PAPILLES EN EVEIL , the AVF International Lunch Group

Apparently, any local member of AVF can propose an activity.  And, if it gets board approval and he/she can make it go, it becomes an authorized AVF activity.  That’s the way Andrée-Anne put together her Découverte de la France class, and that’s the way Brigitte bravely created her Péapilles en Éveil‏  (“Stimulating your taste buds”) lunch group.

Brigitte’s idea seemed pretty simple.  First, get the word out via the “Flash Info” (AVF monthly newsletter) that anyone interested in meeting monthly in a member’s home to prepare and eat an entrée(appetizer here), plat (main course), and dessert should meet with her at the AVF office at an assigned time.  Second, explain her concept and sign up all those interested.  And, third, work out a schedule for a year’s worth of monthly luncheons so that 8 of us at a time would get together.  That’s where it got complicated!  You can imagine what a miracle it is to find a date and time each month that fits into the calendars of 8 women; I think that’s still the most difficult part of pulling this off since each month seems to have its reschedules and changes in venue.  Otherwise, it’s pretty straightforward:  the hostess is in charge of the plat (and wine, of course), another has the entrée and another the dessert.   It’s understood that the person in charge of a course brings all the ingredients and the recipe, and everyone is involved in preparation (and clean up).  The members of our group are pretty diverse: Chinese, Japanese, Argentinian, German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, French, me and another American who has lived in France for most of her life.  Brigitte remains calm and totally charming – she’s a wonder!

So, taking a deep breath, I volunteered to host the December lunch.  (It was scheduled for a couple of days before we were going home, which added to the stress.)  How was I going to accommodate eight ladies when our table seated 4?  How on earth was I going to arrange things in the kitchen so that eight women could be preparing a meal at the same time?  What could I have been thinking!?!  (Needless to say, I didn’t sleep the night before.)  Well, it went off perfectly, thanks in good part to David's suggestions and help moving things.  David escaped to ride his bike at 10AM as everyone started arriving and returned at 2PM (actually David says it was 3!) to find the party still going strong.  Here are some pictures to give you an idea of how it worked out.

David took this picture just before he escaped.

Brigitte took this one of us in the kitchen.

And, here we are enjoying the fruits of our labors (and some wine).

So why am I telling you all this?  Because I’m in charge of the dessert this coming Thursday at Misa’s apartment.  The dessert should be typically American, whatever that is, and fairly quick and easy to prepare.  After a long exchange of emails with Brigitte, we agreed on ice cream sundaes; we will be making caramel and chocolate sauces and preparing fruit and other toppings.  Each person will “build” her own sundae.  I’ll let you know how it goes.