Christmas with the Gagnes

[Chef Gagne]

Since everyone in the family is a chef, Christmas time for the Gagnes is a culinary affair. Every year the family arrives for a pre-party a few days before Christmas, and everyone submits ideas for a themed dinner. Nominations are followed by debate and a caucus style round of discussion. Ultimately three nominations are chosen for a second round of debate, at which point representatives from each group make a case for why their menu should be chosen. A final vote decides the victor, at which point a chef and two sous are chosen. Over the next few days, responsibilities are assigned and everyone shops and cooks for their assigned task. This year the Gagnes will be recreating - in the aggregate - a menu salvaged from the famous Titanic 1st class dining room. Alexis "Chef" Gagne - despite his fame and acumen - will be relegated to prep and an after dinner cheese plate. Now that he is a full starting athlete for two major sports in two separate hemispheres, anything more would be unmanageable. It's a nice relief after last season, when he drew the task of preparing Beef Bourguignon for the family.

Bon Appetit and Merry Christmas to all