The last two nights before this one we have eaten at friend’s houses. Both were interesting and tasty, and I think both were considered “barbeque”. The first night we ate at a friend’s house in Huy. We ate outside after touring their garden and visiting their horse. The sun was setting while we sat at the table on the porch, and an umbrella was set up to the precise position to block the sun while we chatted. I desperately wished I could be a part of the conversation, but my lack of French left me on the sidelines. I strained my ear for what I could understand, until it felt like I began to strain my brain, whereupon I just ate and let the words babble through my ear without any attempt to catch them. We were served a variety of appetizers, such as slices of baguette with pesto, fresh mozzarella and pieces of tomato, baguette slices with tomato pesto, Portuguese cured ham and fresh mozzarella, olives and cheese. We drank Hoegaarden Rosé (a white beer with raspberries) and then a rosé (wine). We laughed when we could understand, and we enjoyed each other, the food, and the kids who were playing and wrestling on the lawn.
For dinner, we had a frisée salad with shallots, tomatoes with olive oil and salt and pepper, and potatoes steamed with thyme. For the main dish, our hosts had placed an electric table-top grill upon which they placed a variety of marinated meats to cook, which we chose at our desire. While we waited for the meat, we placed slices of cheese on triangular nonstick little pans that we each were given, and which fit into triangular depressions under the grill. When the cheese was heated through, we slid the melted cheese off the pan onto our potatoes, and it was delicious. Of course.
As the sun started to set, our meal wound down as well. For dessert, we ate a variety of little scoops of ice cream, as well as a Belgian fair food, though I forget what it is called. It was a thin dense waffle filled with a cinnamon-y paste and drenched in a thick maple syrup that was just barely sweet. Mmm. Wish we could trade fair foods.
We finished off the meal with a little shot of baileys with ice. Au revoir!
The next night we would have eaten outside as well, except the weather had taken a turn towards cold and windy, and thus we ate downstairs in the basement. It wasn’t as bad as it sounds, as the ceiling was lined with multicolored lights, and Santana was playing on the stereo, making it quite the cozy family dinner.
Like the night before, we began with an array of delicious appetizers. We had crackers with a dip of green onions and crème fraiche topped with smoke young herring, du lard (ultra thin slices of bacon) wrapped around banana and baked until the edges were slightly brown and crispy, the flavor suffusing into the banana, du lard wrapped around prunes, and verrines (small glasses) with layers of tomatoes, small shrimp with a creamy sauce, and thinly sliced lettuce. I especially enjoyed the later, it was so tasty.
When we were done with the appetizers, our host brought out the meats for the evening and put them on the table for us to choose. There were sausages, brochettes of beef and chicken, chicken wings, and marinated hunks of uncured bacon. We made our choices, and then he cooked them on the barbeque. We ate the meat with a frisee salad, a salad of celery, apples, pine nuts and sesames, a carrot salad, and roasted potatoes. It was a feast.
We finished it up with a prune crumble, made out of ground butter cookies with layers of halved plums and a mixture of the cookies, butter, sugar and cinnamon. Scrumptious and full of textures.
I must also note that in between these meals, we had another delicious lunch of soup, meats and cheeses.
I really loved the cheese at the bottom, which was served with the dark dollop of sirop de liege. C’est magnifique how the flavors blend in your mouth, filling you so full of rich flavor that you feel consumed by the sensuous opulence blooming on your tongue.
As much as I wish to continue, I must go to bed. We are going to Liege tomorrow, and we are going to go running bright and early! Good night.
