THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING is not the time to post a new recipe. You either already know what you’re preparing or someone is cooking for you. Either way, we don’t need to give you a reason to run out shopping for more ingredients. We spotted this window the other night, wandering around downtown Chicago with our older daughter, who was in town for a brief visit. While it looks like a mysterious popup restaurant, it is actually part of a now vacant Walgreens. But it does describe how we’ll be celebrating the holiday and the weekend with our younger daughter and her boyfriend, and Marion’s sister. Even if it’s not the usual big, boisterous tableful of everyone at once, we’re thankful to be able to get together with family in batches.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. We hope food + drinks with those you love is part of your plan too.
We’ll be celebrating Thanksgiving with actual people this year! Thank goodness for the vaccine (and booster!). Hope you guys have a terrific feast.
Thanks, John. You too!
Big crowd here on a freezing-cold Périgord night. All four fireplaces blazing, two farm-fresh turkeys roasting in the oven slathered in truffle butter and stuffed with day-old baguettes, fresh sage, chopped chestnuts, celery, onions, and I think I splashed a bit of Montbazillac on them. Five kilos – I kid you not – of mashed potatoes on the stove in the biggest pot I’ve ever known a normal person and not a chef to own. Thank you Isabelle and Albert! Cranberry-walnut-fresh orange juice compôte. Gingered carrots with dill. Gravy made from the turkey drippings, a bit of boxed volaille broth, a couple of spoonsful of Bisto, a teaspoon of flour, some more Montbazillac….you know, just keep stirring and tasting it until it’s right.
About 7 degrees Celsius outside, but the veranda is swathed in woolen blankets Marc and Anne, our Belgian buddies, have erected to ward off the cold from the side that is open. Everyone else is inside around the biggest of the fireplaces telling hilarious stories about growing up in France in the 50s, 60s, 70s, and learning to dance “Le Twist” and “Le Jerk.” Apparently, lots of wine bottles are being emptied. They seem to have accumulated on all the surfaces of the house like a rapidly recreating species. I’m having water because I have to make sure this place doesn’t burn down.
Wonderful evening as always and ever so glad we brought this tradition to our little village here.
Mellen, we always delight in our armchair visits to your home in France. And we are thrilled to see how much you’re a part of the community. Thanks so much for sharing this, and hi to Steve!
Belated Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks, Dani! Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving.