Details of Dinner
Last night's dinner table. Place mats were made from vintage music paper, each guest had to sing a few lines in French of course. No I 'm just kidding, but the thought did cross my mind when I was setting the table. I like to amuse myself with such ideas.
Lea came to visit me and she created this inventive amuse bouche (little bites that delight before the meal begins) for the taster teaser before dinner:
One grape on a soup spoon
the grape is stuffed with blue cheese and walnut
drizzled with honey.
Chilled cucumber soup followed in tiny teacups. You would think with these small portions that we didn't eat much. Though one after another many small delicious bites became a feast. Do you want to see the dessert?
Photos: Of last nights dinner party. Which reminds me I have a stack of dishes to do downstairs! Dishwashers may apply.
So I'm guessing you probably don't want a photo of the Chinese food take-out boxes sitting on the coffee table that comprised our Saturday night dinner... WOW. ;)
Posted by:Marilyn | 04 November 2007 at 01:57 PM
How pretty and inspiring! I love the amuse bouche... I'm going to have to try that sometime!
Posted by:Sara Duckett | 30 October 2007 at 10:28 PM
What a beautifully set table! I miss having friends over for dinner like we did in Dublin. I love the idea of the sheets of music as mats.
Sarah
Posted by:Sarah in Marrakech (soon to be in Paris!) | 27 October 2007 at 03:41 PM
Tres, tres delicious [I can't think of the Fr word at the moment].
Posted by:Nora | 25 October 2007 at 11:18 PM
Oh, I am late! Do you still accept applications for a dishwasher position in your household? I am ready to leave right now, in case ..... ;-)
I am not kidding.
Posted by:Merisi's Vienna | 25 October 2007 at 11:04 PM
Mmmm ... les amuse-bouches me font envie !
J'adore cette amusante présentation !!!
Posted by:Kristin Co | 25 October 2007 at 07:22 PM
Oh Corey, you live magically. Thank you so much for sharing with us. My heart fills and bubbles over with thank-you's to you, for sharing.
Hugs,
Mari-Nanci
Posted by:Mari-Nanci | 25 October 2007 at 06:21 PM
Stunning images and delicious looking food! What an amazing dinner party, the table setting and food is good enough for the best restaurants.
Posted by:cruststation | 25 October 2007 at 12:52 PM
bonjour corey
superbe cette description de dinner !
je retiens la recette de la mise en bouche de votre amie ...
oui oui je veux connaitre le dessert, je suis très gourmande de belles (le plaisir des yeux, n'est-ce pas ?)et bonnes choses !
bonne et belle journée pour vous
Posted by:Francoise | 25 October 2007 at 11:37 AM
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL TABLE SETTING! THE AMUSE BOUCHE LOOKS DEVINE, THE TINY TEACUPS FILLED WITH CUCUMBER SOUP LOOKS DELIGHTFUL!
Posted by:Hasmin | 25 October 2007 at 10:48 AM
Dearest Corey,
Thank you so much for bringing the chocolate chip cookies to my "waiting" game picnic.
Delighted!
Hollyx
Posted by:holly | 25 October 2007 at 10:36 AM
Oh wow! The food is beautiful, the presentation exquisite, the setting delightful.
You set the bar very, very high!
Posted by:Lee | 25 October 2007 at 07:19 AM
How beautiful everything looks! And oh so yummy! When will dessert be served? :-)
Posted by:Dee | 25 October 2007 at 06:57 AM
What a lovely warm setting! So inviting.
Posted by:Gina | 25 October 2007 at 06:25 AM
wow. I officially want to come and learn entertaining from you - that looks amazing!
Posted by:AmandaMay | 25 October 2007 at 05:43 AM
I have done the tiny appetizer on a chinese soup spoon before.....I will have to try this one for our next party!
Posted by:tommiea | 25 October 2007 at 05:18 AM
"amuse bouche"
Oh, my!
The French do know how to stop and smell the roses.
~elaine~
Posted by:Elaine L. | 25 October 2007 at 05:06 AM
What a great idea - the small bites! I am going to adopt a semblance of your courses for Thanksgiving. We all overeat, yet no one wants to give up any of the traditional courses. So this year, I will be making many petit bouches!
Posted by:Loretta | 25 October 2007 at 03:05 AM
Where's the dessert? I a mlooking for the dessert...Is it over there.or over here? Where?? hee hee Looks like it all came out of a gourmet magazine! You are Top Chef!
Posted by:Pam Aries | 25 October 2007 at 01:22 AM
Everything looks, sounds, and I'll bet tasted........devine! I hope dessert will be in your next post, you tease you! Was the dinner party for any particular occassion?
Amanda (aka Cottage Contessa)
Posted by:Cottage Contessa | 25 October 2007 at 12:55 AM
B E A U T I F U L ! ! !
Your table is magnificent!
And Lea's teasers placed back and forth on the spoons (A standing ovation).
A feast for the eyes.
So happy you could be with one another too!!
Just wonderful!!!
Posted by:rochambeau | 25 October 2007 at 12:37 AM
What a lovely table. I love small plate meals. I would love to know what was for dessert!
Penny
Posted by:Penny @ Lavender Hill Studio | 24 October 2007 at 11:08 PM
It's just lovely...you do understand elegance...what was the rest of the menu and dessert?
Posted by:stljoie | 24 October 2007 at 10:46 PM
Corey, I am always in awe of your attention to detail, lovely table setting and the morsels a treasure to see. Loved your words of the post before this too. Always brings a certain joy to my life to come here to visit you.
Posted by:Carolyn | 24 October 2007 at 10:39 PM
yummy! yes, please do tell, what was for dessert!?!?
wish i was there!
Posted by:elsa | 24 October 2007 at 10:28 PM
What a beautifully set table...as far as seeing dessert, definitely yes!
I just want to know how French women stay so thin when they eat so well...and desserts, too.
Posted by:carol | 24 October 2007 at 10:19 PM
Ok, thanks for the recipe I am going to copy you on saturday dinner with friends, I will post the photos. Moi aussi, je veux voir le dessert. And it's such a lovely idea the old music partitions as placemat.
Posted by:Kitem | 24 October 2007 at 10:08 PM
Thanks for this bit of loveliness to keep my anxious mind off of all the fires going on here.
MMMMM! Now you've got me wanting to lick the screen again Corey.
This reminds me of a funny story ... my nearly 89 year old father took a client out (yes, he still works at 88 and still schmoozes the clients) to a posh restaurant that had been recommended. Both he and his client were unfamiliar with amuse bouche and got the biggest kick/belly laugh out of being presented with this itty bitty morsel "with the chefs compliments". I can just imagine the two of them saying "Well gee, um, thanks ". He couldn't stop chuckling, relating the story to all of us.
Yes please, I want to see the dessert. Better yet, can you send mine FedX please? :)
Posted by:Sally | 24 October 2007 at 09:21 PM
oh my! such thought , time, and care given to every detail!
You make entertaining a symphony of giving.
I am smiling at your beauty from our* not on fire*- Joshua Tree -village
xoxo
MB
Posted by:MARYBETH | 24 October 2007 at 08:15 PM
This is so gorgeous! I would love to have the time to do that sort of thing...and the space to store that sort of thing...maybe when I retire, LOL!
Posted by:Betty C. | 24 October 2007 at 07:53 PM
learned you did 'la cuisse legère' as well during the gathering... missing the picture of it over here... ;)))
Posted by:marita | 24 October 2007 at 07:31 PM
Oui ! Oui ! Je veux voir le dessert ! Corey , les amuse-bouches look so tempting , delicious , beautiful . Gorgeous spoons , beautiful table . Pure magic and art de vivre.
Posted by:Massilianana | 24 October 2007 at 07:27 PM
I'll wash dishes if I get a bite of dessert!
Posted by:Travelingmama | 24 October 2007 at 07:11 PM
I love the vintage sheet music as a table place setting placematt! Lovely!!
Posted by:*Heidi* | 24 October 2007 at 06:52 PM
Oh yes...I must see the dessert! You tease us with such a beautiful table setting and lucsious spoons filled with delights. Oh how you inspire me Corey!
Posted by:Alice | 24 October 2007 at 06:36 PM
Sounds like an absolutely decadent night at home with friends. Lovely! You know what I especially like about you, Corey? You have chosen to live a positively beautiful life, with your face to the sun (or towards a candlelight dinner with friends).
Posted by:susanna | 24 October 2007 at 06:11 PM
Oh gee, talk about being JEALOUS!!! You, Lea, drizzled grapes, antiques and candlelight... Giving you BIG HUGS FROM CALIFORNIA!
Posted by:Ulla | 24 October 2007 at 06:01 PM
wow! so beautiful! you must throw the best parties! you really have a wonderful sense of aesthetics..
Posted by:destinationmetz | 24 October 2007 at 05:54 PM
Corey,
Your table is so beautiful. And I just love how you served your food. And yes I want to see what is for dessert!
Thanks for sharing.
Posted by:Lorene | 24 October 2007 at 05:53 PM
Yes, please. May I have dessert, please?
Beautiful table setting, Corey. Just lovely.
Posted by:Elaine | 24 October 2007 at 05:50 PM
Looks wonderful.
Posted by:cd&m | 24 October 2007 at 05:22 PM
WOW!!! Corey, absolutely amazing detail...What a nice way to cherish time with others...Have a wondeful day. I cannot wait to visit France in 2009!
Adieu,
Helen
Posted by:Helen | 24 October 2007 at 05:21 PM
I apply! Because even though washing dishes is not my favorite chore to do, it would be washing dishes in France in your company...
Posted by:shannon in oregon | 24 October 2007 at 05:15 PM
You betcha' I do!
LOVELY! Applause, Applause!!!!!
Posted by:Connie W | 24 October 2007 at 04:57 PM
Well you certainly know how to not only decorate and set a table, but to serve wonderful food.
Posted by:martina | 24 October 2007 at 04:54 PM
Corey the table looks beautiful, so soft and
by candle light wow! I am sure you had a lovely dinner with sweet Lea, how exciting to
be with you in France! Hello to everyone X0X0X0 Pinkie Denise
Posted by:Pinkie Denise | 24 October 2007 at 04:45 PM
As a qualified and experienced dishwasher, I would like to apply for the above position. CV upon request!
Posted by:Mountain Dweller | 24 October 2007 at 04:15 PM
What a delight to the eyes! Beautiful photography of glorious food and settings.
You have the magic touch, Corey!
I definitely want to know what is for dessert!
Posted by:Miz Booshay | 24 October 2007 at 03:47 PM
Those little grape/bleu cheese/walnut bites looks so decadent! I could probably eat a bowl of them like a salad, with honey of course!
Posted by:beachy | 24 October 2007 at 03:38 PM
Love, love, love those cups.
The sheet music was a great idea.
Dinner at our house last night took place in the living room at the coffee table. A fun picnic, just for two.
A dinner party sounds like fun. I hope it was for you.
Have a great day.
Posted by:Paula | 24 October 2007 at 03:36 PM