It's always cheese season in this house.

 

 

Yes, it was 30 degrees C/86 degrees F.

 

 

Yes, it was the hottest day of the summer thus far.

 

 

But could we really let our guests leave without having the raclette experience?

 

 

No. The answer is most definitely no.

 

{When cheese structural integrity fails.}

 

And they didn't seem to mind so much either.

 

{Cluedo.}

 

We regret nothing.

 

Have fun in Germany guys, we miss youse already!

 

A la prochaine friends...

 

Honey   

The best Chrismukkah present ever...Ever!

Doc and I exchanged Chrismukkah presents a little late this year, as we were in the US until almost mid-January, but it was well worth the wait.

 

We don't go crazy on presents for the holidays. It's just not our thing, but I can't help gush over this particular present:

 

OH OUAIII.

 

Cheese lovers and francophiles alike will recognize this as a real, charcoal-fueled, honest aux dieux de fromage Raclette machine.

 

And the best part about it? This raclette machine doesn't plug into a wall, and it's not coated in Tefal, which were both requirements for our dreamboat raclette machine.

 

Problem was, we couldn't find one. For years.

 

Everything you find in the stores here in France and Switzerland plugs into a wall and is coated in Tefal...

 

In fact, it took Doc the better part of two years to even find this one, and it happened to be not only made by hand in a little shop, but this little shop also happens to be in France.

 

Winner winner raclette dinner!

Doc made sure we acquired all of the necessary accessories as well, including the potato basket which was also made in the same little shop, and has little elderflowers and such handpainted on one side...

 

So obviously we needed to break this sucker in, which is what we did last Friday night with a few happy guinea pigs...

 

As much as I love going for raclette at our favorite french restaurant in the mountains, I have to admit that it was nice to save some money and put that money to having 5 times the available dried meats for our round of raclette.

 

The other plus to serving up raclette via hot charcoal at home? Zombie fun is only an arms length away, right next to the scotch...

 

A la prochaine friends...

 

Honey



So back to these incentives...

Last night, despite the best efforts of the Y bus to keep us apart, a group of friends got together from different parts of France and Switzerland to endulge in a little raclette goodness, good wine, and lots of "I laughed so hard my face hurts...again" moments. From microwave plasma science experiments with currants and chocolate, to schemes of the future Team USA at the International Cat Show, a really great time was had by all. Thanks to K and D for putting together such a beautiful spread of everything delicious under the sun (and raclette grill), as well as for the delicious desserts and espressos. I will be dreaming of that apricot dessert for some time. And as if I wasn't in love with Thoiry enough from our day trips, nighttime offers a whole new realm of "it's sooooo prettttyyyy" over the huge sky, vast amount of visible stars, and views of Geneva. I. Need. To. Live. There. Now.

Today we spent the better half of the day at the Ferney Saturday Market, and it was a gorrrrgeous day (despite a little of this partly sunny biznass) with a ton of people and a ton of vendors. I feel like we are getting really good at developing an attack strategy over pain au chocolat and cafe prior to delving into the market because otherwise it's easy to get pulled in a hundred different directions. More on that to follow. As for now it's time ot enjoy a little espresso, raspberries, grapes and chocolate with my hubby.

Bon weekend!