Saturday 15 January 2011

Saturday 1 January 2011

Reveillon De la St Sylvestre

Reveillon de la St Sylvestre is the French celebration of New Year's Eve

We closed the bar early and went to the salle de fete (village hall) for the celebration. 120 places all sold out a month ago. This is organised by the village Fete committee, but catered by a local hotel. The cost was €50 a person VIN COMPRIS
The start time was 8.30 pm but as this is France people were still arriving at 10.30
The evening commenced with a grapefruit kir, well actually a couple of them!!
This was served with some canapes, to wet the appetite at about 9.45

The starter was served at 10,30, foie gras together with a large glass of Pineau des Charente and 4 bottles of Muscadet between the 12 of us on the table

Fish course next getting near to midnight, salmon on a bed of leeks then up onto the dance floor for a dance where the disco guys did a countdown to celebrate the new year.



Back to the meal after midnight with a Trou Campenois, a glass of sorbet with a unknown strong alcohol floating on the top

Then at half past 12, 4 hours after the start, the main course arrives. Duck breast stuffed with mushrooms and veg. And well worth the wait!!
served of course with four bottles of red

Only two more courses, assortment of cheeses and salad and then finally at 2am dessert, a passion fruit pyramid with a red fruit coulis, served with bottles of sparkling wine.



Coffee, with cognac or eau de vie followed and dancing into the early hours.
we called it a day at 4am as the bar had to be opened this morning.
I have no idea of the time it finally ended but as we left they were atking orders for onion soup to be served around 5am!!

a great night, and it is suprising how you can communicate in a foreign language as the wine bottles empty