au cognac
(Hot baked apple served with ice cream and cognac)
Café and then the Champagne arrived!!!

The results of the champagne! The little lady out in front is about 90 and I gather she has an amazing singing voice.

No eating for few days now as I go into recovery mode.

It was another great and enjoyable occasion and I met many other local residents for the first time, French, Irish and British. We decided that we must all keep in touch and somehow it was arranged that I would host 8 people to aperitifs this Thursday!! I am sure it will all be great fun. My French is probably far behind everyone else’s, but it is amazing how I manage to get by; I more than surprise myself at times!

Next year we must link Nigel's holiday dates with this excellent event, so we can go together. It will all depend on how close the date of the lunch is to the Easter weekend; the Easter bank holiday is a good base around which to arrange his annual leave.