Monet's Palate...or...Conversations with Claude Monet...on Facebook!

Calling all Monet lovers…have you ever wished you could sit at the table in that lovely yellow dining room in Giverny with the great artist himself and discuss fine art and great cuisine? Maybe suggest a wine he should try with his dinner tonight…and have him actually talk to you? Well…not Claude himself, but a Claude-like moderator who knows him well, it seems! Then you need out check out this website…Monet’s Palate!…as a starting point in your quest to become Monet’s new BFF! Be sure to "like" their Facebook fan page while you are there. You'll see why in a moment!

It all grew out of a film for PBS by Aileen Bordman and narrated by Meryl Streep…Monet’s Palate: A Gastronomic View from the Gardens of Giverny  introducing Monsieur Monet and his passion for fine art, cuisine and his beloved gardens. It explores the connection between great artists and cuisine…from palette to palate, so to speak.

But an even more amazing phenomenon that has developed  is Monet’s Palate on Facebook where you can join in the fun! Once you “like” the fan page, you become an Mpal and you can enter his home, pull up one of those wonderful yellow chairs  and join in the discussion! Tonight, for example, Monsieur Monet asks what he should drink with his “fresh pasta drowning in grated cheese, melted butter and cracked black pepper.” You make suggestions and he chats with you, discussing the options! Or he takes you to visit his favorite spots in France or shows you his favorite paintings…fun, huh?

If you want even more Monet and would like to have a little peek inside his home beyond that yellow dining room, then here is a book I’ve suggested before…Monet's House: An Impressionist Interiorby Heide Michels. It’s one of my favorites! Gotta love those blue and white tiles!
And for those of you who are interested in the culinary side of Claude Monet, I suggest that you try this wonderful book…Monet's Table : The Cooking Journals of Claude Monetby Claire Jones. Monet believed that a successful meal was dependant upon a beautiful dinner service and even designed a personal set of china! He casually shares the poet Stéphane Mallarmé's  recipe for wild mushrooms and the artist Cézanne’s recipe for bouillabaisse! Can you imagine these great men swapping recipes?

If you know me, you know I am a huge fan of Monet and planned my recent trip to France with my grandson around a visit with Monsieur Monet and his famous water lilies in Giverny. But it seems that I can’t get enough of the beautiful gardens and that wonderful house…so, if you will excuse me, I am heading over to see what Monsieur Monet is having for dessert!