Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

Details of Dinner

                Dinnertable_2

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.

                Amusebouche

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.

                Cucumbersoup

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.

Comments

72 responses to “Details of Dinner”

  1. Catalina

    Yes! I would like VERY MUCH to see the dessert!
    Love your way of setting tables and the “amuse bouche”! I will try this. Thank you again Corey to put so charming touches in life.

    Reply
  2. rel

    Corey,
    I can attest to the fact that you set a beautiful table. The food I Imagine was scrumptious. The desert? Unless it was chocolate rugby cake, I’ll just have a peek!
    I’m a class A dishwasher.
    rel

    Reply
  3. Parisbreakfasts

    GEE WHIZ
    &
    HMPH !
    I’m a little put out I never got to partake of one of your FAB dinners at chez nous Especially since I told you many times I LOVE to do dishes at other people’s houses
    🙁
    Some people have all the luck.
    I bet you served Provencal NOUGAT as the dessert too!

    Reply
  4. Di Overton

    I would imagine that dinner at your place is a wonderful experience. You make it all look so beautiful. Styling par excellence!
    I love that idea with the spoons.

    Reply
  5. Eivlys

    yummy !! a croquer des yeux avant de déguster au palais !!
    did you get my e mail?

    Reply
  6. herhimnbryn

    Yum!
    I love the placemats.

    Reply
  7. Aina

    OH!!! Fantasic!! Such lovely decorated table, and how could i not love your idea with Place mats made from vintage music papers? Excellent!! And the taster teaser, looking jummy :))
    Aina

    Reply
  8. Marie-Noëlle

    I followed your dinner and I had
    grapes and cheese out of soup spoons…
    and soup out of tea cups…
    FINE …
    Waiting for my glass of cheese and my jug of profiteroles…
    Is the soup plate of coffee included?
    BEAUTIFUL post!!!

    Reply
  9. Mélanie

    Well , I’m not going to say what was the dessert and I’m not going to send a picture of it …But You will have to …?
    Well let’s think about a litlle blackmail.
    this morning I surely love your post as it reminds me a wonderful diner but I’m very disapointed you haven’t talked about CUISSE LEGERE of Marie Antoinette ..
    May be I’m going to write a post about the french worlds , you girls , have learned

    Reply
  10. Jeanne

    Divine and elegant just like you
    Love you

    Reply
  11. Pauline

    I would gladly wash dishes as long as we could talk in a desultory manner while working, about the food and the guests and what we’ll do tomorrow (but in English please; Je parle français comme une vache Espagnole).
    Your table was lovely – love the idea of pre-dinner taste treats and plan steal the idea for my Thanksgiving feast next month!

    Reply
  12. Darla

    Those place mats immediately make me think of the phrase “Sing for your supper”. I’d gladly sing but you might be sorry I did.
    Darla

    Reply
  13. Caffienated Cowgirl

    Oh my glory! I need to hire you for our next dinner party!

    Reply
  14. tut-tut

    Lovely setting, all of it! What was main course?

    Reply
  15. Beverly

    Yes I want to see dessert!!!
    When I first saw the picture of the table setting, I hoped that you would mention company…because that table setting would put most of us to shame if it was just for a family meal!
    And share the recipe for cucumber soup please!

    Reply
  16. Pat

    Beautiful table, Corey! Taster teaser…lovely idea!
    Pat

    Reply
  17. My Melange

    Oh, yes always show the dessert! I love the tablesetting!!!!

    Reply
  18. Cre8Tiva

    oh a meal at your house must be a pleasure for every sense…a delightful amuse buche…soup in teacups…how creative…love it all and will steal/borrow all your ideas…blessings, rebecca

    Reply
  19. Shannon

    Sitting here taking notes:
    music sheet placemat
    amuse bouche looks delicious
    tea cup holding dessert
    Thanks for some great holiday dinner ideas!!

    Reply
  20. Meredith

    About that dessert. Yes, please. I saved just enough room for it.

    Reply
  21. JanePoe (aka Deborah)

    If the food tasted half as wonderful as the presentation, your dinner guests were very fortunate! xx, JP/deb

    Reply
  22. clarice

    Ohhh I want to eat at your house 😉 I love how you savor eat bit. Yes I want to see dessert. Clarice

    Reply
  23. Paula

    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.

    Reply
  24. beachy

    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!

    Reply
  25. Miz Booshay

    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!

    Reply
  26. Mountain Dweller

    As a qualified and experienced dishwasher, I would like to apply for the above position. CV upon request!

    Reply
  27. Pinkie Denise

    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

    Reply
  28. martina

    Well you certainly know how to not only decorate and set a table, but to serve wonderful food.

    Reply
  29. Connie W

    You betcha’ I do!
    LOVELY! Applause, Applause!!!!!

    Reply
  30. shannon in oregon

    I apply! Because even though washing dishes is not my favorite chore to do, it would be washing dishes in France in your company…

    Reply
  31. Helen

    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

    Reply
  32. cd&m

    Looks wonderful.

    Reply
  33. Elaine

    Yes, please. May I have dessert, please?
    Beautiful table setting, Corey. Just lovely.

    Reply
  34. Lorene

    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.

    Reply
  35. destinationmetz

    wow! so beautiful! you must throw the best parties! you really have a wonderful sense of aesthetics..

    Reply
  36. Ulla

    Oh gee, talk about being JEALOUS!!! You, Lea, drizzled grapes, antiques and candlelight… Giving you BIG HUGS FROM CALIFORNIA!

    Reply
  37. susanna

    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).

    Reply
  38. Alice

    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!

    Reply
  39. *Heidi*

    I love the vintage sheet music as a table place setting placematt! Lovely!!

    Reply
  40. Travelingmama

    I’ll wash dishes if I get a bite of dessert!

    Reply
  41. Massilianana

    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.

    Reply
  42. marita

    learned you did ‘la cuisse legère’ as well during the gathering… missing the picture of it over here… ;)))

    Reply
  43. Betty C.

    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!

    Reply
  44. MARYBETH

    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

    Reply
  45. Sally

    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? 🙂

    Reply
  46. Kitem

    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.

    Reply
  47. carol

    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.

    Reply
  48. elsa

    yummy! yes, please do tell, what was for dessert!?!?
    wish i was there!

    Reply
  49. Carolyn

    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.

    Reply
  50. stljoie

    It’s just lovely…you do understand elegance…what was the rest of the menu and dessert?

    Reply
  51. Penny @ Lavender Hill Studio

    What a lovely table. I love small plate meals. I would love to know what was for dessert!
    Penny

    Reply
  52. rochambeau

    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!!!

    Reply
  53. Cottage Contessa

    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)

    Reply
  54. Pam Aries

    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!

    Reply
  55. Loretta

    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!

    Reply
  56. Elaine L.

    “amuse bouche”
    Oh, my!
    The French do know how to stop and smell the roses.
    ~elaine~

    Reply
  57. tommiea

    I have done the tiny appetizer on a chinese soup spoon before…..I will have to try this one for our next party!

    Reply
  58. AmandaMay

    wow. I officially want to come and learn entertaining from you – that looks amazing!

    Reply
  59. Gina

    What a lovely warm setting! So inviting.

    Reply
  60. Dee

    How beautiful everything looks! And oh so yummy! When will dessert be served? 🙂

    Reply
  61. Lee

    Oh wow! The food is beautiful, the presentation exquisite, the setting delightful.
    You set the bar very, very high!

    Reply
  62. holly

    Dearest Corey,
    Thank you so much for bringing the chocolate chip cookies to my “waiting” game picnic.
    Delighted!
    Hollyx

    Reply
  63. Hasmin

    WHAT A BEAUTIFUL TABLE SETTING! THE AMUSE BOUCHE LOOKS DEVINE, THE TINY TEACUPS FILLED WITH CUCUMBER SOUP LOOKS DELIGHTFUL!

    Reply
  64. Francoise

    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

    Reply
  65. cruststation

    Stunning images and delicious looking food! What an amazing dinner party, the table setting and food is good enough for the best restaurants.

    Reply
  66. Mari-Nanci

    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

    Reply
  67. Kristin Co

    Mmmm … les amuse-bouches me font envie !
    J’adore cette amusante présentation !!!

    Reply
  68. Merisi’s Vienna

    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.

    Reply
  69. Nora

    Tres, tres delicious [I can’t think of the Fr word at the moment].

    Reply
  70. Sarah in Marrakech (soon to be in Paris!)

    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

    Reply
  71. Sara Duckett

    How pretty and inspiring! I love the amuse bouche… I’m going to have to try that sometime!

    Reply
  72. Marilyn

    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. 😉

    Reply

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