Unfortunately, our neighbor Mme Parret has had an uncomfortable year as far as her health is concerned which has interfered with her ability to make those marvelous, daily, multicourse lunches that she is famous for. Unwilling to totally give up on an activity that she enjoys, and the company of the hundreds who have sat at her table, she drafted M. Parret today as a substitute cook , under close supervision 🙂
In case things went wrong, we fortified ourselves with a dry, robust wine from the Loire Valley, Savennieres. Though it was a good excuse to sip and sip again a nice wine, we shouldn’t have worried. M. and Mme Parret have been together for over 50 years; it’s obvious that M. Parret paid some attention to what was happening in the kitchen. We began with an entree of salmon and leeks in butter sauce.
The “plat principal” was braised rabbit in a mushroom, creme fraiche sauce with pasta. Simple, traditional and very good. This was served with a Beaujolais Village.
We, of course, had a cheese platter and because Mme Parret would never trust M. Parret to make a tart, we had fresh pineapple for dessert, and coffee. A very nice meal.
Perfect, simple, well balanced menu that screams Provincial France. Savennieres is such a good choice with the salmon.
It’s the way they eat, Roger. No Jamie Oliver flirtations for them. No siree. What was good for their parents is good for them. And really, it is good.
That looks wonderful. You always post food that is on my mind – I was talking about rabbit and its virtues only yesterday!
Glad you like it. Let’s see some Frugal rabbit!
You know, I think I shall get myself some!
That looks delicious – congratulations to M. Parret 😉
That is quite an accomplishment for M. Parret.. although my husband has been in our kitchen for 20+ years, I don’t think he pays enough attention to have pulled that off! Excellent!
My husband has stood in the kitchen constantly for over 35 years while I’m cooking(that’s why I needed a big kitchen). Still, he would not be able to produce a multicourse meal.
That’s awesome.. we’re just over 20. Amazing isn’t it?
It’s almost a miracle 🙂
Another beautiful post. We will not get to France for another 3 months. I am having difficulty with the wait.
Best,
Conor
On my very recent trip to Provence, I was fortunate to enjoy rabit on more than one occasion. Yours looks lovely!
Did they use the creme fraiche in the pasta sauce or the rabbit sauce? Pasta dressed with creme fraiche and parsley sound very tasty.
I live the shot of the salmon plate, Sens, you have a great eye for photography!
The creme fraiche was for the rabbit. The pasta was simply buttered.
It looks wonderful. M. Perret did well! Simple food with good ingredients, as it should be.
Lovely dinner. M. Perret did a terrific job. You have wonderful neighbors!
What a beautiful story of commitment and love! 50 years? If only we all could be so lucky.
M. Parret did pineapple? Ahem, not to nitpick or anything, but this is the same man who won’t eat strawberries if they come from Spain?
Tropical fruits don’t count. France doesn’t grow them. We would have had gariguette strawberries but he says they are not yet at their peak of sweetness. Coulda fooled me!
You will have to let me know when those strawberries are at their best.
Good to know that exceptions are made to those things that France does not grow!
June, he says.
Lovely post and such a cute story about M and Mme Parret.
What a lovely post.
What a great looking meal. And I’m craving that wine too.
Beautiful, simple food cooked in a traditional way. Perfect! I do hope Mme Parret´s health improves.
Mmm, love rabbit! Delicious looking dish!
I never had rabbit before, it looks like chicken so I’m sure it MUST taste good.
It does taste good. Some say it tastes like chicken but I don’t think so; it tastes like rabbit 🙂
Years ago when I was a student in Paris, I had a meal in a student cafeteria and took what I thought was chicken with some kind of tomatoe sauce. It was only after I finished that delicious dish and examined the bones on my plate did I realize it was not chicken. It was rabbit!
That’s because rabbit “tastes like chicken” 🙂
Thats a simple yet lovely balanced meal. I haven’t tried rabbit for sometime now and this makes me crave for one.
I would have loved to have shared that meal…you can feel the love that was put into those dishes.