Dinner

We had Joan, Jim and Grandma Virginia over for dinner. It was one of those events where Joan called me and invited herself.

I like her doing that, I’m most often too full of considerations to call and invite people. But she’ll call and say, we’re then and then in town and thought we’d come over for dinner and I’ll bring the food. And then we’ll endup with some dinner where both contribue, she’ll bring fresh produce and desert for example and I’ll make the pizza and get the wine and some real good cheese for the pizza. Or like today, we both make deserts, she’ll bring produce and I’ll bring the cheese. This combo works out real good. Well, hell yeah, she is the one who grows organic food and that is her resort and I am the Swiss and seemingly we Swiss do know quite a bit about good cheese!

It was a traditional Raclette dinner. Though being in the US, something Swiss traditional becomes some potpourri of some sort or the other. Which is totally okay, though sometimes it twinges a bit, like a loss and wish for a truly shared tradition and not some sort of derivation of it. But in the end it’s okay, because the main thing is that everybody joins in and is open for new ideas and participates and everybody always seems to enjoy it.

And after such a Raclette, there is not much room for desert. But we somehow managed to eat it all – what would we do without strong Italian espresso easing the way? A great, cooked fruit mix first and then a Cranberry-Orange Crème Brûlée with Cointraux, easy to make, but oh so good. As Duncan couldn’t make it after all (wanted to ensure he wouldn’t get trapped in the coming snow), somebody had to take care of his portion and I took on this task – could not let it pass, even if I would explode during or after the process of stuffing myself with this sweet and sauer delight.

So it was a day spent in the kitchen (also made fresh bread!), some cleaning of the house and sitting around chatting with family. Many candles lit in the house and the first fire lit for this winter. Smelled great. Now I am ready for winter.