New Years Eve in France

In France, just like many places in the world, the New Year is rung in with considerable fanfare and merry making. However, in France you will find that there is more emphasis placed on the meal that is eaten then in many other places in the world.

Lots of people will eat out in a restaurant, where they will be served an elaborate, many coursed meal. The restaurant will provide entertainment and music and perhaps a place to dance. Towards midnight, silly hats and confetti will be distributed and everyone counts down to the New Year together. After that there is considerable commotion as everyone in the room exchanges hand shakes or kisses and wishes each other a Bonne Année.

To give you an idea of how grandiose these meals can be, here is the menu as it is being served at the elegant Bristol Hotel in Paris this year.

New Year's Eve Dinner Gastronomic menu served 31st December as of 8:00 pm The dance floor is located in the lobby Fireworks at midnight in the garden Fine egg mousse, raw and cooked green asparagus, black truffle paste soldiers Langoustines wrapped in nori, foie gras foam, crustacean broth Line caught sea bass with imperial caviar, green cabbage and whipped lemon butter Beauce hare à la Royale, celery root and chestnut stuffed conchiglioni pasta Aged Brie de Meaux with walnuts Pink Champagne granité, gilt grapefruit and hibiscus jelly Soft coconut cream, strawberry and wild strawberry elixir Sweets, stuffed fruit and chocolates

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Of course, not everyone goes out to eat an eight course meal on New Year's Eve in France. Some ambitious home cooks go through incredible efforts (many with a good deal of panic and angst) to produce an elaborate meal for their friends and family. I'm not suggesting you do this, but I thought you might like to try a couple of recipes that are popular at these meals.

Foie Gras

Foie gras is an incredibly popular party food in France. For many French people, they could not consider having a holiday celebration without including foie gras somewhere on the menu. Foie gras is very rich and thick on the tongue, so it is quite nice to contrast it with something lightweight and fruity, as in this salad. If you wish, you can learn more about foie gras here.

• 8 ounces green beans, cleaned and cut in three inch pieces
• 1/4 cup filberts, chopped
• 1 mango, peeled and thinly sliced
• 4 ounces fresh mushrooms, chopped
• juice of 1/2 lemon
• 3 tablespoons salad oil
• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon French style mustard
• Salt and pepper
• 6 cups mesclun or lamb's lettuce
• 6 ounces foie gras, sliced (foie gras is easier to slice when it is cold)

Steam cook the green beans until just tender, then rinse in cold water so they stay green.

In a pan on medium heat, toast the filberts just until golden.

Sprinkle the mushrooms with the lemon juice.

Prepare a vinaigrette with the salad oil, vinegar, mustard and salt and pepper.

Arrange the mesclun on four salad plates and attractively place the green beans, mushrooms, and mango slices on top. Pour the vinaigrette evenly over the salads then top with the foie gras and sprinkle with the toasted nuts.

Serve immediately.

Makes 4 servings.

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Trou Normande

Trou normande literally means a Normandy hole. What a name, and what a concept! It's a hefty shot of alcohol served in the middle of a meal, perhaps after the first substantial course, and said to clear the palate and expand the belly in preparation for the excess that is about to arrive.

The classic trou normande is just a shot of Calvados, which is apple brandy from Normandy, but people create their own special mix these days using different sorts of alcohol and sherbets. To create your own hole, place a scoop of sherbet in a bowl shaped glass and pour on the alcohol to cover. Serve immediately. Here are some ideas for popular combinations:

• Apple sherbet with Calvados
• Pineapple sherbet with kirsch
• Pear sherbet with Williamine (pear brandy)
• Lemon sherbet with vodka

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Hangover Cures

Bet you're not surprised to find out that in a country known for its wine drinking and long meals, there are a number of popular cures for the after effects of a night of over indulgence. Please note, however, that although they can party all night long, in general the French drink and eat very slowly, which is an effective way to avoid most of the pain associated with the day after. But just in case you need them, here a a few French remedies for a gueule de bois (that's a wooden head):

• Chew on a few coffee beans and then swallow them. Right afterwards, drink a large glass of cold water.
• Mix together a teaspoon of baking soda, the juice of half a lemon, one aspirin, and a glass of cold water.
• To soothe a burning stomach and help digest, drink wild thyme tea.
• For a tea to help eliminate gas, steep a couple of ounces of fresh rosemary in a liter of hot water.
• (And don't forget to drink lots of water before, during, and after a celebration).

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The Star Vegetable

I am a terrific fan of vegetables and if you're not, I'd like to help you become one too. That's why every month I'm planning on promoting a vegetable, perhaps one that is a little unusual and you are hesitating to try.

Celery root, this month's star, is ugly enough to give one pause. Here in France we can only buy this knobby root au natural, but you may find it in your grocery store, cleaned and peeled, ready to cook. Whichever way you find it, celery root is very easy to fix and absolutely delicious. It's in season during the winter months, so take advantage of it now. This wonderful celery root puree recipe would be perfect with your Christmas dinner or any other time you are thinking of serving mashed potatoes.

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Next Issue

Thanks so much for spending some time with me. In the next issue, due out on January 15th, you can learn all about crepes, just in time for la fête de Chandeleur.

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A bientot and remember to enjoy your food!

Your friend in France,

Kim