..Off we go again - another "fest"!Badly planned by someone - somewhere - too many "fests" in too few days...After this one, or maybe even during it, we'll all make our resolutions for the year to come, the more intelligent of us making resolutions that are either too easy to keep, or too easy to break...!
In Germany - southern Germany anyway, one of the traditional pieces is simple "Kartoffelsalat mit Wurst" depending on the Region cold potato salad either dressed with mayonnaise or dressed with a kind of vinaigrette, and served with "bockwurst" ( a longish sausage which is poached in water) and a good German style mustard.
In other Regions - such as Bavaria, then it is the famous "Weißwurst" (a white sausage made from veal traditionally, but more often nowadays from pork, poached again in water, drained and served with either sour apple wedges caramelized in butter, or the above mentioned Kartoffelsalat and mustard.
Beer, of course is a must, if possible then the impeccable "poor peoples champagne - Weizenbier" ( a beer made from corn and often containing the yeast residue which is also consumed) - delicious and a real speciality.
This particular brewery is world famous but there are others as well, just as good. If the "cloudy" aspect doesn't appeal, there are various clear ones generally called "Kristallweizen" available, as well.
..After that you'll feel good...!Of course - in France - the need is for something else. Revolutionary countries need revolutionary things, except at foodtime....then it's back to the good stuff, irrespective of whether they were discovered by my noble aristocratic ancestors - BEFORE they had their heads sliced off.....!
(No - don't worry - this an elderly menu, at a time when OLD French Francs were still in use, so the price actually was 67,50NEW French Francs - around 10euros.....but 6,750 looks good!)
Exceptionally rich, this type of menu is made to make you ill, bearing in mind that it normally all starts at 8pm and doesn't end until around 2am...!
Of course - you can do it all at home and avoid the police controls, the drunken guests (unless you've got some at home) and generally amuse yourself better than outside, and you can go to bed when YOU wish to.....!
All in all, the British (so far as I'm aware) don't have anything special for the event nor do the Americans, and not even "Google" can help me there...!
http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&safe=off&gbv=2&tbs=isch:1&&sa=X&ei=KsMdTeb_D8mAswa_kvTaDA&ved=0CDIQBSgA&q=British+Traditional+New+Year's+dishes&spell=1&biw=1360&bih=632
Possibly fish in some form or other, but all I see is eggs and bacon and bean's and chips.......!
If any of my readers have some suggestions - please do let us all know!
Of course, there is always the New Year's Eve Buffet...something which takes care of New Year's Day as well....it simply is topped up and replenished ......!
Here's the page with all sorts of places to go and get some inspiration......
http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&safe=off&gbv=2&biw=1360&bih=632&tbs=isch:1&sa=1&q=New+Year's+Eve+Buffet&btnG=Search&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=
Personally, I'll be partaking of the "Weißwurst" version in spite of the fact that I can't get any "poor people's champagne"......in Revolutionary France....!
The main thing is that you all enjoy whatever you eat and drink, and that you all realise that it's only yet another year that has gone by.....
...in just one minute.......!************
(iwmpop) mr le marquis - 30600, Vauvert, France - Décembre/Janvier 2010/2011
Personally, I can't imagine celebrating Christmas somewhere on a sun drenched beach...wouldn't seem right at all...others fly away to do exactly that, and even others don't know anything different!
...There are even certain celebrations that English people could only say "shocking" to........
..and by the look on the ladies faces, this looks rather real.....
but it'll make you feel better!
...on your own!
..try covering it with aluminium and "brown it off" only in the last 15-20 minutes...
..Grandad's are ideal for this sort of job....!
people sitting around...Grandad won't be pleased - he'd prefer to have done that than carve the Turkey...!
AND....keep your eye on wherever they are towards the end of the meal....they have a habit of sliding away somewhere....
and nobody in sight....! Even dogs and other "pets" can rapidly reap havoc on your festive table.....
....cleaning up!
..A subject not often talked about, but recent events made me think of it.
.......arranged anything particular. There are Societies who specialise in such events, much on the same lines as the "special event caterers".
Since time immemorial, such meals have been arranged mainly as a mark of respect for the "defunct", 
and are a part of every Society's tradition.
to stay within a respectful "decency" - decoration must be carefully chosen, music and speeches carefully examined for possible errors.
..Flower arrangements must be chosen with the "departed" in mind, and finally, but probably most importantly, care must be taken in the seating arrangements. Those known to have "conflicts" with other invited guests should be seated well apart, simply to avoid any scenes at the event.
cold and hot being served, but always with the possibility of being seated, it's not a stand up finger party, and depending on the circumstances, care must be taken regarding the possible physical condition of some of the invited guests, often aged, possibly frail, sometimes extremely emotional. The "serving staff" should be respectful, not "over friendly" or serve with laughs and large smiles, but equally well not with tears in their eyes or with a downright miserable attitude. This "last supper" is supposed to allow others to talk about past events, to pay any marks of respect they may have, but all in a normal manner - neither dejected nor elated. Certain items should be avoided, items such as Champagne, a mark of gaiety....unless of course the defunct has deliberately left instructions, as sometimes happens, that the event should be light-hearted. Even then, it's not every guest who is capable of doing so, and "light-heartedness" can easily swamp over into a disrespectful orgy of humour.
The Germans call this "Leichenschmaus" and it often takes place in the defunct's local "Gaststätte" or very often in the special rooms attached to the Cemetries. The tendency in Germany is to have a simple thing served, very often the "Kaffee und Kuchen" (Coffee and Cake) without the exotic and luxurious "Sahnetorten", or the typical German style meals consisting of a soup, a dish of roasted meat with sauerkraut or potatoes, or "Knödeln" (I've already dealt with the subject in an earlier posting). Rarely is music played unless the defunct requested it, or was a member of some Musical Association. 
German Weekend...? Doesn't really change much for me, I always watch the "footie - Bundesliga" every weekend.....!
jedes Wochenende...! 
ça ne change pas grande choses, je regarde toujours le "Bundesliga" - chaque fin de semaine....!
Goethe's country, sometimes called (by the German's themselves "Schnitzel land") Germany supplies everyone with a whole bundle of different culinary specialities. Centrally located in Europe, the German cuisine takes a mixture of all sorts from its neighbours. It's not for nothing that one of the favourite dishes at Society events is called "Goulashkanone" 
..Originally, as the name suggest, invented for military purposes - to feed soldiers in and around the battlefield - it was adopted by a civilian population after the various wars as a simple but delicious method of feeding large quantities of people at public events. The Germans, apart from the military, knew these things as a source of nourishment in the public streets after and between the World Wars. They were often the only source of food for many, and along with the "Suppenküchen" (Soup Kitchen's) they nourished an almost starving population for a long time.
Today is different, but the people still queue up for soups...Another interesting "collective" name in German cooking is 
"Eintopf" which simply means "one pot", and covers a multitude of delicious and sometimes AWFUL dishes, but always cooked in one pot, all mixed up. Cereals, vegetables meat, dried vegetable such as "Linsen" are all used - not always all together, but in relation one to another, and always in one pot! Saves radically on the washing up...!
in Germany, and the important position it takes in life, you must firstly appreciate the traditions of "Fruhschoppen".
Unfortunately a growing number of females of the species are arranging "women only" events....no respect...!
and try to put a smile on your face.....!
like this, or like this:
...and I'll even give you a link to understand how to do it...(Yes - you CAN buy them already made, but it isn't the same, and you need that extra cooked meat.....)
All the German speaking countries have this on their menus. It's an all-time favourite, here you go....a different one so you can have it translated.....
