Lunch

After the family the next most important thing in France seems to be lunch. It is a quintessential component of everyday life, generally being taken as the main meal of the day rather than dinner later in the day.

Yesterday we had lunch in the village hall with our local Troisiéme Age which is our equivalent of the UK's University of the Third Age albeit with a more social aspect rather than learning one. There was a wonderful atmosphere right from the beginning with some hundred and twenty participants chatting with groups of friends. Socialising is an essential thing and although the do was scheduled for mid-day nobody was seated until an hour or so later.

Almost any sort of social function inevitably begins with an aperetif often of kir, a white wine with a dash of blackcurrant juice - if you have never tried it then please do, a subtle blend of two flavours that tickles the palate.

Starter was cream of asparagus soup, still have yet to discover where on earth asparagus is found at this time of the year because very little is imported and is in season only during the spring. I'm not a lover of that vegetable but in all fairness the soup was very pleasant, in fact I enjoyed it!

Second course was sole meuniére, that's poached dover sole in a lemon butter sauce. Since childhood I have never been a fish lover and passed on this offering despite being assured by all that it was excellent. The meat course of spit roasted veal followed accompanied by sauté potatoes and stuffed tomatoes, all superbly cooked and full of flavour. To my great surprise, and probably many others too, the ubiquitous french beans were not on offer!

Next to arrive was the cheese, brie, roquefort and chevre (a goat's cheese) with the usual lettuce in a vinaigrette. Dessert then followed, which is slightly cart about horse to British minds used to cheese to finish. The menu declared it to be Omelette Norvegiénne that translates literally as Norwegian Omelette which would seem a little odd for a dessert. The term norvegiénne usually indicates a fish dish often salmon in some form but neither fish nor omelette are involved, instead the nearest it can be likened to is an unrolled and flat Arctic Roll. Whatever it was it was delicious and not enough of it.

The final parts of the lunch were brandy and coffee. Forgot to mention that unstinting measures of wine was served throughout the meal, red and rosé.

There was entertainment between courses of a female singer with traditional French songs, she had a superb voice and was very well received. Finally we said farewells some five hours later, returning home well fed and content with the world at large. Oh, I forgot to mention the cost, it was an excessive €9!