Did you have a nice Thanksgiving? I did, although it was a very French one, beginning with foie gras and sauterne and ending with an old Calvados. Best of all, the rôtisseur roasts the turkeys so I don't have to do them. My first year in Paris I bought the traditional turkey, very proud of myself for finding one after many démarches infructueuses*, only to discover when I got it home that there was no way it would fit into my un-American-sized oven.
Art Buchwald once wrote how his chef (back in the days when Americans were rich in Paris) served the longed-for Thanksgiving turkey as a boneless dish, completely flat as if run over by a steamroller.
A lot of Americans in Paris celebrate Thanksgiving on Saturday, since Thanksgiving is not a French holiday and not everyone can get off work. I did that for the first few years, but after a while I realized I wanted the children to understand what a special day it was, and went back to celebrating it on the traditional Thursday afternoon.
A skipped school in the afternoon and I had to call up the school to explain. I feel as if my nose is growing each time I tell some ridiculous fib. But the truth is not a good idea. The last time I tried it, the school receptionist, a very kind woman, firmly said, "Je dirai qu'elle est souffrante**."
* vain attempts
** I will say she is in pain.
Our meal was mostly American, sans cranberries. with a French dessert. My Brit husband takes the day off to cook for Thanksgiving. Why do you think cranberries are nearly impossible to find in this country - and until a couple of years ago were illegal? One would think if you can buy cranberry juice, you could buy fresh cranberries here.
Posted by: Paris Parfait | 24 November 2006 at 23:29
My daughter should have talked with you...she desperately wanted to take Thursday off to celebrate Thanksgiving, but as our dinner party was planned for Saturday evening (!), I said no. Perhaps next year I shall reconsider...
We compromised with stuffing rolled in turkey breasts...much easier to fit into the oven and not so many leftovers. Tasty, though, with all of the other traditional fixings.
Sorry to be slow in getting by to see how you celebrated...it's another good story...past and present!
Meilleurs voeux!
Posted by: blueVicar | 27 November 2006 at 15:35
Praise be to God for the Rotisseried Turkey! I had to work until 10PM on Thanksgiving (I got off early!) but my husband invited over 15 people for a Thanksgiving dinner/party.
I could French kiss my local butcher and his rotisserie service for making the day easy.
Bisous, Ms. Glaze
ps. I ran by Rue Rude yesterday and thought of you. I didn't know it was an actual street in Paris.
Posted by: Ms. Glaze | 27 November 2006 at 22:56
I have been here for 18 years and always managed to have Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving. I even had my father-in-law often say it was the best turkey he ever had! Now I have a B&B near Orléans where I do two Thanksgivings. One on Thanksgiving day and that is always full of French wanting to find out what is really "Thanksgiving". And I think also to find out if an American could really cook. The second Thanksgiving is for the Americans living in France and is a week- end event. Now with internet I have no idea how to get the word out. Any ideas?
Posted by: kristi anderson | 23 October 2007 at 20:32
Hi Kristi! I actually wrote about you-- I think it was you-- once on Rue Rude (in the comments on this post: http://www.ruerude.com/2006/02/put_out_more_fl.html)
I don't know about the internet-- you could try putting ads in the American womens' groups' publications or write on blog posts like this one. Even better would be perhaps to write an article for free in the Paris Voice. Good luck! I know you're a good cook!
Posted by: Sedulia | 24 October 2007 at 22:13
Thanks, I am in a couple of the American women's catalogs but I was too late for the rest. I am trying to find more newsletters and blogs. Not only are they fun to read but very helpful!
I tried to find what you wrote and couldn't paste/copy. If I look in the archives which month?
thanks!
Posted by: kristi | 04 November 2007 at 11:57
9 Feb 06 (in the comments)!
Posted by: Sedulia | 13 November 2007 at 04:08
I am still doing two Thanksgivings. This year the one for the locals is Thursday November 26, followed by one on Saturday for those who are staying at my B&B. Here is some info:
Thanksgiving in the French Countryside November 27, 28, 29 2009
The sixth annual Thanksgiving at our Bed and Breakfast in Sologne. Just 90 minutes south of Paris, 15 minutes from Chambord, golf course and wineries.
Arrive Friday evening and enjoy a typical French game dinner. After breakfast Saturday feel free to explore our corner of the world or just curl up by the fire. But be back at 7pm for our traditional Thanksgiving dinner.
Breakfast Sunday is at your leisure as is your day. If the weather permits take our bikes and discover the forest that is at our doorstep or look for that treasure in one of the numerous flea markets
Prices start at 185euros for the weekend.
For further information : Kristi Anderson 06.83.18.42.31
. And, don’t forget to check out my blog for what is happening in Sologne Loire Valley.
http://TheAmericanFrog.typepad.fr/an_american_in_sologne
Kristi Anderson
Saint Jacques – Le Coin Perdu
15, place de l’église
45240 Ligny le Ribault
[email protected] www.TheAmericanFrog.com
French blog : http://TheAmericanFrog.typepad.fr/lecoinperdu
Posted by: kristi anderson | 05 November 2009 at 08:43
I don't normally support advertising on my blog, but having met Kristi (who used to run an English bookstore in Paris), I am more than happy to vouch for her!
Posted by: Sedulia | 06 November 2009 at 23:07
Thanks for vouching!! Both Thanksgivings were a hit. There were 32 French for the Thursday one and 12 for the American one on Saturday. And we were a real mix for
Saturday, Irish, Algerian, Indian (from India!), French and just 3 Americans!
Posted by: kristi anderson | 07 December 2009 at 07:54