The Favorite Meal Menu
When you're in the food and nutrition industry you catch people getting edgy when you're in your element. You see them looking in your shopping cart at the grocery, peeking in your pantry, and asking you questions like "What's your favorite drink/sauce/dinner" hoping to find some sort of mysterious answer to how they 'should' be eating too. Because if the dietitian eats fries it's healthy right?
Out of all the times I've been asked "What's your favorite meal?" I felt unsure of a definite answer. I overwhelmingly love so many foods I can't commit to a single dish. During my birthday dinner last week I realized what had been prepared by the Chef (Dad) was truly my favorite! Without asking what my favorite was, he just knew, which can only be attributed to the fact that he is Dad.
So what is it that finally filled my favorite slot? A Provençal style meal, meaning a party of options. There's no central dish in this meal; It's bread, toppings, vegetables, fruits... it's the Funfetti of France. This meal is best enjoyed outside with wine, family, and the family hound.
Here are things you can add to your Provençal platter meal.
- French Baguette
- Foccocia or another heartier bread
- marinated artichokes
- tomatoes
- brie
- goat cheese
- gouda
- apples
- figs
- pears
- strawberries
- olives or olive spread (olives, herbs, cream cheese)
- salmon
- roasted chicken
- bacon
- roasted garlic
- chopped basil
- olive oil dipping sauce
- all served with a side salad dressed in basalmic vinegar