Thursday, June 24, 2010

Lunch in the garden

The weather on Wednesday was spectacular, just as the weather people said it would be. And how often can you say that? American friends Joel, Lynn, Hannah, and Rachael came over from their vacation house near Valençay to have lunch with us. We set up the barnum (dining tarp) in the yard and got everything ready for lunch outdoors.

Hannah, Ken, Joel, Lynn, Rachael, and Callie.

Ken made a spicy tagine of chicken with prunes, onions, almonds and sesame seeds which we served on couscous. Along side were a grated carrot salad and cucumbers in a yogurt dressing. We started out with nibbles and a local sparkling rosé, then followed with a Sidi Brahim rosé (from Morocco), a red Bourgueil, and a red Sancerre (both local Loire Valley wines). Dessert was a lemon tart.

Spicy tagine of chicken, onions, prunes, almonds, and sesame seeds along side cucumbers in yogurt.

Callie enjoyed her spot under the table when she wasn't fetching tennis balls thrown by the girls. Bertie even made an appearance later in the afternoon. We had a great time and were sorry to see our new friends leave. They head back to Paris on Monday for their return flight home after a nice month-long vacation in central France.

Home-made tarte au citron.

15 comments:

  1. Lunch in the garden with friends on a beautiful summer day - life doesn't get much better than that.

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  2. How fun! It's true, life does not get better than that (as Jean already said...)

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  3. I hope your friends don't take the good weather with them! Our kids used to like Orangina also.

    Callie looks happy to have her beautiful twin friends chez toi.

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  4. That lemon tart is a chef d'oeuvre. The main course is also lovely.

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  5. Jean you are right - life doesn't get much better than that. It was a perfect day. Just perfect.

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  6. We love Sancerre but it's so expensive in the states.

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  7. You always have such splendid looking food.

    Most of the time, I am eating garbage or some sort of liquid matter for nourishment but not substance.

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  8. Thanks to all! We had a terrific time.

    Orangina is a classic French beverage made with orange juice and pulp. It's lightly fizzy and very sweet. I remember being able to buy it in San Francisco, but don't know how widely available it is in the US.

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  9. Ah, that lemon tart looks tempting. Is it sweet or tangy?

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  10. Tagine! Specialite de la maison chez Will. It looks as if you have the same Emile Henri tagine that I do.

    We'll be harvesting yellow summer squash by the middle of next week. The garden is roaring along now -- what a pleasure!

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  11. WOW!!! Looks like you all had a GREAT time!!! Loved the tagine AND the tarte!!!! YUMMM!!!!

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