Mom will love a Mother’s Day theme that features a French outdoor cafe and the movie industry.
Once a year, the Cannes Film Festival is celebrated in the picturesque city of Cannes on the Mediterranean Sea. One can pose on the red carpet for personal paparazzi photos and leisurely stroll through the market lined streets. Sophisticated cafes and bistros line the boulevard to provide a taste and view of the sea with the French Riviera lifestyle.
One can stay in town to watch the locals play a game of boules or venture in-land up to the Medieval walled city of Saint-Paul-de-Vence to walk upon the centuries’ old cobblestones . Nearby, the perfumeries in Grasse, France offer an aesthetically pleasing experience of fragrance and Provence history. Provence is also known for its herbs. Nothing is as charming as a lovely French cafe to bask in the Mediterranean sun.
To create the Cannes Cafe du Mom theme for Mother’s Day, set up a cafe table with fresh flowers and a European lace tablecloth. Gifts of perfume and lavender will add to the Provence concept. Play background music from famous French films. Mom will feel most special when served Kelly’s Six Treasure Bouillabaisse.
Bouillabaisse originated in the Provence region of the Mediterranean Sea. Bouillabaisse is a hearty mariner’s soup which indulges one in the treasures from the sea. Serve it with crusty French bread and toast to “joie de vivre” – the joy of living with French Champagne. Kelly McBride Loft
Kelly’s Six Treasure Bouillabaisse
The day before serving, boil a whole chicken to make a thick broth. I recommend placing a onion in the chicken’s hollow section and placing fresh herbs in the spring water that surrounds the chicken. This can be done overnight in a crock pot. When the chicken is cooked thoroughly, be sure to strain the broth and quickly refrigerate the broth to ensure freshness.
The next day, skim the fat off of the refrigerated broth. The goal is to have at least 4 cups of broth . Pour a small amount of the chicken broth into a mixing bowl. Completely mix in 2 – 6 oz. cans of tomato paste. Once incorporated, add the tomato mixture to the remaining broth and heat all of the mixture in a stock pot on the stove. Cook uncovered by stirring to reduce the broth to a thick sauce. Add 2 tablespoons of sugar. Adjust the seasoning with kosher salt, fresh pepper and herbes de Provence.
Meanwhile, wash and prepare the seafood. Lobster tails, crab claws, deveined shrimp, mussels, firm fish and pre-seared scallops (add last) are all good choices. Precook the washed seafood. Then, add the recently cooked seafood selections to chicken broth mixture.
Simmer and briefly cover the bouillabaisse to infuse all of the above ingredients in the broth. Serve the bouillabaisse hot and in large bowls. After dinner, continue the theme of the Cannes Cafe du Mom by showing favorite movies for a film festival. Happy Mother’s Day!