Inseparable

Simone de Beauvoir

“Andree opened her eyes. ‘The sky is spinning.’

‘You were supposed to make a fruit cake for tomorrow’s tea party.’

…

The embers were purring in the cast-iron stove; no other sound was heard. While Andree cracked the eggs and added the sugar and yeast, I surveyed the walls, opened the sideboards. The copper pans sparkled: rows of saucepans, cauldrons, skimming ladles, basins, bed warmers that, in the past, had warmed the sheets of her bearded ancestors; on the dresser, I admired the set of enameled plates in simple colors. Made of cast iron, earthware, stoneware, porcelain, aluminum, tin—countless covered pots, frying pans, casseroles, stewpots, oven dishes, porringers, soup tureens, platters, metal tumblers, strainers, meat cleavers, mills, molds, and mortars! What a variety of bowls, cups, glasses, champagne flutes and coupes, plates, saucers, gravy boats, jars, jugs, pitchers, carafes!” p. 46-48

“Thanks to Napoleon’s tomb, breathing in the scent of Bagatelle roses, and eating Russian Salad in the forests of the Landes region, Malou , who then knew of Carmen, Manon, and Lakme by heart, finally found a husband.” p. 29

“Fish in jelly, in cones, in aspic or shaped pastry, galantines, stuffed meats, casseroles, cold meats in sauce, pates, terrines, preserved goose and duck, duck breast cooked in wine sauce, cold vegetable salads, plain and in mayonnaise, pies, tarts, and almond cakes: you had to taste it all and compliment everything so you didn’t offend anyone.”

p. 92

“‘Yes,’ said Andree with a smile. ‘Maybe it’s because of what I drank this morning Normally, to get going, I drink some coffee or a glass of wine: this morning I mixed the two.”

‘Coffee and wine?’

‘It’s not that bad. It was a real pick-me-up at the time.’ p. 63