image - vicki archer
I am thinking about the Christmas menu... There is not a whole lot of new to think of because our family is very conventional when it comes to the turkey and cranberry sauce feast... The only exception is that we add a few French traditions on top...
In a perfect world I am hoping it will run something like this...
smoked salmon and creme fraiche baby blinis topped with fresh dill
freshly shucked oysters with a dash of shallot vinaigrette
fois gras and champagne jelly on toasted Poilane bread
bite size fruit mince pies... just warm
bite size fruit mince pies... just warm
***
roast turkey with chestnut stuffing
chipolatas (if I can find them)
seared duck breast with an apricot glaze
brussel sprouts with pancetta and fresh sage
sauté carrots and parsnips with a touch of lavender honey
oven roasted potatoes
gravy and cranberry sauce to accompany
***
flaming plum pudding
brandy sauce and brandy butter
home made vanilla ice cream
bûche de noël
***
glacé fruit from our local confiseur Lilimand
chocolates from the lovely Joel Durand
***
Reading back it looks highly ambitious... but I've done it before and I am sure I can do it again... As soon as I finish decorating and wrapping ... the food shopping is my plan...
Ready, set, go... 5 more days... xv
Ready, set, go... 5 more days... xv
J'arrive....
ReplyDeleteGros bisous et joyeuses fêtes.
Hi Vicki
ReplyDeleteYour menu sounds delicious and what a variety you are serving.
I am making my list to shop tomorrow. I need to order a box of oysters approx 200 oysters. It is my contribution to a Christmas Even Party we are attending.
I see you are an early riser, now I must take myself off to bed.
Helen xx
Delish...save a place for me ;)
ReplyDeletexxx
Well, bonne chance, Vicki, you will need it with such a menu! I can tell you have become French after all these years: This meal will require spending at least three hours at the dinner table. ;-) Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)
ReplyDeleteI'm coming to your place for Christmas! I hope you have help this does sound ambitious. My menu will probably read something like:
ReplyDeleteolive tapenade and garlic aoli and crudites/crackers
Roast Ham
Roast turkey with pancetta,parmesan, lemon stuffing and covered in pancetta
Cranberry sauce
roast chat potatoes with vermouth and bayleaves
roast cherry tomatoes with garlic and spanish onion (served cold)
fennel, parmesan, rocket, roast almond salad. Plum pudding with custard/and or xmas cake
cranberry/champagne cocktails and maybe after Gin and tonics- well something like that. Have a great day with your family xxCorrina.
It all sounds so delicious Vicki.
ReplyDeleteMy first french Christmas dinner nearly finished me - twelve courses counting the canapes and all so rich, especially the foie gras!!!!
I know what to expect now!!
Joyeux Noel
Shane x
Very festive, delicious sounding, and plenty of choices for veggies, too.
ReplyDeleteVicki, your menu sounds delish. I think food menus always sound nicer in French. We love the traditional Christmas dinner,but it's going to be 36c here on Christmas day,so I think the air con will be working overtime with the oven on.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas and a safe,healthy,happy New Year xx jeanetteann
Heavenly. I BELIEVE you can do it!
ReplyDeleteVicki,
ReplyDeleteI hope you have kitchen elves.
Joyeux Noel
Karen
It sounds amazing!
ReplyDeleteYes, you are ambitious! Sounds wonderful. What time is dinner :)?
ReplyDeleteI hope that you have a wonderful Christmas, VIcki.
Teresa
xoxo
It sounds divine and I am most envious of those who are able to partake in such a feast!
ReplyDeletemon dieu!
ReplyDeleteutter deliciousness
I adore Christmas lunch and this sounds délicieux!
ReplyDeleteCarrots in lavender honey...mmmm! I hope you find some chipolatas too.
PS I was delighted to find a Poilâne bakery on my last trip to London!
http://missbbobochic.blogspot.com/
Well of course you can do it! Pshh. Pas. de. probleme. And what a fantastic menu it is. Remi and I have decided that, for the first time, we are going to decide at the last minute. We are invited to our dear friends house in the Baux for the 25th (I am making my cinammon sweet potatoe purée) so we can be more adventurous than usual for the 24th as it is just the two of us!
ReplyDeleteThat's lots of cooking! Sounds delicious - love the combination of flavors you've chosen.
ReplyDeleteit sounds like heaven to me... and any chocolate from joel... anything from poilane and to visit you in your home... i will be right over...(he he)
ReplyDeletewe will be sailing to the caribbean... very different for us as we are colorado christmas family but when your father at 80 wants to go... we jump aboard... and will have a wonderful time....
wishing you the most joyful christmas sweet friend.... xoxo
OMG, only 5 more days !!
ReplyDeleteSounds wonderful and highly daunting too, doesn't it? But, somehow we all manage and everything comes off perfectly. I'm doing a standing rib roast along with everything else traditional...last jewelry shipments out today, last gifts wrapped today...then delivery to everyone I won't see over the weekend. Plus, Houston's football team is in the playoffs (1st time) so Thursday night football...GO TEXANS !!
Wow! What a fabulous feast. Such lucky recipients! Phil xxxxx
ReplyDeleteVICKI-
ReplyDeleteIronically, from the distance of now living in California--
Your exact menu is the CHRISTMAS DINNER my very traditional English family used to have in the South Island of NEW ZEALAND.
Imagine...we would be at our beach house...and earlier we would be swimming at our beach and sunbathing in our dunes..while my mother and grandmother and our cook would be preparing roast ducking or roast lamb (possibly both) and my father would be rattling around finding the perfect wines for each course. Bubbly first. Christmas crackers at each place. And of course, silver figures and family little tiny miniature toys in the flaming pudding, with lots of brandy.
Later we would walk along the beach, still light, and watch the stars come out. Fortunate and wonderful.
cheers, DIANE
www.thestylesaloniste.com/
Hi Vicki, Sounds delicious--I'm coming. We are having some of that: smoked salmon, assorted French cheeses and pears, crab and avocado aspic, asparagus seared with garlic, boeuf bourguignon (I can cook ahead), wild rice, my pies and treats and California wines--plus babies and now a couple of teenagers. Just a little crazy. Jones loves it all, but is exhausted when everyone leaves (me, too). The shopping is done, the food is bought, just the rest of the decorating and cooking to do. Be well, sending love at this magical time of the year. Mary
ReplyDeleteOkay Vicki, right next door is the apartment we rented a couple of years ago. The best bakery in Paris! Your past couple of posts have been from the neighborhood. Ina Garten (Barefoot Contessa) lives just up the road! What a wonderful Christmas present to visit all over again. Merci!
ReplyDeletesounds amazing, Vicki - it's traditional at our house too with an English twist - roasted parsnip soup and trifle for dessert. And of course you can do it - it's just planning and organizing that youneed in the next few days.
ReplyDeleteWOW!!!! That sounds incredible.... Very low key for us with seafood and different salads for lunch, roast pork with all the trimmings for tea and pudding of course to end the day we are staying at Kingscliff in an apartment for 10 days so that will be the highlight for us being together as a family as my husband travels so much and of course a cricket match on the beach in the afternoon xoxoxo
ReplyDeleteI am drooling{just a bit} sounds wonderful! Of course you can do it. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
ReplyDeleteWow, what a feast!
ReplyDeleteHave a great Christmas!
How I would love to be at your table! It sounds divine! Happy planning, and Joyeaux Noel ~
ReplyDeleteNathalie
Wow - wish I was sitting at your Christmas table! Sounds amazing. Good luck!
ReplyDeletethat's it... I'm flying over for Christmas dinner!!! I sounds like a fabulous menu Vicki!
ReplyDeleteWishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas !
joan
p.s. thank you so much for leaving your "calling card!"
You are a woman who always rises to a challenge......with great flare! I'm sure your dinner will be parfait.
ReplyDeleteJoyeux Noël
Yep … this will do for me, thank you very much!
ReplyDeleteI think everything is now 'thankfully' available 'down under' I might have to nip up to Sydney for the Fois Gras but any excuse for my city hit will do!
Merries
bee x
Vicki, you didn't mention that you are cooking enough for all of your followers to stop by! Here we come! No really...it sounds "over the top". Mine is: Individual Beef Wellingtons, Scalloped Potatoes with Bacon, Caramelized Onions, and Thyme: Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Pancetta and Cranberries, and the yearly Bûche!! Have a wonderful holiday with your family.
ReplyDeleteMIAM MIAM .. I love Joel Durand's chocolates
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely menu you will be busy.We are having seafood, roast turkey, pork, glazed ham and variety of roast vegs.I have made a pudding and there will be lots of Moet too! Have a wonderful Christmas Vicki. xx Trish
ReplyDeleteAmazing menu! A blessed Christmas to you and your family! Patsy from
ReplyDeleteHeARTworks
Well, I have copied this menu and hope to serve it someday. It is divinely delicious sounding.
ReplyDelete