I have recently been regaling you with tales of the dinner parties I attended while living in Paris. Those magical occasions were my favorite part about my time there and through my lamentations of remembrance you wonderful readers gently reminded me that I can in fact throw my own dinner party comme les Français in Santa Monica. Why this never really occurred to me? Je ne sais pas.
So throw one I did! I invited two of my favorite girlfriends J and R(ones that would love me no matter how overcooked the chicken was) and decided to recreate a fête worthy of the city of light.
The Menu:
Caramelized Onion and Feta Cheese Tartlets (purchased at Trader Joe’s but don’t tell anyone)
Roast Chicken with jus
Potatoes au Gratin
Haricot Verts
Sweet Corn
Molten Chocolate Baby Cakes with Raspberry Sauce (brought by J… so delicious!)
Peach Blinis, Argentinean Malbec and Port
We had a wonderful time- eating, laughing, playing the piano, listening to good music (which got more obscure as the night went on… It went from John Legend, to French Dinner Party, to Carla Bruni, to Opera to Amélie les Crayons!)
We also took pictures. Note the rather blurry Renoir quality they have- this is all the better as I believe we look more mysterious and you cannot see the absolute mess that was my kitchen!
I thoroughly enjoyed myself and am planning on doing another when when I return from England. Thank you for instilling the courage in me to throw my very own soiree comme les Français...
Have you thrown any good dinner parties lately?
PS- J (who made the delicious molten chocolate baby cakes) has a wonderful blog called Dining on Deals where she searches for high end deals in Los Angeles and beyond. Check it out by clicking here.
18 comments:
So happy that it turned out so beautifully! Sounds delicious and everyone looks lovely.
the "renoir" photos are the best :D it sounds you had a great time, you must have been pleased! next time, try it maybe with men - the dinner can get rather different l'ambiance ;)
Oh, your dinner party looks lovely! I love the setting, as it looks so romantic, and you all look like you are having such a good time. Well done!
I love the 'host a murder' dinner parties. You prepare the menu, decide who will be who and send the invitations. From the moment they come in your door, your guests have a new persona, as described on their invitation. Of course, it pays to have a menu with as little prep (on the night) as possible, as you won't want to miss a minute of the scene.
Hope you have many more wonderful dinner parties,
xxx
Oh your menu brings me back! (And the pics are wonderful.) How lovely. And the best part (in France, certainly), is the hours that people linger and discuss, and truly savor not only the food but the ambiance and conversation. Good stuff.
Congratulations! The pictures (though blurry) look lovely. The menu sounds delicious. Well done!
Looks like so much fun!! Glad you had a great time.
A marvelous idea, well carried out!
I love Malbec, and the menu as well.
ML
mlanesepic.blogspot.com
I knew you could do it. Did everyone love the chandelier? It looks beautiful over your table. Your menu sounded perfect for the first time. Congratulations now keep going!
The menu sounds delicious, the chandlier is divine and Gatsby seems to be enjoying himself immensely!
I served those onion cheese tartlets at my jewelry party! I love Trader Joe's!
Love the menu and so French looking! Love girlfriends that accept us just as we are and the fact that they are happy to be invited and are relaxed. The photos show such a cozy ambiance, tres chic!
I cook a lot of roast free range organic chicken with rosemary and pan roasted veggies and serve a bakery bought dessert. I usually have a cheese or tapenade with crackers as an appie maybe with smoked candied salmon nuggets to nibble while I do any last minute prep. I try to keep it simple so I too can enjoy the event.
Thanks Cashmere! xo
Tina- Renoir is a nice way of putting it LOL! Yes, next time I will try to add men into the mix. It will definitely change the ambiance. There is something so fun though about an all girls gathering :)
Helen- Thank you so much! Oh I love Murder Mystery Dinner Parties! I have attended only one but was in heaven (I think I was the only one who enjoyed it lol). I would love to throw my own... hmmm- maybe in the new year! xo
BigLittleWolf- You are so right- those are the best aspects of a successful dinner party. Those are the things you remember (not really the food)...
Rebecca, Michael and M. Lane- Merci beaucoup! xo
Linda- Yes! The chandelier was a hit- it was dramatic and fun although we almost hit our head on it a few times getting up from our seats :)
Fiona- Thank you! Gatsby always has fun when people are over. He insisted on being in my lap for the dessert course.
Tessa- That is so funny- Aren't those tartlets yummy? Good thing I didn't try to pass them off as my own! I love Trader Joes...
LordFam- Your dinners sound absolutely marvelous. I love seasonal organic food that is prepared with love- I think roast chicken universally liked (by meat eaters that is) it is just very pleasing. Your appetizers sound amazing too- smoked candied salmon nuggets? Can I come to your house for dinner?!
spent a couple of years in Paris and feel the same way... some of the greatest dinner parties ever! I attempt to recreate the ambiance at Garvinweasel on occasion and with this menu:
- l'escargot (garlic/butter)
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- steak au poivre (pan seared in a cream sauce) paired with a nice Saumur-Champigny
- spinach soufflé (stouffers, don't ask, don't tell!)
- pommes frites (hand made, super thin, crispy)
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- mousse au chocolat
Thanks for lovely post.
James
Good for you. Your table looks beautiful, the menu delicious and giggling with best friends, what could be better.
Did we drink lots of wine?
I'm ashamed to say, I haven't had a proper dinner party since I had kids, but yours looked lovely. What a coincidence that you served Malbec- I just saw a sauce made with it on the finale of "The Next Iron Chef" and I was wondering what it was. Now I know!
Bonjour! What a delicious dinner party menu. Sounds like you had a great time - good company and conversation is the best part!
Yay! You did it! And, given that you knew to not place too much pressure yet kept it lovely, I am not surprised you are already thinking of the next one. Well done. :)
Thanks for the shout out! The dinner party was so much fun - I'll have to attempt my own in the new year - hopefully a murder mystery one!
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