New Year’s Eve – Le réveillon – 2009. It was a cold, crisp evening in Dinan. The lights were lit and the town was all dressed up:
Outside our little abode, our star was flashing on and off in a crazed manner as it was wont to do:
Inside, we were gearing up for the last meal of the decade…
Upon arrival at our rental property in Dinan, we had been thrilled to find a raclette grill in the cupboard and I had resolved to make use of it at least once since it’s the sort of thing you might buy but never use or, in my case, not buy because you would use it so little that it would not justify the cupboard space it took up.
We didn’t make the most traditional raclette fixings ever but it was a great accompaniment to Neil’s famous roast chicken (brought to us by Santa, didn’t you know?!)
Santa also bought us some nice bottles of wine to toast the new year:
And we set the table with care:
The raclette needed a little supervision, it was a bit wonky:
But we worked it out…
Accompanied by haricots verts, bien sûr!
And chicken and potatoes:
And the desserts…
Now I know, I know – you purists out there will be horrified at our store bought (and not even in a pâtisserie) desserts but part of the fun of being in another country is trying out products you don’t have at home, though you can now buy these crème brûlées from President’s Choice (and who doesn’t love the President?) and I think they need to be tested out. I digress, however… Cathy and I were totally enamoured with the “Astonish your friends” label on the packaging and I can tell you there were lots of astonished looks as we prepared the desserts (well, it was quite late into the proceedings by then…).
Crèmes brûlées for Neil and Cathy:
Comes with its own little package of sugar to make the “brûlée” part.
Fondant au chocolat for me. Complete with its own pot of crème anglaise. I could drink the stuff neat, me.
Tarte au citron (from a real bakery) for Alicia. She had been hankering after one all trip and finally found some lovely individual ones in Cancale.
(inset astonished face here at the wonder that is the crème brûlée doing its thing!) :-O
And some more drinks, of course!
Done! Replete and happy.
We didn’t make it much past midnight (we are getting old and we did start the evening fairly early) but it was pretty much a perfect réveillon – good food and wine and good friends. Who could ask for more?
Your posts are always full of delicious foods. I miss raclette. I love them.
Haha, Santa strikes again!
Did the crème brûlées come with little disposable blowtorches as well? 😀
I was wondering if you got a disposable torch as well! The pictures look great. I didn't even know what a raclette was, but that looks so neat.
Your pictures look fantastic. I just quit taking pictures at night time, but now I see it's possible to get good shots!
I bet that Mercurey 1999 tasted like heaven 😉
I love raclette! We had it for Christmas eve!
It did, Veronique! (Yes, I'm the one who picks the wine…) 🙂
I think that's when we left the couscous in the microwave………….
Aaaaaah, wow, this brings back memories! The last time I had raclette was my last evening living with my host family in Paris. Wow, it has been way too long! LOVE the Santa picture. 🙂
Great Santa photo! Nice food pics too.
What fun! And I totally agree – I love grocery shopping away from home and finding fun and crazy products!
Bonne Annee! This looks so comfy and homey. You really enjoyed yourself in France.
Take a good close look at eatlivetravelwrite because she's going to go places. Enjoy this blog while you can, she is destine for greatness and there is no doubt she's going to find it. Continue, being razor focused and you shall capture it all. Remember me when I ask you for your autograph!
Thank you for sharing,
PT
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It looks all so exciting. I have never seen a raclette grill before!
Fitou has to be my favourite wine region. You really had a wonderful time in France! Happy New Year!
Happy New Year Mardi! Looks like you had a fabulous party (love the champagne!) When home in the States, I don't like buying many packaged products but, like you, I find it fun to find things in other countries!
Divina – I love raclette too, don't have it often enough!
Conor and Natalie – no blowtorches but you just pop them in the oven under the grill (broiler) for a few minutes! They're magic. And Natalie – you would LOVE raclette!
French Cooking – it was delicious!
Dawn – snap!
Neil – you DO pick good wine.
Cathy – we didn't use it!
Fuji Mama – it's a neat dish isn't it?
High Low – 🙂
Tasty Trix – grocery shopping is my favourite thing to do in foreign countries!
Duo – it was great!
PT – you are too kind…
Penny – you would love the raclette, I am sure!
taste traveller – I am quite partial to the Fitou as well…
myblissfulbites – Thanks! Shopping in other countries = so much fun!
Any meal that icludes a mountain of melted cheese is a happy feast, indeed! 😉
Carolyn – indeed!
Neil makes a cute Santa — and it looks like he has a little experience with these things. When I stuck my head in the circle, I forgot to get the rest of my body behind Santa's, as you can see
http://doriegreenspan.com/2010/01/catch-up-paris-and-beyond.html#more
Ah but Dorie your post included so much buttery delicious goodness that I am sure noone even noticed the rest of your body there! Thanks for stopping by!