French meals for Christmas

 France is known for its great cuisine. Traditionally, Christmas is an occasion to gather with family over a hearty meal.

The holiday menu consists of:

Starter. Oysters, they can be eaten with buttered rye bread or simply with lemon juice and a glass of dry and slightly fruity white wine.

Then comes foie gras. It can be eaten on toast or on brioche bread with a touch of sweetness, and preferably with a semi-dry white wine. 

And of course seafood as lobster, smoked salmon and scallop shell.

As main dish, it can be turkey with chestnuts, capon or goose served with green beans or backed potatoes or it will be duck breast, especially in Toulouse. The duck is accompanied with red wine and a gratin dauphinois - potatoes with cream and cheese. Other family members may opt for white pudding with cooked apples, pheasant in port or scallops with cream, served with a nice salad.

There will be a cheese platter, including either a Beaufort or a Comte, a Roquefort, a Brie and an ashen goat cheese. Of course with the cheese comes back the red wine and bread: a good cripsy baguette or a more rustic bread.

For dessert, it's the delicious "Buche de Noel" (Yule log). Before it became the main dessert of Christmas dinner, it was the subject of ancient rituals celebrating the winter solstice. For centuries, at the beginning of the evening it was customary to put in the fire a large log chosen for its size and quality to keep it burning all night. The trunk should preferably come from a fruit tree to ensure future harvests. The disapperance of the large fireplace in the houses ended that tradition, but it was replaced in 1945 by a dessert created by a pastry chef.

In Provence, the ritual of 13 desserts symbolizing 12 apostles and Jesus continues today. It includes croquants, auricles, black or white nougat, quince paste, mendiants, apple, pear, tangerine, dates, white grapes, hazelnuts, calissons d'Aix, Christmas chocolate...in short, the list is long!

In Alsace pastry has been a must for centuries. Cakes of all shapes, the Christoles illustrate Christmas themes and characters (newborn, star, fir tree, cresent moon, cross, etc.)

At midnight, all the guests wish each other a " Merry Christmas before unwrapping the presents.