Take a dining room that serves as a water-color studio and a breakfast room that usually serves as the dining room but is too small, unless everyone knows one another and doesn't mind squeezing together. Take a friend who has a birthday and deserves to celebrate without doing the work at her house, so you invite a crowd of her friends who you don't really know. The solution, with the help of a couple of folding tables, is to turn the living room into the dining room. Voila!
Cream of watercress soup with French bread, garlic, anchovy butter croutons.
2 Legs of Lamb with Chanterelles mushrooms and rosemary
Belgian Endive Gratin
Quenelle/fingerling potatoes with persillade (chopped garlic and parsley)
Cheese Plate
Chocolate birthday cake (not home made)
A 1989 Epernay vintage champagne brought by a guest and quite a few other nice bottles as well.
Lethal fruit in secret sauce (that jar that gets topped up with all kinds of alcohol and fruit all year long)
There is not a plate or glass in the house that didn't get a work out last night. That was fun!
I quite enjoy getting these little glimpses of your living room transformations. Your menu was decidedly European even without the French bread and Belgian endives and was delicious even in print. P'raps you'll open a restaurant in Provence in your next life...?
ReplyDeleteDeborah,
ReplyDeleteJust shoot me if I ever propose a restaurant. I love to cook but not as a service industry. Hotels and restaurants bring out the worst in their patrons.
I am impressed!!! The food sounds delicious, the party looks huge, and everyone seems to be smiling. What more could you want?
ReplyDeleteI've never tried a big party myself, but always admired people to do. Looks like a grand evening had by all.
Wow. I thought it was a high class bistro from the photograph - honest.
ReplyDeleteDo you take mid week bookings by any chance?
That looks really nice! It's a perfect setting for a gala event. I love soupe de cresson!
ReplyDeleteHope you all had a lovely time celebrating the birthday girl. J? Of J & D?
I love nothing better than opening up my own home for crowds of family and friends to enjoy good food and drink in pleasant company.
ReplyDeleteI might even begin to embrace the lethal fruit and secret sauce idea for my own!
Lethal fruit?! Killer kiwi, too? For years, I did Thanksgiving in my empty living room and I loved it. I have to confess I have never had lamb but the menu sounds delicious. Any chocolate cake left over?
ReplyDeleteJimmy, cherries, kumquats, raisins, grapes, dried apricots, brown sugar, crystalized ginger, cognac, rum, etc. Store in a dark cupboard in an air tight jar and enjoy with friends. Can be served drizzled on ice cream too.
ReplyDeleteJean, I always have more friends I want to see than room at the table. This was easy. I think there were only fifteen of us.
ReplyDeleteSteve, A white tablecloth and flowers from the garden, anyone can do it. Sorry no midweek bookings available:)
ReplyDeleteMs. Pliers, soupe de cresson extras in the freezer if you remind me next time you visit. Judy's bday is Valentines. Easy to remember.
ReplyDeleteHappy Hour, we had one conscientious objector who wouldn't eat lamb last night. I sent the cake remains home with the birthday girl. Sorry! Just as well, we are a little fragile today.
ReplyDeleteWhat a good friend you are. Everything sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeleteTechnoBabe, It brings me pleasure.
ReplyDeleteLucky friend!!! It sounds like a wonderful evening. And the fruit alcohol thingy, I'm going to give that a go!!
ReplyDeleteDi, are you up late? The fruit is an idea we brought with us from France. Vieux Marc or Calvedos, yumm!
ReplyDeleteIt all sounds so mouthwatering! I'm an indifferent cook at the best of time so I can only watch enviously as others produce these sumptuous feasts. Love the fruit n secret sauce idea though. Yummm!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had quite a feast.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of the lethal fruit (as well as the memory of roast lamb...yum yum).
ReplyDeleteThe pics look good too, of what I can see.
What a pity I couldn't be invited, I'd have helped with the washing up too!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a very tasty menu, lots of work involved too, if you cooked it all yourself. You are very good to do this for a friend. I once did a big party for somebody's birthday and they invited lots more people than I'd anticipated. I vowed "Never Again", yet on Sunday I am doing a tea party for a friend's birthday, I am buying the cakes!
Seems as though there might be a niche market out there that needs filling with jars of Killer Fruit in Secret Sauce. Joint Venture anyone?
ReplyDeletethey did a show in the uk where they got people to run a restaurant from their living room. Sounds mad to me - but you seem to have had fun. Guess its just about having the right people there
ReplyDeleteHungry Pixie, I'd rather watch a show like that than participate.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds - and looks - like one great party.
ReplyDeleteA thoroughly delicious menu. A pleasantly nice living room/dining room.
ReplyDeletehttp://caffeinatedglobe.blogspot.com/