Frederick Eckhard - A very distinguished visitor!

 All our visitors are special and a large number of our students arrive as strangers and leave as friends! However we had a very distinguished visitor last week. Frederick Eckhard, former Spokesman for UN Secretary Kofi Annan and his lovely wife Katheryn. We have been friends for some years but it is only recently, having read his book,  ''Kofi Annan: A Spokesperson's Memoir'' that I have realised the extraordinary career  Frederick has had: https://amzn.eu/d/30UQPvx

So you can imagine how pleased I was that Frederick joined us for lunch and took the time to write up an account of his visit afterwards:

Lunch with Poul and Niall

8 May 2023

 

We’ve known Poul and Niall for at least six years. Poul is from Denmark and is a chef; he runs the French Dining School in a little village in Brittany called Kerrouët. Niall is his partner and is from Ireland. (Niall’s cousin Méabh keeps the books for our Burkina Faso association Chance for Change in New York as a volunteer; she lives in England.)

 Poul had a student Norm, originally from San Francisco but currently living in Paris, who is a Peace Corps Volunteer who worked in Burkina Faso. Poul thought we would like to meet him and so invited us all to lunch.

 Poul and Niall live in a 16^th century house that they bought as a ruin and renovated; they opened the school ten years ago.

We relaxed in a comfortable room recently added on to the old house.

Poul poured us some champagne, then returned to the kitchen.

Norm joined him as he prepared the first course—French white asparagus. 

Kathryn and Niall chatted while waiting patiently for lunch. Niall has what my Irish grandmother called “the gift of the gab”. Well he is the CEO Chief Entertainment Officer ! Totally entertaining!

Then the asparagus arrived. Délicieux!

The main course was Salmon Fishcakes! Here's the recipe:

A knockout!

Of course, in France - there has to be a cheese course.

Served with bruschetta made that morning by Norm.

And finally, a strawberry sorbet for dessert.

                                             photo from The Irish Times

If you would like to book a course—see their website: www.frenchdiningschool.com.