Is there anything better than sharing a delicious meal around a big table with a group of friends? There is something magical about the space, the hum of conversation, the beat of the music, the clinking of cutlery. It is a chance to exhale, to savour, to breathe in the essence of what it means to be alive.
On Saturday night we hosted a French-themed Enchanted Table. France is sweeping to the top of the list of cultures I admire the most – the intoxicating language, the architecture, the food, the classic style, their way of life – I admire their passion, the sense of self-containment, their confidence. The French Banquet became my excuse to delve more deeply. I read through all of Jane Webster books I could get my hands on (French Ties, At My French Table) and devoured French Women Don’t Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano. Creating the menu guide for the evening is one of my favourite parts – even imagining the dishes on the table is enough to tantalise the senses.
The day of the feast is my favourite time. I write a big list, turn up the music and spin around the kitchen putting the final touches together. Dave whisks the kids off to give me space to create and I savour every minute. Watching guests post pictures in the event of their creations bubbling away absolutely makes my day. When the kids return, we all take some time out to rest and recharge so that we can properly enjoy the evening.
When everyone starts trickling through the doors the house fills up with the most incredible aromas. Dishes are placed invitingly onto the table, drinks are poured, kids grab fistfuls of chips while they think adults aren’t watching and the night begins! This time I went for recipes that were low maintenance during the evening so that I could actually enjoy the conversation as well. It is so nice to catch up with friends I haven’t seen for ages, particularly with the kids mostly entertained so that we can get more words in.
We start the night with hors d’ouevres – mushroom and goat’s cheese crostini; brioche buns with smoked salmon and cucumber; prosciutto, caramelised shallots and goat’s cheese blinis; a delectable cheese board; mini quiche lorraines; savoury palmiers with parmesan and an asparagus and goat’s cheese tart. There are cocktails galore – Kir Royale, the French Martini, and a French 75.
Then the mains begin – a slow-cooked beef bourguignon, a multi-layered cheese and mushroom crepe dish, pork with dijon mustard and garlic, ratatouille, green beans with butter and herbs, scalloped potatoes, a fresh salad, roast chicken and enough baguettes to have sword fights with. The way the meal comes together with all the different parts never fails to amaze me, and there are audible murmurs of appreciation as everyone settles in at the table.
The weather holds out and the kids shriek and tear around, having ice fights and making new friends. Adults congregate in the kitchen, chatting and cleaning, lingering and laughing. The mains are whisked away to make room for a decadent spread of desserts – mini meringues topped with fruit and cream, French apple tartlets; a raspberry, orange and champagne jelly trifle, palmiers, soft-centred chocolate cakes and a fruit platter.
We let the kids stay up way too late watching Elf together and parents wait until the last possible moment before moods fray before heading off into the balmy night. It is an evening that couldn’t have been more perfect and we start dreaming about the next one before the last dish is clean.
I love these events so much and I’m so delighted that they seem to be striking a chord with others too. It isn’t often in the chaos and over-scheduled business of our ordered worlds that we get to linger and connect and create lasting memories around the table. It feels strange to think we have been hosting feasts for just over a year now, but I hope they continue far into the future.
Enchanted Table nights are open to anyone who loves to explore new cuisines, meet great people and share good times together. If you live locally and want to be a part of it, just let me know and I can add you to our group! Or if you want to host your own, (like my friend Christina Hubbard has done twice now all the way over in America), just let me know and I can send you through a menu guide (you can choose from Italian, Indonesian, Argentinian, Japanese, Turkish or Portuguese).
