Sunday, November 28, 2004
APE moules frites soiree
Our APE soiree for 240 people has finished. Apart from the preparation, the work and the event has taken all weekend with it starting before lunch on Saturday to put out tables and chairs, decoration, crockery, cutlery glasses, coffee etc. and finally getting cleared up by late Sunday afternoon.
The soiree was held in the local village hall which is really geared up to hold big events. There is a very well equipped full catering kitchen with professional washing up machines to clear the debris. Two of the APE committee members, Olivier and Denis, worked as chefs in London hotels, so the food was terrific.
We had a Kir apéritif followed by morcels of pork on toasted bread & cheese. A leek and potato soup, moules frites, cheese, ice cream and coffee to finish. All the wine was supplied along with a disco and demonstrations of Breton dancing and African dancing. Elizabeth goes to Breton dancing classes so she was one of the participants.
With Caroline on the APE committee we were one of the last to leave at 4:30 after a superb but tiring evening. I volunteered to help wash-up after the main course, but didn't realise quite how much work it was loading and washing over 240 place settings, even with a giant dishwashing machine..
About 20 of us, committee members and helpers returned before lunch on Sunday to put away tables and chairs and clear up. However because there was quite a bit of food left over we all sat down again for another round of soup, moules frites, cheese and wine ! and more washing up. It does seem a little crazy replaying the evening again, but it gave everyone a chance to chat about the evening and is some reward for all the work.
Finished tidying the hall at 18:00 Sunday. Phew. But great fun and if you ever get the chance to go to a French village soiree I would really recommend it.
| 6:38:19 PM
APE moules frites soiree
