As the daytime draws to an end and the impending shadows of the evening slowly give way to dusk, the energy changes within me to a quieter one of expectation and celebration. I know that in an hour or so, I will partake of an immense pleasure of eating some my beautifully prepared foods with candlelight and wine.
Sunday night’s Easter celebration, as all Sundays and holidays usually require more work in general to bring about with special traditional dishes as seen in the photos. The table may be adorned with more flowers for the occasion, but even my everyday dinners are treated with the same respect and regard for celebratory joy.
Ever since I have had the pleasure of my own household since age 21, I have always created my nightly meal as a ritual for sharing not only a lovely meal but as a way of establishing intimacy with those you love. I can not think of a better way to be with family and friends than over a relaxing and slowly savored meal.
My childhood meals were unfortunately in stark contrast. The vast majority of times, my family rarely ate together except for holidays, and only then on our “real” dinner table, which at least had a very pleasant view. Most of my meals were under the blaring light of the kitchen table, either alone, or sometimes with my brother. My parents always ate later preferring to be in front of the television.
To this day I refuse to serve my dinner meal without candlelight and definitely not with any background sounds other than maybe classical music! If eating out, I have been known to ask that music playing be more subtle and appropriately conducive to savoring the meal.
Eating out in Paris is very expensive except for the ethnic restaurants. It’s not that I do not like going out to restaurants, because I do, but if I am going to pay a lot of money, then I expect a rather impeccable performance, so I am very careful where I go. That is why I frankly prefer to eat chez moi, where at least I know the quality and freshness of food I put on my table and that the culinary execution of the dish will be good.
That is also one of the reasons I prefer getting an apartment over a hotel room, when traveling, because I like to cook with local products, gathered at local marchés( fruit and vegetable markets) rather than eat out every night. I am probably one of the few people who travels with at least my pepper grinder, some knives, sel de Guerande, and my plastic champagne flutes and corker, even if flying to my destination.
If driving, then I have the luxury of tossing in more gear in my fully equipped picnic bag. If renting on the beachfront like in Le Lavandou, in goes a small portable grill. Though most European vacation rentals have wine glasses, and wine openers, not all will have flutes. I would rather drink sparkling wine from my plastic flutes than just any old wine glass.
I have learned that stuffing a small glass with aluminum foil doubles as a makeshift candle holder. Add a few flowers and once again I can create a pretty table and eat beautiful foods anywhere and at a fraction of the cost of eating out!
I know all of this seems fairly ritualistic and it is! Eating should never be rushed, but savored at length with warm conversation. A family that eats together provides a perfectly relaxed occasion for each member to share their day’s activities, especially with children!
With my children, it was de rigueur and expected that we all ate together each night. If you were to ask them, I am sure they can recount multiple memories of beautiful meals and meaningful conversations!
Dinner becomes a sacred time in my day where in lighting candles and offering prayers of gratitude, it takes on a completely different ambience of warmth and fellowship. A time to let go and just focus on the pleasures at hand.
For me, eating slowly and meaningfully is the only way for me to really savor the moment. Not only can I really enjoy the taste of my delicious food, but also have the leisure to listen and share without distraction with others.
It is also a way to share love with family and friends, as all my food is made from scratch and prepared with love. I always buy the freshest and best primary ingredients that I can afford. Real food that is never processed or out of any bag or box.
Even if I happen to be dining alone, the ritual is the same. After all we all deserve beautiful things to enjoy in this life and lovingly prepared and delicious foods, served attractively, with delightful wines, happens to be one way I like to take care of and reward myself.
For the most part, It is an inexpensive and affordable luxury I can give myself and others everyday. I believe that how we eat and what we eat influences not only our health, but our mood.
It is the least I can do for the well being of myself and others who join me. So cheers and Bon Appétit!
Bonjour Cherry– Your cooking–and descriptions–really sound wonderful and actually made me hungry–and of course –memories–as I recall after you left for France –and the passing of my Father in that year– I would stop by over on Hilton St for a drink and business chat with your Father and sometimes your Mother did cook for us later– and I always enjoyed those meals very much–(Sometime–I hope to share some of those diary entries with you)
ALSO–I am sure that part of our love for cooking and for food stems from our Louisiana heritage–and that has greatly increased through our many travels–all over the world.
If you ever are in America with a little time– I’d like to show you some of the Gulf Coast I know–and you can show me how to prepare some of that fresh seafood– sometimes we surf cast for fish–or go into the bays and lagoons to bring in freshly netted shrimp and oysters–just about everyone I know in Orange Beach/Gulf Shores have boats and fish year round–Take care–and please know I really enjoyed this posting–
Thank you for your comment. You are very lucky to live on the coast and be able to procure your own seafood! Gulf shrimp are simply the best in the world! France is blessed to have an incredible bounty of delectable seafoods that is truly immense in variety. Just looking at the spread in most fish markets which are everywhere here is impressive, from multiple fish varieties, shellfish, mollusks and oysters. It is always a hard decision to choose every Saturday!
Although I treasure Louisiana’s culinary specialities, I can not say I became interested in cooking because of them, nor from my family. Though I was capable of executing a perfect sauce Hollandaise at 10 years old, it was really my interest in French cuisine that took off immensely when I was a student here. It was the first time in my life that I had I tasted such beautiful foods. The fruits and vegetables were outstandingly full of flavor that bore little resemblance to what was available and still is in the states.
Oh my goodness…wish we had been the two extra place settings at your Easter table. Everything looked divine as usual.
Really glad you explained your daily routine dining experience to your
audience. It’s one of the many things that makes you so special. To be sure,
it’s always a pleasure to be treated to one of your gourmet meals… always
consistently spectacular!
Thank you sweet Anne. Having you and Cookie share dinner with me is always a true joy! I know I am rather obsessional along these lines, but the love I share with you through my meals has always been reciprocal, so I am blessed to have you in my life. Your smiles and adorable laughter are always welcome chez moi! Love and hugs!