Le Competition

Are you ready for a feast???

In the spirit of friendship inspired by Writers Island this week, I thought I would tell you all about the grand competition that took place while I was visiting with my friend Corey in the South of France...

Along with being an amazing cook and master of setting a table and home with beauty... one of Corey's gifts is of the art of matchmaking...

With vintage paper, Corey created place names for each of us, giving us an air of mystery...

Attending le competition was... Madame House, Monsieur Land, Madame Macaroon, Madame Velvet, Monsieur Chair, Monsieur Beau, Mademoiselle Belle de Noir, and... 

yours truly... Madame Pathway...

The table was set...

and the guests arrived!

Here we have lovely Mélanie and her beautiful mother...

And we started the evening
with one of the best guacamoles I've ever had!!!!

This was made by Mélanie's mother, and I have to say that I consider myself a connoisseur of guacamole, having grown up in California... and this one was sooooooo yummy, and quite a surprise to taste in France!!!

Just look at what occurred in not much time at all!!!

Then it was my turn... I was delighted to serve the Amusé Bouche... I made grapes stuffed with blue-cheese, toasted walnuts, then drizzled with honey from the region and a sprinkle of thyme from the garden and served in antique silver soup spoons...

followed by cucumber soup
in these lovely antique demitasse cups...

Wine flowed from the hand of Monsieur Beau...

and Monsieur Land served up his feast of mussels...

and the mandalas of feasting began...

salmon and shrimp by Madame Macaroon...

Simmered tomatoes
and red peppers by Mademoiselle Belle de Noir...

a lovely grain dish by Madame Velvet...

all together on one plate...

and more wine and conversations flowed...

Then Madame House served her cheese course... cheese stuffed with garlic then baked, sauteed mushrooms, and sorrel lightly dressed in oil, vinegar, and herbs of Provence...

And then... last but not least...
the famous cheesecake of Madame Macaroon...

and you ask... what was the competition for??? Why to win the hand of Monsieur Beau and a trip to Turkey the following morning!!! But wait, most of us are married... and... I think we all won??? And as far as I know... Monsieur Beau took off with suitcase in hand... little did he know that we were all stowed inside... and he wondered why that suitcase was sooooooo heavy...

Oh this magical evening will forever sing a song in my heart of friends gathered together, laughing, feasting, and sharing the beauty of friendship...