In which I eat foie gras and survive

Ok, I have so many stories to tell, but I will delay them in favor of this one so I won't forget my experience with The French Dinner.

So tonight, I was invited to a french home for a french meal so I could speak English with the host and his friends.  I was a bit nervous because I know the french care about food very much.

Being the American that I am, I was the first arrive. Luckily, the host was already done with dinner or that could have been awkward.  Everyone else arrived soon after and we had appetizers with some sort of sweet white wine.  (They asked me about the French wines I've tasted...so French). 
EDIT: I think I forgot to mention that we had a large bowl of soup as the starter

They are all very nice people, but they don't speak English very much.  I'm not sure how well they speak because we spoke in French most of the evening. Most of them are local teachers (I asked one what he does for a living and he said "I'm a teacher, but it's not my fault."  He also speaks french in an italian accent which it pretty hysterical.  It's like the Godfather in French.) Oh, and that's another thing, I got kissed so many times with "la bise" that I was sure that I was blushing.  To start with the right or the left, that is the question!

Ok, I have to admit, foie gras is not as bad as I thought it was going to be.  It tastes kind of like rare/medium rare meat paste (with that earthy, blood taste).  My host cooked it with mushrooms and truffles and served it on a salad with mashed potatoes.

Whoever thinks the French are starving themselves with their portion sizes have never eaten chez M. Philippe.  I was halfway through the main course (and two glasses of wine later) before I realized I was full and that there were at least two more courses to come.  I tried to polish off my plate as best I could, but I couldn't stomach the foie gras very well.  I think it is because I have eaten meat so little since I got here that it was a little too rich for me. (I thought I was going to throw up...twice.   Man, that would have been embarrassing.)

Then came the cheese.  Earlier in the day (this is another story I must tell) I got to taste some cheese called Quentin (I think).  It's kind of like swiss cheese.  Because I was already stuffed (and skipping a course is rude) I took a small sliver.

Then came the dessert.  They had some sort of pear cake (the man who brought it, Jacques, did not know what it was) and apple tart.  I had the tart (made by Philippe) because I thought the cake had too many eggs in it (and being as sick as I felt) did not want to up-chuck both my dinner and my dessert.

Then was coffee.  Since, but this time, it was 10:30 or so, I had decaf (to the horror of everyone present).  After that, they made me try some Mirabelle liquor by dipping a sugar cube in some.  Very strong, but tasty and fruity.  I don't think I could drink the stuff. (As the evening progressed, I had to remind myself that every one of these frenchies could drink me under the table.

I got home at 11:30.  (Jacques kindly took me home so I didn't have to walk in the dark).  The meal started at 7 and ended at 11:15ish.  Halfway through (probably when I realized I was full), I stopped talking.  That happens a lot when I am tired (you'll see why I was tired in a future post).  I thought my head was going to hit the table.

The French talk a lot.  Because I was so tired, my comprehension went down (plus the fact that there were three conversations spinning around me.  Every now and then, Elizabeth or Jacques would fill me in on the context, which really helped).  When we decided to get together again, we talked in a circle which included something about a show in the theater and a man who plays any kind of music on an organ (both, completely unrelated to scheduling).  Whatever we decided (I'm still not sure of the outcome of that conversation) we are planning to speak more English at the next party (and perhaps eat snails?) It was fun, but now my head is spinning and my stomach is bursting (well, not quite).

Ah! It's midnight and I have to sleep!!!