British Expats - Apero night

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- France (https://britishexpats.com/forum/france-76/)

- - Apero night (https://britishexpats.com/forum/france-76/apero-night-840847/)

What, no raw garlic anywhere in sight.......
Go on, he who dares! Provide a garlic dip with large fresh lumps in it.
At least you'll know that those guests who indulge themselves in it, will be those neighbours to avoid in the future. :p

I tried to post yesterday but both orange and EDF were playing up thanks to the weather!

I totally agree that the French (well most of them) just don't "do" rsvp!

If you are planning just a simple drinks and nibbles and you don't know your guests then don't do anything to scare the horses. When our American next-door neighbour completed her house renovations she invited the entire hameau for aperos. Of course the old-timers were dying to see what she had done with what had been a total ruin.

We were ushered onto her top floor terrace where the local farmers and vineyard owners were standing around looking puzzled. There was a large beautiful crystal bowl on a table containing a clear liquid in which floated some thin slices of cucumber and a few rose petals and she was ladling out elegant glasses of this stuff. It was actually a vodka martini.There were a few canapes which were being handed round by her sister. Scattered here and there were pistachio nuts in the shells - but nowhere to put the shells. The sight of big hard working hands holding dainty glasses and small linen napkins was absolutel hilarious.

They left kind of sharpish and no doubt fell upon the pastis and poured their wives a stiff porto while she took down a large sausage and hacked off some substantial slices.

The first time we were invited to an an aperitif dinatoire at another neighbour's house we hadn't a clue what to expect. Should we eat first or should we have something ready for afterwards? Needn't have worried the food (mostly home made) just kept coming as did the drink handed round by by the host who was brilliant at keeping an eye on everyones' glass. There was a choice of pastis, champagne or sweet wine and fruit juice and cake for the non-drinkers/younger set.

I learned a lot from that and it has come in handy many times since.

Most people here have their main meal at midi so if invited for evening drinks they expect to linger and nibble most of the evening. Favourite food here consists of a numer of "dips" to spread on toats. Tapenade, anchoiade, poischichade, aubergine caviar etc. Then there are usually slices of pizza or pisaladiere or savoury "cake". Slices of saucison or sometimes cocktail sausages with mustard to dip into and always olives, crisps and peanuts and poubelles de table in which to jettison stones and sticks.

I think it is good if some things are hot. Entertaining chez nous have had praise for mini savoury scones, cheese straws and Scotch eggs made with quails eggs and mini toads in the hole. Crapeau dans la trous sound great! Something different but not too scarey. We have also introduced some neighbours to Pimms. Most of them love it, but after 24 years they are beginning to get used to our strange ways. and kind of trust my cooking ability.

Like Granny Bunz I too have always had lots of success with the savoury "cakes" plus they are easy to make well ahead of time. All of my neighbours particularly liked the little boudin apero sausages, and quails eggs always went down a treat. The one 'oddity' I produced was little slices of celery stuffed with soft cheese....lots of French people had never eaten raw celery! They all reported that they would definitely do it again.

Very best of luck, hope you have a most enjoyable evening...do report back:thumbup:

Hi,

This is such an interesting/helpful thread. I will be referring to it in the future for sure. We are currently in the process of buying a dairy farm in South West France, have paid the deposit, just waiting for things this end but hoping to be making the move around Christmas. We will be busy from day 1 in terms of work outside and inside the house. How long do you leave it before arranging an apero evening? I take it they allow a settling in period before you seem anti social?! The farmers who we're buying off will be our neighbours so there's two that should turn up!

Regards,

Actually we were invited before we got round to inviting anyone. The day after we arrived first time.

Good luck with the farm.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ras0888 (Post 11368821)

When we arrived, we put postcards introducing ourselves and saying who we were (in French) into our neighbours letterboxes. We picked up this tip from a friend who had lived in 7 different countries in Europe and she had done this each time she moved.
Your neighbours will be curious about you and will be pleased if you introduce yourselves.
Good luck with new venture. :thumbup:

Well it does appear that RSVP does mean something to the french after all!

Quote:

Originally Posted by jvc (Post 11370462)

Well it does appear that RSVP does mean something to the french after all!

I'm reminded that RSVP is also a very important on-line dating site.
Some of the recipients of your invite may get the idea that they're coming with the promise of something entirely different......:p

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tweedpipe (Post 11370542)

:ohmy: I think RÃ©ponse souhaitÃ©e avant le (date) might have been a better choice.

Well whatever we would of written would of been wrong! If we screw up some french etiquette so what. The important point is we are doing what's right when it comes to mixing with our new french neighbours. The important points are getting to know our neighbours and having a good evening, not worrying about what we write on their invite! After all RSVP is recognised everywhere! Whether the french choose to use it or not, and as for the fact it may or may not be used on dating websites............well we wouldn't know!!!!!!!!!???????

It has been said that what the French don't know about their neighbours they make up. In my experience that is very true but is nevertheless better than the alternative.

... and put a French/English dictionary on the table in plain sight! It's a joke that you can refer to often, but also shows that you're making the effort to learn the language, however appallingly you speak it! Good luck ..

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nectarine (Post 11370959)

You can get verbal translators for smart phones now which can be quite amusing to say the least, I find the French are keen to learn the naughty words first.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jvc (Post 11370684)

Good luck. Hope it goes well. :thumbsup:

We also printed some "business cards" with our name; address; telephones and e-mail address. They are useful to give to people who need to contact you (Neighbours; tradesmen etc) and to provide your address to shops; suppliers etc. Saying our address is bad enough but then trying to spell it is a nightmare.

Hi,
I hope your soirÃ©e goes well. It isn't perhaps surprising that you haven't had any replies as lots of people are on holiday, and will only start drifting back this week. For future reference, the term apÃ©ritif dÃ®natoire already mentioned combines both drinks and nibbles, that go beyond just peanuts... without extending to a sit-down dinner. Picard is an excellent suggestion too for nibbles.
Since you live in the RhÃ´ne-Alpes region you might want to try a sparkling wine from Bugey. There are fewer sounds in life more comforting and chaleureux than that of a cork popping, and these wines are good and fairly cheap. La Maison Guigard is a reputable producer of well-made wines. His Montagnieu brut, perhaps pretentiously named Semperflorens de l'Ã©motion, retails at 5 euros 80 and is excellent value for money. They deliver themselves in the region but this is August.... I'd get in a few bottles anyway.
Bonne soirÃ©e!
PB