Comme nous sommes tous des restaurateurs et d\u2019excellents cuisiniers dans la famille, notre brunch de P\u00e2ques fut, sans vantardise, une table d\u2019exception! Oui, oui! Ce fut d\u2019abord ma petite fille qui disposa sur la grande table trois magnifiques plateaux de fruits joliment coup\u00e9s et garnis de fraises, de framboises, de cerises et de bleuets. Vite, vite, tous les jeunes enfants grimp\u00e8rent sur leur chaise et \u00e9tir\u00e8rent leurs bras vers les plateaux color\u00e9s. Quelques minutes plus tard, ils avaient les joues bleu-rose et leurs petits tabliers tachet\u00e9s de jus de framboise.<\/p>\n
J\u2019avais moi-m\u00eame pr\u00e9par\u00e9 le m\u00e9lange \u00e0 pain dor\u00e9 et l\u2019appareil \u00e0 cr\u00eapes, mais d\u00e8s que ma fille entra dans la cuisine, c\u2019est elle qui prit le commandement des op\u00e9rations. Il lui restait \u00e0 assembler les diff\u00e9rentes composantes de chaque service. Avec sa fille \u00e0 ses c\u00f4t\u00e9s, elles firent d\u2019abord cuire une vingtaine de cr\u00eapes compos\u00e9es de diff\u00e9rentes garnitures\u00a0: \u00e9pinards-feta, jambon et fromage suisse, bacon-cheddar et les d\u00e9licieuses cr\u00eapes aux pommes badigeonn\u00e9es de notre caramel maison qu\u2019elles gard\u00e8rent au chaud sur le r\u00e9chaud du po\u00eale.<\/p>\n
Ma fille et sa fille s\u2019occup\u00e8rent ensuite de faire r\u00f4tir toutes les viandes du traditionnel d\u00e9jeuner qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois et les mirent sur la table avec une grosse soupi\u00e8re de f\u00e8ves aux lard, une belle grande assiette de saumon fum\u00e9 garnie de c\u00e2pres et d\u2019oignons rouges, un gros bol de patates r\u00f4ties, mes fameux cretons ainsi qu\u2019un bel assortiment de confitures maison\u00a0: fraises, framboises, bleuets, oranges et marmelade d\u2019agrumes. J\u2019ai depuis longtemps la main habile pour les confitures. Je ne mesure jamais rien et c\u2019est mon doigt du milieu, le majeur, qui me dit quand il faut \u00e9teindre le feu. Je r\u00e9ussis \u00e0 tout coup!<\/p>\n
Lorsqu\u2019arriva l\u2019heure de griller les diff\u00e9rents pains, toasts, bagels, et d\u00e9licieux croissants, les deux gar\u00e7ons de mon plus vieux \u00e9taient au poste. Ils dress\u00e8rent des carr\u00e9s de beurre dans de petites assiettes et les dispos\u00e8rent devant chaque couvert. Puis, la quinzaine d\u2019adultes s\u2019installa \u00e0 la table et le festin d\u00e9buta. Ayant bu plusieurs caf\u00e9s en jasant, ils se ru\u00e8rent sur le jus d\u2019orange. Ciel! Je me souviens encore de ce fameux jus d\u2019orange que j\u2019interdisais aux employ\u00e9s et \u00e0 mes enfants de boire lorsqu\u2019ils travaillaient. \u00c0 l\u2019\u00e9poque, ce jus import\u00e9 directement de la Floride \u00e9tait dispendieux et pr\u00e9cieux. Personne n\u2019en buvait sauf les clients qui payaient.<\/p>\n
J\u2019\u00e9tais pauvre comme Job lorsque, en 1987, j\u2019ai ouvert notre premier petit resto. C\u2019\u00e9tait un vieux casse-cro\u00fbte d\u00e9glingu\u00e9, ferm\u00e9 depuis deux ans, et rempli de toiles d\u2019araign\u00e9es. Je m\u2019en souviens comme si c\u2019\u00e9tait hier : 29 places assises que j\u2019avais pu acheter en vendant notre maison de banlieue. Je ne pourrai jamais comprendre pourquoi, mes jeunes enfants et moi, nous sommes tout de suite tomb\u00e9s en amour avec cet endroit.<\/p>\n
Peut-\u00eatre \u00e9tait-ce pour eux une nouvelle aventure? Peut-\u00eatre \u00e9tait-ce pour moi l\u2019opportunit\u00e9 d\u2019une brillante destin\u00e9e? Il fallut frotter, nettoyer, peinturer, coudre quelques jolis tabliers et \u00e9crire notre menu sur les murs. Jamais, \u00e0 cette \u00e9poque, je n\u2019aurais pu imaginer qu\u2019un exceptionnel concept de restauration matinal allait sortir de mes m\u00e9ninges. D\u00e9m\u00e9nag\u00e9s dans un troisi\u00e8me \u00e9tage d\u2019une rue commerciale de Montr\u00e9al, \u00e0 proximit\u00e9 du bouiboui, les enfants se sont habitu\u00e9s aux bruits de la ville, aux transports en autobus et aux nuits blanches que maman passait \u00e0 inventer de nouveaux d\u00e9jeuners.<\/p>\n
Aux fourneaux, ma fille et sa fille sont pr\u00eates \u00e0 prendre les commandes d\u2019omelettes. Elles ont sur le comptoir \u00e0 c\u00f4t\u00e9 d\u2019elles une quinzaine de petits bols contenant les diff\u00e9rentes garnitures \u00e0 omelettes. Et vlan, le service se fait rondement! \u00c0 les entendre, on croirait que tous les adultes n\u2019ont rien mang\u00e9 depuis trois jours! Assise au bout de la table, mes yeux espionnent le faci\u00e8s de chacun. Ils ont faim, ils ont soif, ils mangent avec app\u00e9tit.<\/p>\n
Mon fils le plus vieux f\u00e9licite les cuisini\u00e8res et les remercie chaleureusement. Avant m\u00eame d\u2019avoir re\u00e7u son assiette principale, il se propose pour faire la vaisselle et sa compagne le seconde. Cette tr\u00e8s ch\u00e8re Jos\u00e9e est aussi une bonne cuisini\u00e8re, elle excelle notamment \u00e0 cuire les viandes, et son homme, gros mangeur, est combl\u00e9.<\/p>\n
Tous les convives sont contents. Les petits ayant mang\u00e9 plus t\u00f4t, ils courent dans la grande maison, jouent \u00e0 la cachette et s\u2019amusent avec les bricoles que leur grand-p\u00e8re (mon plus vieux) leur am\u00e8ne \u00e0 chaque visite. Tous les adultes se resservent du caf\u00e9 en jasant comment s\u2019ils ne s\u2019\u00e9taient pas vus depuis dix ans. Puis Jos\u00e9e quitte la table et m\u2019exhorte \u00e0 rester assise.
\n-\u00a0\u00ab\u00a0Vous en avez assez fait, belle-maman! Je m\u2019occupe de la vaisselle.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n
Lorsque finalement les conversations ti\u00e9dissent, les enfants de mes enfants se l\u00e8vent et d\u00e9valisent les restants, comme chaque fois qu\u2019ils viennent chez grand-maman! C\u2019est encore ma fille et sa fille qui s\u2019occupent d\u2019emballer les viennoiseries, les cr\u00eapes, les viandes, les f\u00e8ves au lard, les fromages et tout ce qui reste sur la table. C\u2019est \u00e0 qui prendra ce qu\u2019il aime le plus! Lorsque la table est vide, le po\u00eale et les comptoirs nettoy\u00e9s, les jeunes aident \u00e0 la vaisselle. Vite, vite, la cuisine brille et les adultes d\u00e9m\u00e9nagent au salon. Il est temps de dig\u00e9rer, de parloter, et de me redire encore combien c\u2019\u00e9tait bon. Je n\u2019ai presque aucun m\u00e9rite, j\u2019ai juste \u00e0 les rassembler. \u00c0 No\u00ebl, \u00e0 P\u00e2ques et \u00e0 la f\u00eate d\u2019un arri\u00e8re-petit-fils.<\/p>\n
Combien de brunches de P\u00e2ques pourrai-je encore animer? Le temps passe tellement vite! Trois courtes ann\u00e9es et j\u2019aurai 80 ans sonn\u00e9s. Peut-\u00eatre aurai-je aussi les doigts croches, les rotules f\u00eal\u00e9es et la m\u00e9moire en cavale? J\u2019oublierai ma superbe recette de cretons, l\u2019\u00e2ge de mes arri\u00e8re-petits-fils et peut-\u00eatre l\u2019adresse de ma belle-fille? D\u2019ici l\u00e0, j\u2019ai encore toute ma t\u00eate et j\u2019entends bien profiter de chaque occasion pour nous r\u00e9unir et c\u00e9l\u00e9brer!<\/p>\n
Cora
\n\u2764<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Comme nous sommes tous des restaurateurs et d\u2019excellents cuisiniers dans la famille, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":414,"featured_media":42459,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-42436","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lettre-mme-cora"],"acf":{"img_en":"","contenu_en":"Since all of us in the family are restaurateurs and excellent cooks, our Easter brunch was, if I may say so, an amazing feast! To start, my granddaughter placed three large plates of fresh, nicely cut fruit on the table, filled with strawberries, raspberries, cherries and blueberries. The youngest kids climbed onto their chairs in no time and reached out their hands and raided the colourful plates. A few minutes later, their cheeks were coloured blue and pink, and their small aprons stained with raspberry juice.\r\n\r\nI\u2019d prepared the cr\u00eape mix the night before, but as soon as my daughter walked into the kitchen, she took control of the helm. She still had to assemble the various elements of each service. With her daughter by her side, they first prepared over 20 cr\u00eapes filled with different garnishes: spinach-feta, ham and Swiss cheese, bacon-cheddar and delicious apples brushed with homemade caramel. They were all kept warm on the stove\u2019s hot plate.\r\n\r\nMy daughter and her daughter then cooked all the meat traditionally found in a good French Canadian breakfast and placed it on the table alongside a big tureen filled with baked beans, a big plate of smoked salmon garnished with capers and red onions, a large bowl of roasted potatoes, my famous cretons and a nice spread of homemade jams: strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, orange and citrus marmalade. I\u2019ve long had a knack for making delicious jams. I never measure anything and my middle finger is my helper, letting me know when it\u2019s time to turn off the heat. It never fails!\r\n\r\nMy eldest son\u2019s sons were tasked with preparing a variety of breads, toast, bagels and croissants. They cut the butter into little squares that they placed in small dishes to be arranged in front of each place setting. Then the 15 adults sat down at the table and the feast began. As they\u2019d already swilled their coffee while talking, they switched to orange juice. Heavens! I still remember the fresh orange juice I forbade the employees and my own kids from drinking while they were working at the restaurant. In those days, the juice imported directly from Florida was expensive and precious. No one was allowed to drink any of it except the customers who paid for it.\r\n\r\nI was left penniless in 1987 when I opened our first small restaurant. It was an old wreck of a snack bar that had been closed for two years. I remember it like it was yesterday: a 29-seat room covered in cobwebs that I bought after selling our house in the suburbs. I\u2019ll never understand why my young kids and I immediately fell in love with the place.\r\n\r\nPerhaps this was a new adventure for them? Maybe this was my opportunity to build a brilliant destiny for myself? We had to scrub, clean, paint, sew a few nice aprons and write our menu on the walls. I never could have imagined in those days that I would create an exceptional breakfast restaurant concept. Living in a third-floor apartment on a commercial street in Montreal near our tiny eatery, the kids got used to the city cacophony, public transportation and the sleepless nights their mom spent inventing new breakfast dishes.\r\n\r\nMy daughter and her daughter are at the stove ready to take omelette orders. Over 15 bowls filled with omelette garnishes are lined up on the counter next to them. Service is running smoothly! By the sounds of it, you would think that all the adults haven\u2019t eaten even a crumb in three days! Seated at the end of the table, my eyes sneak a look at each of my guests\u2019 face. They are hungry, thirsty and are relishing their food.\r\n\r\nMy oldest son congratulates the cooks, thanking them warmly. He volunteers for dishwashing even before he\u2019s done eating his main course. His girlfriend says she\u2019ll assist. Dear Jos\u00e9e is a very good cook herself; she especially excels at roasting meat and her man, a big eater, couldn\u2019t be happier.\r\n\r\nAll the guests are content. The youngest ones ate earlier, and they\u2019re now running around in the big house, playing hide-and-seek and having fun with the toys their grandfather (my oldest son) brings them each time he sees them. All the adults are helping themselves to more coffee and chit chat like they haven\u2019t seen each other in 10 years. Then Jos\u00e9e stands up and orders me to stay seated.\r\n\u2013\u00a0\u201cYou\u2019ve done enough already, mother-in-law! I\u2019ll take care of the dishes.\u201d\r\n\r\nWhen the conversations finally dwindle, my children\u2019s children get up and raid the leftovers, like they always do when they come to grandma\u2019s house! Again, my daughter and her daughter busy themselves wrapping up the pastries, cr\u00eapes, meat, baked beans, cheese and the other leftovers on the table. You have to be quick to get what you want! When the table is empty and the stove and counters wiped clean, the young ones help with the dishes. Soon the kitchen sparkles and the adults move to the living room. It\u2019s time to digest, continue conversations and tell me repeatedly how everything was delicious. I can hardly take any credit; I just have to get them together. At Christmas, Easter and a great-grandson\u2019s birthday.\r\n\r\nHow many more Easter brunches will I be able to host? Time goes by so fast! Three more short years and I\u2019ll be 80. Perhaps I\u2019ll have crooked fingers, cracked kneecaps and my memory will be gone? I\u2019ll forget my superb cretons recipe, my great-grandsons\u2019 ages and maybe my daughter-in-law\u2019s address? For now, I still have my head on straight and I intend to enjoy every family occasion and celebration to the fullest!\r\n\r\nCora\r\n\u2764"},"yoast_head":"\n