French (food) Impressionists

We've been busy this month, traveling - and eating - so blogging has suffered jet lag. But now that we're back from a trip to France, there are lots of blog ideas rolling around in my head. But I've yet to get them organized so I'll start with some random and simple impressions.

"In France, cooking is a serious art form and a national sport" - Julia Child

One of the fun parts of traveling is trying new foods. Son-in-law Jay was up for the test, if there was anything on the menu he hadn't had before, he would order it. Thus he tried duck breast & Leg a l' orange, pan roasted frog legs with chive sauce, veal tenderloin, and Tournedo Rossini Grilled Filet Mignon & Pan Sautéed Foie Gras.

Cheese plates were offered at each dinner. We enjoyed them -
would have liked to have them as appetizers instead of at
the end of a filling meal!

Duck Breast & Leg a l'Orange

Frog legs with Chive sauce
Don offered to take Jay frog hunting next time
he comes to the farm

Jay enjoyed the filet mignon - but not so much the
Foie Gras (thats the liver of a duck that is fattened
by force feeding corn)

The evening of the International Dinner menu, when choices were Egli Fish, a vegetable and mushroom medley, or Veal Tenderloin, Sara had flash-back impressions of feeding bucket calves and rejected the veal for an American choice "always available" - Broiled New York Cut Sirloin Steak. To be accompanied by "fresh sautéed vegetables and baked potato". We'd frequently commented that the meals seemed quite short of vegetables. In fact, the best choice of vegetables were served at breakfast - its hard to face steamed broccoli, cauliflower or eggplant in a warming pan at 7:00 a.m. no matter how much we'd wanted a basic veggie. So Sara was set for a juicy remind-me-of-home steak - and vegetable - and baked potato! The meal came, and the steak looked good, but no sides. Sara questioned the waiter, he promptly brought her a large serving of..... spinach. Not even fresh salad spinach, but old-school-lunch type of spinach. Ahh, some things are best eaten at home.

More travels and tastes next blog.