Santé et prospérité

It’s the French word for New Year’s Eve. (Observant readers will note that I didn’t have to change the picture from last week’s blog.)

The etymology of the word comes from the verb réveiller, which means to wake up, possibly the imperative form of the first person plural, réveillons, as in réveillons-nous (let us wake up!).

What exactly are we waking up for? According to the dictionary, a middle-of-the-night meal, of course (hence the champagne).  The secondary meaning of the word, a true term of art connotes light, bright brush strokes that serve to illuminate a scene. I suppose that might apply, too, metaphorically.

The French also observe the annual ritual of New Year’s resolutions.  Not surprisingly, quitting smoking is high on the list.

There’s no hymn the French ritually sing when the clock tower chimes twelve; they just raise their glass for a simple toast: “Santé et prospérité pour toute l’année.”

Health and prosperity for the whole year!

That works for me. I wish the same for you.

It’s not the commercial extravaganza we’ve come to know here, but a more subdued affair that revolves around food, family and tradition.

The Christmas Eve feast is a time for pulling out the stops. An apéritif of champagne goes nicely with foie gras, smoked salmon and oysters. Next, the traditional main course consists of a stuffed capon filled with ground veal mixed with endless possibilities (foie gras, chestnuts, truffles, morels, figs, apples, pistachios, shallots, etc., etc.). Exceptionally tonight, anxious gourmets may skip the salad course, and even the cheese plate in order to proceed directly to that richest and chocolatiest of desserts, the bûche de noël. Completion of the meal is cause for more champagne.

In Paris many restaurants stay open (evidence my Maxim’s menu from December 24, 1958) for those wanting to celebrate in public. Some families even reserve an extra seat at their table for a poor or unfortunate person that they may or may not know.

While children take an afternoon nap (or a postprandial one if necessary) in order to be awake for midnight mass or to inspect what’s under the tree when the bells toll twelve.

What happens next is universal and requires no explanation.

Happy Holidays,

A votre santé

Literally it means “good market.”  I think it’s always a good market for items originating in France. They have the distinction of being well made, beautiful and timeless. But the term bon marché that I refer to means a bargain.

Here are a few you should know about:

Items Under $27
19^th century Cordial Glasses from Burgundy. Heavy crystal and you can see the pontil marks.

19^th century Wine Sample Bottles. These were sent by winemakers to their customers via the French postal service.

Beautiful old vintage half-bottles from Burgundy.

Curious and wonderful anisette glasses (under $9).

Jardin de l’Olivier body lotion and hand cream.

Wine or kitchen garden calendars (tout en francais).

Opinel No. 8 pocket knife (the one preferred by Parisian street thugs and intellectuals).

Exquisite jacquard tea towels. (Visit Gift Dept. for tea towels.)

Items Under $52
Bistro Money Plates. Authentic ones from a 19^th century café and not the imposters currently circulating on the market.

Pillivuyt deep oval baking dish, café au lait bowls, and espresso cups and saucers. M’sieur Hemingway would approve.

The French have another expression: t’en as pour ton argent (you get what you pay for). In this case, you couldn’t do better.

Bonnes fêtes

About two weeks ago I spent the day in the warehouse unpacking my latest finds. I felt like a kid unwrapping gifts at the holidays. The floor was strewn with bubble wrap, cardboard and crumpled pages of Le Monde. I was alone with my treasures, painstakingly collected from three corners of France.

There was some sadness upon discovering the shattered pieces of an old glass demijohn, but mostly joy and admiration for the craftsmanship of Patrick Galtié’s pottery and Christine Lasalle’s earthenware, objects of beauty that exceeded my expectations.

Their arrival marked the penultimate leg of a long journey. It had taken me a month to find these items, another month to have them manufactured and delivered to Le Havre, and six more weeks for them to reach my warehouse in Michigan. There had been long hauls from Aquitaine, Provence, and Burgundy, countless declaration forms filled in Paris, 10 days spent on the water, a full “devan” inspection at the Port of Newark, and two more trucking legs to Michigan.

When I think of the effort, time and treasure required to bring these items here, I question my sanity. When I think of the logistics in France alone, I know I’m toqué.

Still, it was worth the effort.

Poterie Galtié and Terafeu Terafour are found exclusively on our site and now you can appreciate why. They have one more journey to make, however.

Bon voyage!