By the time this Easter rolls around, I will have spent four weeks in isolation with my two and a half year old daughter. I think it will be high time to change out of my yoga pants, put on some makeup and set a lovely spring table for a beautiful meal.
The most important meal of the weekend is undoubtedly Easter Sunday Lunch. Families get together to share wine, stories and a table of fresh spring foods. Le Chef and I spent many Easters in Toulon around Mamie’s table. I hold such fond memories of these times and can remember each delicious menu item that made the memories so special.
A sample Menu from lunch at Mamie Pierrette Giannini’s:
Apéro:
Orange wine served with Fougasse (a flat French bread made with olive oil and flavored with herbs such as rosemary…trop bon!) and perhaps a few slices of quiche or tourte aux blettes (a tart made with swiss chard and pine nuts) still warm from the oven.
If we were really lucky – Mamie will have made Zucchini fritters (beignets de courgettes).
Main Course:
Le Gigot d’agneau, leg of lamb, roasted in the oven with little baby potatoes flavored with garlic, rosemary and thyme. Mamie’s trick for cooking the Gigot and still have time to go to church, is to cook « le gigot de 7 heures » Literally, cooked for 7 hours at a lower temperature, it can cook overnight.
Young spring asparagus, slightly crunchy, served with a Champagne Citrus Vinaigrette or else a Sabayon. (See Le Chef’s recipe for our favorite vinaigrette featured in Edible DC)
Salade à l’ail. Crunchy leaves of fresh spring greens, tossed in an olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette with chopped garlic.
Cheese course:
Fromage de Chevre frais au miel, (fresh goat cheese with honey) and fresh herbed cheese.
Dessert
Brioche a l’écorce d’orange et fleur d’oranger (A beautiful brioche bread shaped like a wreath and flavored with orange blossom and orange zest).
Oeuf de Pâques avec fritures (small eggs filled with hazelnut cream and pralines inside of a large Chocolate egg, made by the local patisserie). ** For those living in the USA and Canada, Ladurée makes a great selection of Easter Pastries that can be delivered to your door in time for Easter**
Un bon café followed by a long walk in the sun.
I will be following most of these traditions with my family this Easter Sunday in Mclean, Virginia. While we have never felt so distanced from our families abroad, it is the traditions and memories that will make them feel closer.
What will you be doing to celebrate this Easter, mes amis?
Please share with me how you are going to make this holiday feel special.
Au plaisir,
Le Chef’s Wife
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