FRENCH LIFE
Need Inspiration For a Different Kind of Thanksgiving Side Dish?
Here’s a cheesy idea from France
Thanksgiving is just another day here in France. I’d probably forget about it entirely, except for all the recipes in the New York Times and other American publications I read — endless ways to cook a turkey, dozens of ways to stuff it and an ocean of ideas for gravy to pour over it. And so many delicious-sounding recipes for side dishes that I wonder why not just skip the turkey, and feast on the supporting acts.
It’s hard to imagine that anyone could actually run out of ideas, but just in case, I thought I’d offer a French suggestion. Aligot — imagine creamy mashed potatoes loaded with butter and melted cheese. Yes, it does meet the definition of a heart attack on a plate, but it’s really delicious.
In France, huge vats of aligot are sold at festivals and holiday markets and if the cheesy deliciousness isn’t enough to draw crowds, there’s also the performance. Pureed potatoes and tomme fraîche, unripened Cantal cheese, from the Aveyron region are beaten with paddles until they form long stretchy ribbons. As crowds gather to watch the paddles held aloft, the challenge is on: how high you can go without the ribbon breaking?
