Yes, we'll always have Thanksgiving in Sologne Loire Valley

Yes, we will always have Thanksgiving. While only participating in Halloween from time to time I have celebrated Thanksgiving every year since I arrived permanently in France, which was way back in 1988. Don’t know why it is so important for me to celebrate it; I am here in France by choice, I love it, and I don’t envisage moving back to the states.  But, I guess for me, it is family, a time together, to forget about past disputes, talk about future hopes, the comfort of the traditional  meal   and, yes, a two day holiday for us kids.  And, of course, for most American men, it is a weekend of American football and for American women, the sales begin!

When I first arrived I was engaged to Olivier and living with him in a small apartment in Paris.  Olivier knew somehow that Thanksgiving was important to me and, while I had planned nothing, he had researched which Parisian restaurants would be serving Thanksgiving (quite a few restaurants do serve a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, from inexpensive (Joe Allen’s) to very expensive (Paris Ritz).)

While it was all so lovely and tasty, the turkey succulent, it wasn’t at home and it wasn’t with family. So when we moved into our Versailles home I was determined to do a Thanksgiving dinner and for the family, being in this case, French family. A very never- been- to- the- States French family. They had barely heard of Thanksgiving,  thought that American food was a hamburger.  But they came, 
  with trepidation, but they came . 
And, you know what, it was a success, my father-in-law  even commented  to my mother-in-law by that it was the moistest turkey he had ever eaten! That was the start of my annual Thanksgiving dinner. 

From 1990 until 2002 when I sold “Tea and Tattered Pages” we would serve a Thanksgiving lunch in the small tea room behind the bookstore.  And, every year there were more and more French coming, curious to find out what Thanksgiving really meant.

In 2003 with the renovation finally finished at my Bed & Breakfast here in Sologne Loire Valley, I started offering Thanksgiving week ends with the traditional dinner on Saturday night. I thought my clients would be Americans either visiting or living in France.  They do come, but also the Franco-American,  Italian-American couples, and the 100% French couples. It is a wonderful mix of cultures celebrating the only true American holiday.

This year’s Thanksgiving week end will take place the 27, 28, 29 November.  I will talk about it more tomorrow.

Kristi anderson

Bed & Breakfast

Dinner

Saint Jacques le coin perdu

15 place de l’église

45240 Ligny le Ribault

02.38.45.41.54

[email protected]

www.TheAmericanFrog.com

French blog :  http://TheAmericanFrog.typepad.fr/lecoinperdu