Our friends, François and Monique, had a dinner party to welcome us back to Antibes. They had 16 people over for a full, multi-course, sit-down dinner with beaucoup de champagne and wine – our glasses were never empty the whole night. We had hors d’oeuvres outside in the garden of their apartment, which seems more like a villa than an apartment. Then inside on a large table that held all 16 of us, we started dinner with stuffed eggplant and tomatoes that were spiced perfectly with just a little bit of a kick; then moved on to a very tasty salad of mâche and pine nuts and feta. Then came the main course of delicious roasted pork with a creamy gratin of vegetables, followed by the cheese course and then the dessert of marinated fresh fruit. Between each course, the men were obliged to give up their seats and take their belongings with them and rotate two seats to their left, leaving the women in their original seats the whole evening. The women would bid farewell to their previous neighbors, and welcome their new neighbors sometimes with an embrace and the French air kisses. It was really fun this way because, of course, we got to mingle with everyone. After dinner, while nursing our digestifs, we were regaled with music by two of the guests, who happen to be excellent pianists whom we have actually heard play many times. Jean-Louis played for probably 20 or 25 minutes, followed by Heinz who played for another 20 or 25 minutes. We sometimes wonder if there isn’t a bit of competition going on between the two; if there is, it works to our advantage because we get to hear excellent music.
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