This Sunday, we finally had the "dîner international" that my host family and I had been planning for awhile. To recap, my host brother's girlfriend is Spanish, my host family's other exchange student is
Swedish, and I am American, so we wanted to have a dinner with dishes from all three countries.
We started with a Spanish appetizer. First we had amazing Spanish ham and olives (which tasted just like the ham) served with champagne. I tried the same ham when I was Barcelona and loved it, so I was excited I got the chance to have it again. Then we had a sort of seafood salad with crab bits. It was really good! Another new food checked off the list. We were also served Spanish wine.
The main course was Swedish. Tilde made her grandmother's Swedish meatball recipe with mashed potatoes and a really good gravy. She spent all day on it. I don't think I've ever had Swedish meatballs before, but I really love them! I didn't realize they'd be sweet. After that we were served salad.
I decided to make Pumpkin Pie for dessert. When I told my host mom what I was going to make, she said "no no, pumpkin is not for dessert", so I was excited to make them something they'd never had or heard of before. But, I greatly underestimated how hard making this dessert would be because
A. I had never made pumpkin pie before, or any pie for that matter
B. France does not have all the same ingredients that we have and
C. France uses the metric system for measurements.
Well, thankfully, an American who moved to Paris many years ago noticed this whole ingredients debacle and created a grocery store that imports American ingredients and foods. It is called "Thanksgiving". If it weren't for this haven, there is no way I would've been able to find the ingredients I needed.
Then, it came to the actual execution of the pie. It is safe to say that I haven't done that much math in a very long time. After I finished converting all of the measurements and oven temperatures, I realized that my host family doesn't have any measuring cups in the house, or even a can opener. And I had no idea how to use their oven. Let's just say I had to do a lot of improvisation, and a lot of Google searches. Needless to say I was really nervous to see how my pumpkin pie was going to turn out.
I must have been blessed by the Thanksgiving gods because it actually turned out really well. They absolutely loved the pie! I have to admit it was pretty good for my first time, too. I could tell none of them had ever had anything like it, so that was cool for me. I am relieved that it was a success because I really wanted to make them something traditionally American before I left. I might make it for them again before I leave since they liked it so much.
The international dinner was a really good idea. It isn't something every student gets to do, and it was really fun!
Swedish, and I am American, so we wanted to have a dinner with dishes from all three countries.
We started with a Spanish appetizer. First we had amazing Spanish ham and olives (which tasted just like the ham) served with champagne. I tried the same ham when I was Barcelona and loved it, so I was excited I got the chance to have it again. Then we had a sort of seafood salad with crab bits. It was really good! Another new food checked off the list. We were also served Spanish wine.
The main course was Swedish. Tilde made her grandmother's Swedish meatball recipe with mashed potatoes and a really good gravy. She spent all day on it. I don't think I've ever had Swedish meatballs before, but I really love them! I didn't realize they'd be sweet. After that we were served salad.
I decided to make Pumpkin Pie for dessert. When I told my host mom what I was going to make, she said "no no, pumpkin is not for dessert", so I was excited to make them something they'd never had or heard of before. But, I greatly underestimated how hard making this dessert would be because
A. I had never made pumpkin pie before, or any pie for that matter
B. France does not have all the same ingredients that we have and
C. France uses the metric system for measurements.
Well, thankfully, an American who moved to Paris many years ago noticed this whole ingredients debacle and created a grocery store that imports American ingredients and foods. It is called "Thanksgiving". If it weren't for this haven, there is no way I would've been able to find the ingredients I needed.
Then, it came to the actual execution of the pie. It is safe to say that I haven't done that much math in a very long time. After I finished converting all of the measurements and oven temperatures, I realized that my host family doesn't have any measuring cups in the house, or even a can opener. And I had no idea how to use their oven. Let's just say I had to do a lot of improvisation, and a lot of Google searches. Needless to say I was really nervous to see how my pumpkin pie was going to turn out.
I must have been blessed by the Thanksgiving gods because it actually turned out really well. They absolutely loved the pie! I have to admit it was pretty good for my first time, too. I could tell none of them had ever had anything like it, so that was cool for me. I am relieved that it was a success because I really wanted to make them something traditionally American before I left. I might make it for them again before I leave since they liked it so much.
The international dinner was a really good idea. It isn't something every student gets to do, and it was really fun!
The international relations continued tonight when I got to have dinner with my Australian cousin Teresa who is in Paris for business. Teresa's dad is my Nana's cousin, so she is a distant relative that I don't get to see that often. The last time I saw her was in 2007 when she was living in Canada. It was really great catching up! I can't believe her son is already 15 years old. We went to an amazing restaurant called Le Casse Noix and had lots of delicious food. We were stuffed by the end!
When I got home after dinner, I walked into a house divided. The France vs. Sweden soccer game was on, which was obviously a big game for our household. My host family is really fun to watch soccer with, not unlike other Europeans. I love hearing the comments they make. "Ooh la la la la!" "Il est tres stupid!" I even found myself involuntarily commenting on the game in French which was really funny to me. Can't wait to see what random French phrases slip out when I'm back in the States.
Now that things are winding down, I realize how much I'm going to miss my host family. They're great people.
Countdown: 17 days left.
Bisous,
Claire