Tonio, a retired master mechanic, has his personal dream garage 2 doors down from our house. He works on cars for his friends and friends of his friends, but mostly just hangs out Monday through Friday, 8-5, talking, puttering around and sharing a glass of the good stuff with friends 🙂
At the beginning of the week, Tonio was craving barbecue. He mesmerized me with talk of barbecued meats in the style of his native country, Portugal, and his mastery of all things grilled. He specifically mentioned cote de boeuf or rib steak. Talk being cheap, I insisted we set a date for the weekend, volunteering to make sides and a Bavarian chicken. Saturday was good for everyone.
I steamed some cauliflower with sliced yams and covered all with a cheesy bechamel sauce, then made a Texan potato salad; potatoes, onion, sweet gherkins, pimentos, boiled eggs, mayonnaise, and yellow, I’m talking to you Frugal, mustard.
I sent the marinated chicken over early so that Tonio could get that started with the travers de porc (French ribs) before he grilled the other meats that needed less time. There was so much food!
Hey, wait a minute! That’s Chantal in front of the grill! Where’s Tonio, the barbecue king? I obviously totally misunderstood Mr. Tonio! He meant that it would be at his house using the barbecue pit that he constructed but that, naturally, his spouse Chantal would do the cooking while he looked at Portuguese TV or strolled around looking barbecue worthy 😀 Okay.
Tonio has also constructed a wonderful Florida room in his courtyard with sofas, television and a casual, kitchen table. Absolutely perfect for bright, sunny days or rainy, wet ones like yesterday.
I would like to attach a veranda to the back of our house for our dining room table. Also I would like Chantal’s bread basket 🙂
We began this fiesta with spicy, barbecued shrimp and a nice assortment of French sausages. Delicioso!
As I tucked into my sausages of boudin noir, boudin blanc and andouilette, I thought sadly of Le Parret, stuck in the hospital with his invalid’s fare of porridge or maybe gruel. Really, I had to take a big sip of Champagne to control the tears 😀
Chantal’s roasted peppers with chipolatas and merguez were incredible! I wanted seconds but there was the steak, the chicken, the ribs, the potato salad and cauliflower casserole still to get through. Cheese and dessert were mentioned but I knew that was going to be impossible for me!
Do you remember what I said about French amusing themselves by putting a finger/hand into a picture? SMH
The food and wine was excellent and we did have a good time, but I think we all missed M. Parret.
I’m sure M. Parret missed the feast as well. Hope he is doing good and will be home soon.
He’s doing fine and we should see him in Sens in about 2 weeks.
I’m glad…he is a good friend to you. 🙂
So true.
What a feast!
Yes it was. We’ll have to do that again when M. Parret gets out of hospital.
Wow, that was a fantastic barbecue! The meat looks delicious and I love the idea of your vegetables with béchamel. …and then there were all the sausages and shrimp 😉
I do hope you are all taking it in turns to deliver cheese to M. Parret…
No cheese for M. Parret, except what he’s allowed in hospital. They are French and he is allowed to have wine in his room 🙂
Very sensible – that will help to keep his spirits up 🙂
HERE’S A MOST RECENT FIND: American Black Angus ribeye @ the Grand Epicerie, Paris 75007. OK expensive, but for a one-off celebration…whoopeee cowboy. The Ozzie’s and American’s (along with Florentine’s) seem to squeeze the best out of beef. Cote de boeuf always looks good, but never quite sings the foreign competitions’ highest notes. This might get me kicked out of France, but I dare a taste test.
I think it depends on the breed of cattle in France. I’ve had Black Angus from the commissary and still think that Charolais tastes better.
UH oh. Was the commissary cheating???
It was stamped USDA. If that makes anyone feel better 😀
;D sure does
I miss M. Parret!!
Me too.
you’re making me feel hungry…aaaa!!!! 🙂
Good 😉
I’m watching my figure….you’re posts and especially picures are “dangerous” bcz I LOVE to cook and eat haha
It’s almost criminal to watch your figure in Italy! I just couldn’t 🙂
true!!!! holiday is a holiday, after all 😉
Yes! Worry about it when you’re at home.
home cooked food is the best and I’m going to “borrow” some recipes from your blog 😉
Good. That’s what they’re for 🙂