"It was by chance we met, by choice we became friends." Unknown

Ami means friend.  Tonight Pri and I had dinner with some French amies.

I know what you're thinking, so "diverse."

We ate Raclette, which is sort of like fondue but more intense.  C'est bon.

Every person gets a mini skillet and you put a slice of raclette [cheese] and melt it in the bottom portion of this thingy.  Then you can grill vegetables/salmon/deli meats on top.

Here is what my plate looked like.  You typically pour the cheese over the potato and eat with the veggies.

Nothing says French dinner party like a game of Cranium.  In French, mind you.

La Bouchon Lyonnais

After a treacherous day at work, we devoured the most delectable meal.  It was tres francais!

Escargot in a champignon [mushroom] sauce.

Veal with roasted potatoes.

Creme Brulee.

Tres delicieux!

"Just Eat, Pray, Loving It Over Here!" Amy Zide

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Miyoko and I went to yoga today and now I feel like this.

Also spent alll day in my favorite cafe.  I've made it my mission to try everything on the menu.

I love this cafe so much, I'm going to make a special post just about it.

Found the barn in Blois, Amy...

"The eye of a human being is a microscope, which makes the world seem bigger than it really is." Khalil Gibran

Loire River

Frenchy Thanksgiving

The other American assistants and I recreated the most American Thanksgiving we could muster, given the constraints of well, living in France.

Mixing Pecan Pie

Check that out!

Frying onions for the Green Bean Casserole.
If you look closely, you will notice seran wrap on my right arm.  That would be the result of an oven burn.  Cooking is dangerous!

Voila the Green Bean Casserole (they dug in before I snapped the picture!)

 

The table full of wonderful people and food! 

Wannabe Turkey

Here's what our plates looked like

So what did our French friends think of this gluttonous affair?
They loved every deliciously fattening morcel.  They just thought it was weird we ate the corn warm.

It was a perfect little feast, if I do say so myself.

I Heard the Cowboys Won...

Miyoko and I celebrating their victory.  And yes, it is appropriate to wear Cowboys' jerseys in France.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing I was celebrating my favorite holiday in the US with all the people I love.  Eat some turkey for me--they don't have that here until December haha!

Don't worry though, the other Americans here and I will be recreating Thanksgiving with poulet [chicken] for the sweetest French family and some French friends on Saturday.  Here is the damage after our shopping trip:

Wish us luck!

P.S.  We feasted on Indian food with our favorite French friends tonight.  Quelle irony.