Half our household is ill after Christmas (was it the fruits de mer–or a stomach bug that is going around?). Before I return to my nurse duties, I will hastily post today's story (begun before the stomach storm). If you see a coquille (typo or misprint) I would be grateful if you'd point it out in the comments below. Merci!
Today's Expression: se régaler les papilles
: to delight, excite the taste buds
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse
Mom said this was the best Christmas she has ever had. She seemed most excited about Smokey's present, a new collier or dog collar that will permit her more control when walking our 30-kilo golden retriever. Though I was busy setting the table, Jules insisted I come outside with her for a spin around the block. With Smokey prancing along, on his best behavior, it was clear to see he too was back on the road again.
Soon Max joined us, having sped up from behind on his longboard, in time to swoop up the leash and off he stole with our golden reindeer. What a delight to share a Christmas morning walk with all 4 generations (Smokey included). Without a camera in hand, our eyes and our minds etched the joyous scene in our hearts forever.
Returning home our Christmas guests had arrived and the festin began! It was my belle-soeur's idea to keep the meal simple, à la bonne franquette. Cécile was in the kitchen preparing trays of toasts with homemade tarama and smoked salmon–topped with the mild and tasty cédrat lemon she's been raving about. She also brought a selection of rustic cheeses. De quoi se régaler les papilles!
In the center of the room there was the Christmas tree and a bunch of colorful gifts (this year every single cadeau was wrapped with the help of a silk écharpe or a wool foulard, which amused a few of the members of my family)….
"Where did you get so many scarves?" Max wanted to know.
Laughing, I explained, When you are a 52-year-old woman, you have collected a scarf or two over the years!
Beyond Le Sapin de Noël, Jean-Marc prepared a platter of fruits de mer and later would make a tasty brouillade with those stolen, truffled eggs. And my brother-in-law, Jacques, made the richest chocolate cake you have ever tasted, and sentimental too, for it was my belle-mère's recipe.
It truly was one of the best Christmases ever, except that, as the saying goes: Toutes les bonnes choses ont une fin. Twenty-four hours after the meal, our guests began to be ill! It was either the coquillages or le gastro (which everyone blames). So I must hurry and end this story and get back to my patients! Low on blankets, I may have to wrap their chilled, fébrile selves in scarves as well. A woman can never have too many écharpes….
FRENCH VOCABULARY
le collier = collar
le festin = feast
la belle-soeur = sister-in-law
la bonne franquette = informal, simple, no-fuss meal
de quoi se régaler les papilles = enough to delight the senses
le cadeau = gift
une écharpe = scarf
le foulard = scarf
le sapin de Noël = Christmas tree
les fruits de mer = seafood
une brouillade = egg scramble
la belle-mère = my mother-in-law
toutes les bonnes choses ont une fin = all good things must come to an end
le gastro (gastro-entérite) = stomach flu
fébrile = feverish
cloué au lit = bedridden
Discover more from French Word-A-Day
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I to had a very wonderful family Christmas. My two boys and their family’s came over Christmas Eve for dinner and visiting.My six grandkids, range in age from three to eighteen. I faced the problem of what to feed all my finicky eaters. This year I was thankful and grateful that your mom taught me how to make Tacos when we were eighteen. Taco bar it was and I thought of your mom as I put it together. We finished with a sunday bar. Christmas is becoming more about wonderful memories than things.As a bonus it was Taco Tuesday!
As for wrapping gifts several years ago I found gift boxes that our different sizes and all beautifully decorated. I use them year after year with the same ribbon. The great thing is they store inside each other!
Susan, Wonderful to learn that Mom taught you to make tacos. We, too, were going to do a taco bar for Christmas–and obviously should have 😂😂. Your Christmas sounds lovely, especially as it was more about the memories and things. 💕
Get well soon. I am sure it wasn’t all of that delicious food!
Je n’ai pas remarqué aucune coquille, mais le titre de l’histoire a deux ‘our’. Pas grave du tout… C’est évident que tu es bien occupée comme hôtesse…pour des raisons variés ! 🙂
Thanks, Teri!
Thank you, Rhonda 🙂
je suis desoleee! Mais, I hope that all have recovered; I, too, had the mal in my stomach; it seems to be world-wide. But, the best of health for all for the new year & I look forward to many more “Kristi” updates! happy, healthy year!
Hi Kristi,
Looks like a beautiful Christmas Eve! My brother sets up a taco bar every Christmas Eve. We might have to try it one year!
I hope you all are recovered from le gastro!
I think it is le gastro. 24 hours is too long for food poisoning. Christmas Eve we had homemade tamales that our friend from Guatemala made. For Christmas dinner we made a traditional pork pie and for desert had double chocolate and candied ginger cookies…a recipe from the Parisian restaurant Mokonuts which is owned by a former student advisee and her husband.
Seems this crud is all over the world. Ne pas bon. Friends in Los Angeles, Taos, San Antonio and Houston all got sick over Christmas. Hope your family is over it quickly and can enjoy a festive New Year. 2020 Wow. Could not have been that delicious food you served. My friends and family are all feeling better after about 4 days – some took 5 days. Hope you do not get it. Many good wishes for 2020. Look forward to your writing and pictures.
Sorry to hear all are feeling ill. Hope for a speedy recovery.
That’s true about food poisoning. It happens right away..I take it you did not get this, Kristi. Hope everyone gets well soon!!
Quel dommage après une belle journée !
Pas grave mais des coquilles au lexique : écharpe, fébrile et cloué, manquent leurs accents aigus. Ces mots sont justes ailleurs.
Bonnes fêtes !
Cela fait probablement de moi une personne terrible, mais je souhaite toujours que tout cet inconfort soit limité aux habitants de Mar-a-Lago.
Kristi, could you please overnight me a couple dozen of those salmon hors d’oeuvres? I need to take hors d’oevres to a gathering and they look delicious!! To all the sick ~ get well soon. No fun.
Your table and all of the foods look so appealing. We all want you all to be 100% well! I love “tarama” and would love to make it–the roe from mullet? Any other roe possibility? Speedy and lasting recovery….
Our dear Kristi,
How gorgeous you are in your echarpe!!
And what beautiful pictures of all of you,beautiful home,beautiful table,beautiful food….all the joys Christmas should be made of!!
There are so many different strains of flu going around that it truly is impossible to protect yourself from all of them.(the one here now affects the nerves in your back,terribly painful and crippling!!)The only upside is that they don’t last awfully long,and by the time they pass you are beyond happy to be feeling better!!Please just get well!!
Happy New Year,dear Kristi,to you and your wonderful family.Blessings always to all of you.
Love
Natalia. Xo
Bonjour, Kristi,
Wow! Votre écharpe jaune vous vous convenez très bien. Vous êtes un rayon de soleil pour les malades!
J’espère que tous sera bientôt rétabli.
Thanks, Barbara. Off to fix those….
We had our Christmas eve special of fresh(brought them home live) cracked Dungeness crab with a simple salad, garlic french bread and a beautiful Chardonnay. Dessert…chocolate dipped strawberries. Did everyone but YOU get sick? Is there a particular item YOU didn’t eat? Twenty four hours isn’t to late. We once had an Easter party with about 30 people and the next day over half were sick. Never did figure out what caused it…. I hope everyone gets better real soon.
Could be the moules – I have developed an allergy to them and after three tries have decided to abstain. I have no problems with clams but am sorry to have to skip the pleasure of moules frites when on the coast of France. Hope everyone is now back on their feet.
Thank you, chère Nathalia! It is interesting you mention the various flu strains–with one affecting the back. Just today I have been having unusual pains in my back! I am sure it is a coincidence…but it makes me wonder.
Thank you, Joanne. It was a gift 🙂.
Since you are all young and strong, I’m certain everyone will be feeling much better in a day or two. (sorry this happened to such a special household…) I wish each of you a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR !!
Could be the seafood! I too developed a reaction to shell fish within the last five years. Our bodies do funny things to us. My youngest grandson has this awful cold, maybe the flu, that everyone here on the west coast of British Columbia seems to have or is just coming down with or is just getting over.
I hope all your family recovers soon, Kristi!
Soyez genitl svp!
Hoping you all will be well for the new year! Thanks as always for the post.
Sounds like someone opened the door and . . . “in flew enza” !!!!
Happy new year!
Oh my goodness, seems like holiday stomach bugs are very popular this year. My niece and nephew were in the same boat as your household, fell ill about eight hours after their Italian Christmas meal and spent most of the day in the bathroom. When we were in Venice a stomach bug went through the household and took out family members one by one. Like you I was the one to render ⛑ first aid. Guess our mom stomachs are immune.
Hopefully Your family is on the mends And that you are enjoying the rest of the holiday season.
And I can personally attest that your mother-in-law’s chocolate cake is indeed one of the best that I’ve ever tasted. And would love A copy of the recipe. Hugs to you and your family. Miss you tons. Love Kirsten
Hope you are a feeling much better!! Your postings are always such a joy for me – the warmth, the ideas, the honesty. Thank you so much for sharing so much! May we all have a peacful, joyful New Year. Jean
La quintessence de l’esprit de Noël! Seulement “Aime ton prochain” si vous pensez qu’ils méritent.
Kristin,
Glad you had a nice Christmas! Sorry everyone is sick. The stomach bug is going around here in Virginia as well. It’s one call on the medic unit I hate having since it’s so contagious.
I too love scarves and have many I hang from my poster bed. The idea is one day I will wear them all the time like Katherine Hepburn.
Have a Happy New Year!! Hope all are well soon.
Portez vous tous vite bien mieux ! Un réveillon bouillon de légumes ???? Oh non, pas ça 😉 !!!
Meilleurs voeux pour une très belle année 2020 à vous et toute votre famille.
Bonheur, santé et réussite pour tous, tout au long de 2020.
Very best wishes to you all.
Take care & get well soon