French Thanksgiving

We've done quite a few Thanksgiving meals in Paris though this was the first truly French Thanksgiving. Jo's cousin Isabelle is 100% French though loves American culture and did a semester or two at Cornell when she was in college. Months ago she made sure that we would lock in this date for her dinner and wow, she really did a great job right down to the pumpkin pie. The turkey was perfectly moist (brining, of course!) and everyone well fed. It's never easy preparing big meals in tiny Paris kitchens but Isabelle is such a great cook so she rose to the occasion.

This afternoon we're lined up for our Franco-American Thanksgiving. I'm bringing the port wine/orange cranberry sauce and a new recipe for sweet potatoes.


The stove was gearing up for the meal. Creamed corn with fresh cream, sweat potato puree, cranberry sauce and a tasty mushroom starter. And of course, a starting supply of wine in the background.

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The turkey has arrived! It's not the most typical food that you will find over here so it was quite a show. It was a 7 kilo bird which is enormous for here.


Full of jokes and a taste for theatrics, Cedric was quite good with carving the turkey. It wasn't the typical think slices that we grow up with but instead, nice chunks. I think I'm going to try that next time.


Turkey, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and stuffing. It's all there.


We found a Thanksgiving quiz online and despite the holiday being American, the group performed well. When it came time to do Joelle's favorite "let's go around and tell everyone what they are thankful for," it crashed and burned. A bit too touchy-feely.