A long row of silverware greeted me on both sides of my plate, the first time I met French Husband's family. Not speaking a word of French was the least of my problems. Wondering what piece of silverware to pick up next, was the bigger issue at hand.
I was from a small, rural town. A fork, knife, spoon and hand, was as complicated as the dinnerware got.
Swallowing hard, and swiftly looking left to right and right to left, I mimicked those around me. French Husband's father had impeccable, dining manners. He knew I was following his lead.
French Husband's family silver has RB on it. It also has the first letter of his grandparent's first name… I guess I could have named our children with names that matched those letters. Thankfully silver is plentiful at the brocante (French antique markets), and mix-n-match monograms never bothered me.
An individual, cheese knife and a dessert fork pair up, go out, and have a swell time buttering each other up.
Gilles, at the brocante in Aix (Open Market every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) has the best selection going for the price. He never disappoints me with his knowledge. I wish I had him sitting by me when I first came to France. There isn't a piece of silver he doesn't know.
His hands are tarnished black from silver polish. I love that: someone so passionate about what they do that it becomes them.
Gilles (his cell phone number is in the photo above) talks about patterns on silver in endless detail, and he can tell you what each piece of silver was used for… in fact he would make a line-up of silverware at a dinner party feel like a picnic: Fun and Breezy. Unlike, Stuffy and Snotty.
Are you ready for the French Silver, Guessing Game?
Below you will find three photos.
The first one who can tell me what the three pieces of silver were used for wins. The first one who answers all three correctly will receive a French, antique silver spoon. (and) The one with a creative answer that strikes my fancy will win a French antique, silver spoon too.
The French Silver Guessing Game ends tomorrow morning (French Time.)
1.
2.
3.
I'll add clues facts, as the day goes on….
First clue, or I should say First Fact… Cake knife it is not.
Second Fact: Leave the word FISH out of it.
Third Fact -Clue- : Close but not right. Warm but not Hot, Will this be the first guessing game on Tongue in Cheek without a winner (creative winner yes, but the right answer winner where are you???) Number one??? What is it? That is the answer yet to be found.
Note:
Here is a video I took several years ago before dinner, by candlelight, the little boy in the film is Sacha.
Leave a Reply