Thanksgiving Abroad

This year we headed out to one of our favorite places in France, Noyers. Noyers is a medieval village in the Burgundy region. We are lucky enough to have good friends there who have invited us into their home again for Thanksgiving. They had a total of 40 guests, most of which were American friends that traveled far and wide to sit at their long grand table. Turkeys were ordered through the local butcher shop, friends brought their favorite ingredients from home, and all made incredible dishes to bring a piece of home turf to the Thanksgiving feast.

Americans from Paris in Noyers by the old ramparts of the village

 During an afternoon break while things were roasting, baking, and simmering, our Paris gang went on a walk to forage for items to decorate the table and house with. The table ended up filled with beautiful giant orange leaves, lichen covered branches, yellow leafy sticks and lots of candles. Friends from the village came by to experience our American holiday and all gave toasts throughout such a lovely meal. After dinner , and before the dessert buffet was raided, we all ran outside to light up sky lanterns and watched them as they drifted off into the night sky. The cool air and excitement of this got everyone in good spirits. After digesting and relaxing, the room was cleared, the music turned up,  and everyone starting dancing by the fire. The following day we rolled out of bed hit the village streets to check out the black truffle market then we went up into the hills to get a post turkey nature walk in before heading back into bustling Paris.

Cheri Messerli and Scout on the foraging walk

Alison and Josh liking some lichen ....  Adrian and Mike Gallardo keeping the peace

The village of Noyers-sur-Serein looking down from the nearby ghost Chateau

 One of our hosts, Rod Deweese,  toasting every glass....

From Cheri's quinoa cornbread to my grandfather's gravy, this one was epic!

Marco Vignuzzi, our other dear host, doing his toasting rounds...

Josh, owner of Candelaria in Paris, naturally took charge of the pouring

Thanks to our bud, David Rager, we have now learned that Sky lanterns are officially 

one of the coolest things you can bring to a party

The last truffle fair of the season

On our walk home, we passed this door and admired the simple cat cut-out door. 

Then Josh pulled some magic and got the cat to appear...

Josh and Adrian at one of the 'belvedere' look out spots on the chateau trail