Chef Herve and Ann-Marie are off to his native France for a three- week vacation. “I’m counting the minutes and seconds till we leave,” said Ann-Marie a few days ago. We wish them a wonderful time, a wonderfully happy new year! And we at Savannahbest are counting the minutes and seconds until Papillot’s re-opening on the 23rd of January!
In most of the world, there are special dishes to eat on the first day of the New Year, which are said to bring good fortune in the 12 months ahead. And in a great deal of the America, this food is some form of beans, greens and pork. The beans are said to bring luck, the pork to give you health, and the greens to offer money.
Kielbasa, Chorizo, or Andouille sausage. 1 whole sausage, cut in pieces
Beans – 1 can each black eyed peas, lentils, red kidney beans
Greens – 2 large bags frozen mixed greens
1 quart each beef broth and chicken broth
1 or 2 lg. cloves garlic
1 med. Sized onion, halved
Directions: The sausages are usually sold fully cooked. If not, after cutting them up, microwave till close to fully cooked. Cut sausage into one or two-bite pieces. Place in large soup pot. Add beans, greens, broth, and seasonings. Bring to a boil, then turn down heat and simmer for an hour. Enjoy a wonderfully lucky year filled with good fortune, health and wealth!
Will serve 6 hungry people.
Note: I use three kinds of beans because each was the favored one in one of the places I’ve lived—Red kidney beans in New England, Lentils in Italy, and Black Eyed Peas here in the South. But obviously, you can use any or some or all of them as you wish.
Savannah Dining Tidbits 