“So what do you think?”
MB and I are whispering in the kitchen.
“I mean, I guess we could,” he says.
“Is it too much? Maybe it is too much.” I am feeling doubtful as I look over at my guests.
“Well, it is probably too much but who cares?”
This seems like a good point and I grab the jar of foie gras out of the cupboard. A friend of mine from the U.S. is staying with is for one night with two of his ski buddies that I have just met. Even though they are not hungry and we are going to fondue later that evening, I cannot resist the urge to ply them with French goodies. I have already put out a cheese plate and now I am pulling out a bottle of sauterne and onion confit for the foie gras.
“Wait! We don’t have baguette!” MB says.
“That’s okay,” I say, throwing on my coat. “I will go and buy some!”
MB looks at me incredulously.
“Really?”
“Yeah, it’s totally fine, you stay here and drink wine. I’ll be right back.”
MB can’t believe his luck; this never happens.
Normally, to get me to leave the house at night time when it is about -10˚C (7˚F) there would need to be some sort of disaster, maybe there is a burglar or a fire…even then, it is possible I would choose death over being cold (depending on how much wine I have consumed). However, the mere notion of being able to serve foie gras for the first time to two people I’ve never met has me shooting out of the house like some sort of weird food-oriented super hero (maybe with an “FG” logo on my unitard…and a slight pot belly).
Upon return from the bakery, I crack open the foie gras and pour the wine. I watch, expectantly as our two guests try their first ever bit of foie gras. Casually I take a sip of my wine, acting as though I don’t care at all whether or not they think it is totally amazing.
Slowly, one of them begins to speak. “It’s-,” he breaks off and takes another bite. “It’s not what I expected.”
“Not what you expected good or not what you expected bad?” My voice sounds tense as I desperately try to keep my cool disinterest.
“Definitely, definitely not what I expected in a good way.”
MUHAHAHAHA! SUCCESS!
I’m thrilled.
Throughout my entire life, I have cherished the moments when I’ve been able to watch someone else enjoy something that I, too, have enjoyed. It’s like sharing a wonderful secret. Once, in a book store a lady exclaimed loudly at me in excited terms about a book that I was considering buying, her family looked at her aghast at her show of enthusiasm towards a completely random individual; but I totally got it. One of the most wonderful gifts of our existence is to share the things that give us joy. It’s the reason your neighbor comes to make you fondue, or why you take your parents to your favorite spot in a new town, it’s why you sit through a movie you’ve seen a million times just so someone else can see it for the first, and it’s why, with a migraine headache in -10˚ weather, you will run out to buy baguette for two brand new acquaintances.
Bread is Pain 
Aww I loved this! (well not the foie gras aspect, but the overall message of the post)
After 6 years, Max is still trying to “sell me” France. He gave up on selling me French food a long time ago when I started dry heaving every time we’d go to market, but he really wants me to like France, so he’s become somewhat of a tour guide. I know he’ll visit places he’s been thousands of times just to show me, and our honey moon was a tour de France in his old car at the time with a tent and a tank of gas. We drove around the entire perimetre of the country in 40°C weather (it was August and we were stupid), and he proudly showed me where he went to police school, Mont St. Michel, the beaches in Perpignan, and all the nooks and crannies in his favourite town (and now mine), Annecy.
When my family and best friends came from Canada to visit, I found myself doing the same. I took them all (on separate occasions) to my favourite spots in the north of France, and also to Bruges in Belgium. I took them to Paris and they nicknamed me “Jason Bourne” because of my ability to navigate the kilometres of metro stations with ease. I don’t know how many times I’ve stood at the edge of Trocadero with loved ones, but it’s still magical every time to see their faces as they gaze over at the Eiffel Tower in the distance.
And then they ask to eat at a French restaurant and I start dry heaving all over again.
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Haha – it really must be difficult sometimes, being a vegetarian here! That’s a great little story though – what a cool experience to drive around the country and then be able to share it with your family. My Mother is coming for another visit in June and I can’t wait to do some of that type of stuff together!
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This is to let you know that I’ve mentioned you on my Blog, as part of my being awarded a “Versatile Blogger” award. I know that many bloggers don’t do awards, and I can appreciate why…but I’d still like to acknowledge the fact that your blog is one that I visit regularly and enjoy reading. Thank you for that.
If you want to participate in the Versatile Blogger award, then do visit my blog at fatdormouse.blogspot.com to find out more.
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Thank you so much – that is really kind! I actually already did the Versatile Blogger award a few weeks back but I have been a bit slack about putting it on my homepage…guess I need to get on that! I really appreciate the shout-out and glad that you like the blog! 🙂
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Great writing, nice story! I am glad I found your blog 🙂
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Thanks so much – that is sweet of you to say!!! It really was fun to give foie gras to two people who hadn’t tried it before! 🙂
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This story made my day! I really find myself in similar situations (Auberge des Allières!). Well done for this great post and see you soon!
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Haha – yay, glad you can relate!! Yes, I think it is a reason that we all get on so well – we love the new experiences but also sharing old ones! Can’t wait for thursday!
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Hi – I came over as a fellow awardee of Dormouse! We’re Brits who’ve been near Toulouse for 7 years now. We have learned to like foie gras ourselves (what can you do down here in duck country?) but have yet to get any members of family or friends to eat it. The Brits are VERY animal rights-orientated…
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Hello!! I look forward to checking your blog out as well!! Yes, I was a bit worried that I might upset some people writing about foie gras. They’ve just made it illegal in California!
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if this is how you treat your guests, i’ll have to seriously consider visiting……….
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I told you that you should! 🙂
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i think you are not praised enough with your hospitality. i remember you helping me when i first came to nz and when i visited memphis!
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man, i still remember you beating down the Tangerierio Crossing. When you finished, you looked like you just woke up from a 9hr slumber.
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HA! That is a lie! …But what a great hike!
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