For most French families, the feast at the end of the year is not on Christmas Day, but on Christmas Eve (Reveillon de Noël), which, according to tradition, usually lasts until the early hours of the morning, sometimes even until the family returns from midnight Mass.
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In this midnight gourmet feast, we will find that in addition to the traditional chestnut roast chicken and roast duck legs, there are also many seafood feasts, such as shrimp, mussels, flower clams, sea crayfish, oysters, fresh fish This seafood platter is one of the must-have dishes on the dinner table. This is when paired with bread, lemon slices and mayonnaise, and a few sips of white wine or champagne are even better! If you have a sense of ceremony, you will also dress up crab or lobster and bring it to the table as one of the main dishes.
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At the same time, Xiaobian also found that on Christmas Eve, there will be many seafood and oyster stalls in the surrounding markets. The French look at them like the Chinese people hoarding New Year goods, and very generously buy them all.
The question is, where did the French tradition of eating seafood on Christmas Eve come from?
The tradition of eating seafood at Christmas
In fact, the tradition of eating seafood at Christmas dates back to the European Middle Ages and has its roots in the Bible.
According to the tradition of the Catholic Church, congregations can only fast or eat a simple meal before the festival, not meat. But at that time, tofu did not spread to Europe, so seafood became the best alternative to meat with its high protein, low fat and easy cooking characteristics.
There is also a theory that fish was regarded as a second-class food by Europeans at that time, and seafood such as oysters was regarded as a farmhouse dish. So fish and seafood are relatively cheaper and affordable for every family.
In addition to seafood, what else is there on the French Christmas Eve table? Next, from appetizers to after-dinner desserts, Xiaobian will introduce them one by one for everyone
#鱼子酱
Pairing caviar with salmon and sipping an aperitif sets the laid-back, casual tone for the long Christmas Eve dinner.
#鹅肝酱
If the French Christmas dinner is missing this classic holiday meal, foie gras, the atmosphere is different. Foie gras is usually spread over slices of bread and served with liqueur or sutern white wine.
#牡蛎
The oysters of this season are not cheap, but the quality is amazing! Delicious, juicy, large and fatty meat. Parisians, in particular, prefer to use oysters as an appetizer for dinner.
#龙虾
The red lobster not only means festive, but also has a great taste! If you want to have some sense of ceremony, you can "wear" a ribbon on the lobster, or garnish it with broccoli and asparagus.
#田螺
Source: Happy Sister
In French snails and snails are called Escalgot, which means "edible snail". Although it was once the food of the poor, its value once rose after the royal family was favored. Nowadays, snails with great status can only eat a bite during the New Year's Festival, which is still the level of a heavy dish. If you also want to make a luxurious snail feast on Christmas Eve, we recommend using the "escargot de Bourgogne". It is cooked with garlic and parsley butter to mask the snail's sticky land and strange taste.
#扇贝
When it comes to the highlight of christmas eve dinner, how can you get less scallops? Whether it's butter scallops or garlic scallops, it's a choice that can't go wrong. In addition, Xiaobian secretly told you that the appetizer of steamed scallops with cream sauce is also very popular
#栗子火鸡
Finally got to it! The annual Christmas main course – chestnut turkey! When it comes to the main course of Le Reveillon every year, although different regions vary according to taste customs, the traditional chestnut roast turkey is still the most popular Christmas main dish for all French people! After all, winter in France is also called "chestnut season", and fragrant roasted chestnuts can be found everywhere on the roadside. On Christmas Eve, stuff the chestnut puree into the turkey, pair it with some diced ham, chopped onion, parsley, and finally pour brandy into the oven and bake for 2 hours. The aroma of chestnut roast chicken fills the whole house, making people feel happy and warm.
#十三道甜点
In Provence, in southern France, people have a special tradition after eating a Christmas feast: eating "13 desserts of Christmas" to celebrate the arrival of Christmas. Made primarily of fruits and nuts, these 13 desserts symbolize Jesus and his 12 apostles.
While the 13 desserts vary from city to city, four desserts are enduring: "Four Beggars" (i.e. four dried fruit: raisins, dried figs, almonds, hazelnuts or walnuts, symbolizing the 4 Catholic groups that promote asceticism), black and white nougat (symbolizing the confessor), Fougasse (a vanilla bread, dipped in wine), some small pastries and sweets. Traditionally, these thirteen desserts are always on the table for three full days. It wasn't until December 27 that the family was able to wipe them out.
#木桩蛋糕
During Christmas, the French also make a small space in their stomachs to eat the traditional Christmas stake cake. The Shape of the Christmas Stake Cake resembles a stake, and is said to commemorate the firewood that burned next to Jesus' birth.
# Mulled wine
Whether in a café in Paris or in a warm home, French mulled wine on Christmas Eve is not to be missed. You can buy the prepared mulled wine at the store, or you can prepare the homemade mulled wine. Common mulled wines are made from red wine, cloves, honey and orange flakes. If you want to get a little excitement, you can also drop a few drops of cognac.
Finally, after drinking this cup of mulled wine, it is a happy Christmas! You can raise your glass and say "Joyeux Noël" in unison! Send a warm blessing to the troubled year of 2020!
The article comes from the idea, the author Happy Sister
Reviewer: Idea Brother & Enjoy Law Sister