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Babette’s Feast began as a novella that was published serially in the Ladies’ Home Journal (1950) and later collected in the volume Anecdotes of
A gentle humor pervades the film, just as Babette’s cooking quietly pervades the village. And when fortune smiles upon her with a lottery winning, the feast she prepares for the group becomes the metaphor of the story. Much has been made of the feast in movie reviews, but there is so much more to the story. Her financial sacrifice, and the stories of the characters around the table provide us with their revelations of the meaning of life.
Babette’s Feast is a favorite film of such dissimilar theologians as Pope Francis and Rowan Williams. When it was released in 1987, it won the Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards, and a BAFTA award as the best film not in the English language. Not surprisingly it received the Best Film of the Year from two Film Festivals in Denmark. It was included in the the Golden Globe nominations and was awarded a special prize at the Cannes Film Festival. And critics still discuss the film’s attributes and meaning. Streaming this film is just a click away through Amazon or iTunes.
The menu of Babette’s famous dinner has taken on a life of its own, as both restaurants and avid cooks have aspired to recreate it: So if you are looking for an alternative Thanksgiving menu, I give you Babette’s Feast!
Potage A La Tortue (sea tortoise soup) served with Amontillado Sherry
Blinis Demidoff (small buckwheat pancakes) served with caviar and sour cream accompanied by Veuve Cliquot Champagne
Cailles en Sarcophage (quail in puff pastry) served with a Foie Gras and Truffle Sauce accompanied by Clos de Vougeot Pinot Noir
Endive Salad
Savarin au Rhum Avec Des Figues et Cerises Glacees ( a raised yeast rum cake surrounded by figs and candied cherries) also served with Champagne.
An Assortment of Cheeses And Fruits served with Sauterne
Coffee with a Vieux Marc Grand Fine Champagne Cognac
After owning one of the best cooking stores in the US for 47 years, Nancy Pollard writes a blog about food in all its aspects – recipes, film, books, travel, superior sources and food related issues.
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