Le réveillon de Noël!!! (a.k.a. it's Christmas Eve and it's time to get your eat on)

It was finally here! Katie and I were very excited to have our first French Christmas and a true French Christmas could not be complete without le réveillon de Noël. Le réveillon de Noël is essentially a big feast that lasts for hours Christmas Eve. The meal starts with plat de fruits de mer (seafood plate), then the main course, dinde de Noël (Turkey), and and usually ends with bûche de Noël (Christmas logs, yum! Ridiculously sweet pastry dessert in a log shape). Our réveillon de Noël was exactly this!

I was given the task of shucking the oysters.

Jean-Louis (Elodie's dad) was the expert at this and showed me the proper technique.

Raw oysters - looks appetizing, eh?

Little fresh lemon squeezed on top and slurp them down. Katie gives one a try. Only after slurping it whole, did she find out that the French chew them before swallowing. We are American, what can we say, we slurp: no chewing required.

I tried mine afterwards using the chewing method.

Not bad.

Elodie's grandmother hosted all of us at her house and created a beautiful table setting.

A true french pastis - Ricard served as an apertif before a meal. Notice the color of it now, before water is added.

Now, with water, it becomes a cloudy whitish-green liquid. Kind of tastes like black liquorice.

Elodie and Laurent

Elodie's Grandma and Laurent

My place setting, as I mentioned, above, was created by Elodie's Grandma including a folded napkin, little snowmen, and decorated glasses.

If you wonder how the french pronounce Katie - it's Ketty ;)

Ben and Ketty ;) Too cute.

Us.

Let the meal commence with fruits de mer.

Laurent said to kiss the turkey and I obliged but when I got close I notice everyone was laughing. This was the tail end of the turkey.

We all had a good time that night.

The famous French dessert - bûche de Noël

After le réveillon de Noël, we went into the living room with the Christmas tree and it was time to open presents.

Santa had visited.

Yeah, so this is what too much food will do to me. Needless to say, it was a good night!