Sunday Dinner Party

Today was overcast and it rained on and off all day - however there was no wind and it was very bright and beautiful outside.  We decided to stay at home to prepare for our big dinner party tonight and Anka, Lincoln and Oscar went into Beaune to buy coffee and bread and then went for  a long bike ride along the nearby canal.

Brian set the fire, set the table, vacuumed the floor and prepared, after consultation from Jasper, the most amazing collection of wine, chatted in the garden and caught up on some reading - and I was in seventh heaven in the kitchen preparing beautiful Burgundian produce, including a huge pot of coq au vin - made from the 6+ kg Bress coq we bought at the market.  It was weighed while its head and feet were still intact, but I asked the butcher to remove those bits.  He did give me the coq's comb however which was very gelatinous and perfect for the chicken stock.

I had a few visitors during the day - one of Abigail's cats (named Squeeky because of his voice), a large black farm dog whose owner was visiting Abigail, and Jasper who delivered raspberries and tomatoes that he'd picked from the garden.

And then at 7:30pm the guests arrived - Anka, Lincoln and Oscar and our landlords, Abigail and Jasper.  We sat in front of the fire and started with a bottle of Krug NV champagne which we bought in Epernay and then moved to the dining table for what was expected to be a quick dinner, but where we ended up staying until well after midnight.

And the menu:

Starters:  Selection of olives, baby radishes and fresh raspberries served in front of the fire.

Entree:  Warm forest mushroom salad served with fabulous white burgundy.

Mains:  Slow cooked standing rib roast with fresh Dijon mustard and a red wine jus, baby potatoes drizzled with olive oil and garlic and roasted and lightly steamed baby green beans with fresh walnuts (also from the garden) served with the most amazing red wine. I removed the meat from the bone to sear it, served it in thick slices and served the bones separately.

Cheese:  A large piece of fabulous 2 year-old Beauford (pronounced bow for) and fresh figs.

Tea & Coffee:  Jasper's herb tea (picked from the garden) or Brian's coffee served with some little champagne cork shaped liqueur chocolates and pretty rose biscuits that we bought in Epernay, served with a delicious vouvray provided by Jasper.

Lots of fresh bread and fabulous French butter.

And the wines  - Volnay, Vouvray, Corton Charlemagne, Chambolle-Musinay, Montagny and the Krug - were unbelievable!