This past weekend I had a few friends over for dinner and they were nice enough to let me interrupt the party to photograph the table settings for the weekly
Tablescape Thursdays!
I took the first picture before plating the salad course - caprese salad with a nice rose wine.
Plates are Decre Freres, Theodore Haviland Limoges, silver is freshly polished
Prelude for International Silver, crystal is Waterford. Alabaster table lamp is a touch that makes it feel like an old supper club to me (from restoration hardware) and candlesticks are venetian glass from
Aero in NY. I didn't get any flowers because they seem a bit much for a casual winter dinner.
For the entree course, I used my favorite cuckoo pattern dinner plates from Wedgwood. S&P shaker are mother of pearl from pottery barn. Napkins are antique irish linen from ebay (the best Christmas gift ever!).
Here is what we had (ignore the lamp cord!) - roast beef with carrots, potatoes and celery -a hearty winter meal on a snowy day.
For dessert (lemon pound cake with fresh whipped cream) I used the bread plates for Wedgwood 'Cuckoo', the small coffee service is antique Austrian by Ernst Wahliss, the teacups are antique Minton and the sugarbowl is cobalt jasperware by Wedgwood.
Just a close up. After all of the wine we needed some sparkling water!
The tea (violet from Laduree) was served on my sideboard from my wedgwood 'cuckoo' teapot. The sterling tea strainer was NOT fun to polish after a few years of not being used! Crystal candlesticks I brought back from my trip to Paris in the fall.
Thanks for bringing the champagne! Champagne flutes by Baccarat.
The evening had some ups and downs -the foil from the champagne gave me a nasty cut which would NOT stop bleeding! The rest of the rose was the best medicine......
I love simple meals like this with very little mess (especially in a tiny apt). The huge roast beef (which i'll be eating for a week!) was accompanied by roasted carrots, celery and potatoes cooked with butter, garlic and sage. I LOVE the pattern on my potholders -the chickens always make me smile (from william sonoma)!
I hope you enjoyed the meal as much as we did!
I took the first picture before plating the salad course - caprese salad with a nice rose wine.
Plates are Decre Freres, Theodore Haviland Limoges, silver is freshly polished Prelude for International Silver, crystal is Waterford. Alabaster table lamp is a touch that makes it feel like an old supper club to me (from restoration hardware) and candlesticks are venetian glass from Aero in NY. I didn't get any flowers because they seem a bit much for a casual winter dinner.
For the entree course, I used my favorite cuckoo pattern dinner plates from Wedgwood. S&P shaker are mother of pearl from pottery barn. Napkins are antique irish linen from ebay (the best Christmas gift ever!). 
Just a close up. After all of the wine we needed some sparkling water!
Thanks for bringing the champagne! Champagne flutes by Baccarat.
I love simple meals like this with very little mess (especially in a tiny apt). The huge roast beef (which i'll be eating for a week!) was accompanied by roasted carrots, celery and potatoes cooked with butter, garlic and sage. I LOVE the pattern on my potholders -the chickens always make me smile (from william sonoma)! 
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42 comments:
Waterford crystal + rosé wine = stunning visuals! I'm in love with your table; you're setting the tone rather nicely for Valentine's Day here, Stefan. Your 1st and 3rd pix are stunning; well done! What a wonderful host you apparently are. I knew you were a Waterford type. (And that's a compliment, of course!)
XO
Michael
If I had a son like you, I would be so proud and of course I would rush right over with some bandaids with snoopy on them. Your table and your dinner look lovely. Bravo.
pve
If that's a casual winter dinner setting I think I'd like to see photos of a more formal one! Beautiful and how welcoming it must have been to your guests.
Oh this is so good!!! I love the fact that you mixed so many cherished pieces to beautiful effect! And the lamp...perfect ambience...who cares about the cord! Treat yourself to a foil cutter...looks like a mini horseshoe.
Michael, thank you! Waterford type...hmm.....appreciation for it, anyways!
Patricia, I would LOVE a snoopy band-aid!! That would make any ouchie ok!
Blue, it was a nice snowy evening so I hope I provided some warmth!
Acanthus, The foil cutter didn't work on the big cork, maybe there is a special champagne one? I never had that problem before. The cut is finally healing nicely! I was afraid I'd need a stitch!
Wow! Thank you. I haven't had a meal like that in I don't know how long. LOL.
What a wonderful way to celebrate. Love the alabaster lamp touch. Glad to have a china date on your posts again. We've missed your celebrations. I know you value storage over ease (china vs dishwasher that works). I am always staggered how much cleanup goes on for one these "casual" meals. Count me in on the adoption list. We think you turned out great!
Kwana - winter is the perfect time!
HBD - Well, not that I neccesarily prefer storage over ease, but have no choice in a tiny apartment with a huge china collection! ha! Also - most of my china is antique and not really dishwasher safe anyway -I also am an odd bird that loves to wash the dishes! The mrs. meyers dish soaps smell SO good and make it a pleasure.
"coming" to your dinner party was a delightful way to start my day stefan..........beautiful.
and yes, the 'supper club' look is such a great touch....LOVE IT
debra
ha ha ha -Stefan, I love that THAT is your idea of a simple casual dinner! Only you.
Very nice Stefan! A beautiful setting for a yummy meal!
Karena
Scott -simple food, dear, simple FOOD.
Thanks everyone!!
Stefan! How did you manage to keep the tablecloth so clean and tidy right through the end of the meal? Wow. Beautiful, as always.
Janet, very clean friends! haha
You didn't see it after dessert -but it still did ok :-)
Everything is better on cuckoo plates. I can smell your dinner. A few dirty dishes would have made you seem a bit mortal in the eyes of your fans. LOL
LOL,trust me Terry, there was a stack of dirties in the kitchen sink to take care of later that night while watching 'Upstairs Downstairs' on dvd!
Oh, you are just soooooo good. I think I got the silver out for a party sometime in 1979, and again in 1984....
HOWEVER: as unattractive as it is, keep it all tightly wrapped in Saran wrap, as my grandmother did. even if you have felt lined silver drawers, and it will only need a light buffing years later. No more tarnished tea strainers. Wise old girl, my grandmother.
This is the closest the Dilettante ever gets to giving household tips. I have no others. It looks like a lovely party. And right on about the food.
The glasses, china and linen look wonderful, especially the champagne flutes!
But salad before the main course -is that usual? I have lived in European or British countries all my life and always see the salads served with the main course. The large salad bowls, placed in the centre of the table, are often themselves beautiful crystal or china.
Down East - I have a silver chest for the flatware which does a good job (the silver was barely even dull), but the tea strainer won't fit in it! I had forgotten all about it ( my everyday teapot has a strainer built-in) and it was in the back of a drawer. Now it's right in my cabinet with my everyday tea things to use and not get tarnished!
Hels - salad as a first course is an american custom - I know it's not that way in Europe. I think Americans think it is a light way to start a meal and gear up for the main course (and it gives me a chance to use a different pattern of china!).
Stefan, I have pals who (or wives of pals) who serve Domino's pizza on disposable plates in front of the TV, and I have friendly acquaintences who serve over-elaborate food on valuable china, but I don't have any friends who serve simple, well-prepared food on beautiful dishes the way you do. I hope your friends realize how fortunate they are to have a thoughtful host like you.
Magnaverde -come over anytime, I'm always eating!
What a beautiful table. I like the traditionalist of it -- the beautiful china (and not all in the same pattern) and crystal and silver.
This is FAB! The crystal is divine...and I swear I gained 10lbs just by looking at the gorgeous roast beef! Hugs, Lana
The dishes are gorgeous, and they go perfectly with the crystal. It is all very romantic and elegant.
Susan
Beautiful table...love your 'Cuckoo' china, very pretty. Lovely coffee service.
A beautiful and proper dinner for a wintery night. Yummy! Your traditional table is perfectly appointed. I am such a fan of the little lamp. There is something so elegantly traditional and very rich about it! And wedgewood! Oh, so beautiful!!!!!
I have so enjoyed visiting you this evening.
Yvonne
STEFAN-
This is so well done...like a dinner diary, with pointers and ideas and details and even 'where to buy'...no magazine currently is doing anything as useful, inspiring and wonderfully personal, especially.
(I loved your comments on de Vera...well, you must get yourself invited...he is delightful. Watch next week for the store.)
I note that everyone had a comment about even the minutest details of your party...even the foil cutter.
I was a little nervous about the hot teapot on the mirrored glass as heat can crack glass. Cracking suddenly and breaking...is not pleasant. Don't want you to have any more 'accidents'...with witty pictures, indeed.
Salad: I've never seen it served as an appetizer, though your point about 'using the plates' is a perfectly valid one. Nor have I seen a salad served in a bowl (Hels) in mid table.
I find a salad at a dinner party a bit of a bore, in general--and the oil dressing is not good for ladies' lipstick! We want to look good the whole dinner.
How about a little amuse-bouche! Thomas Keller makes small and gloriously beautiful tastes and small bites (you would be an artist with this concept) as he feels that once you have taken a bite or two of anything, you are then basically eating the same thing over and over, nothing thrilling after that. I rather agree--and find eating lettuce leaves (trying to stab) over and over a bit tiresome.
Think: amuse-bouche...and your friends' mouths will be 'amused'.
cheers, DIANE
www.thestylesaloniste.com
Beautiful tablescape, love the small lamp on the table, it does remind me of a fancy nightclub of the forties or earlier, so cool...enjoyed your blog...Phyllis
You set a beautiful table. I especially love how you paid attention to the place setting right through to the coffee and dessert. Love lemon pound cake!
I love tables that combine mix-match items. You don't need a complete set of matching glasses when a variety is so much more interesting.
Hi! What a lovely table you've set. You have some very pretty dishes and I really like the mix. I adore salt and peppers and yours are so nice.
Now the food! Oh, it looks so good!
I hope you'll pop in to see my tablescape!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia;)
nice shots...items are so elegant and the details too!!! I just found your blog and added on my links. thanks for sharing things like this, really inspiring!
follow me: Living Creatively with Flory
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I love it whenever you set a table. Everything just looks so regal. I'm still amazed that you are such a young man..your taste is just too sophisticated. It's weird to look up to someone so much younger than me. Thank you for sharing this beautiful setting and delicious menu.
Lucky friends!
Love the thoughtfulness in your sharing a winters meal. They must have felt very special! I adore the bird plates, a delight and reminder of spring just around the corner. I enjoy reading your posts.
-Patrick
Beautiful table and beautiful dinner! I'd like to be a dinner guest at your table! Thanks for sharing!
Love your Valentine table. Thanks for sharing. Lia
Just my style of dinner! Beutiful Stefan. I wish I was invited... ;)
Simply exquisite.
What a wonderful winter meal and tablescape -- I love your "glowing" table -- very warming indeed.
Exquisite Stefan - your home is beautiful!! WIsh I could be invited...I love all your beautiful things - you have a lovely eye for things!
xo Terri
Very nice setting... gives me ideas to mix china limoge pieces I have from my great-grandmother with my actual tableware. Slightly disparate but so unique and personal. Gives all the charm and warmth. Very well done! I wish I couls invite myself over when in your city :)
Beautiful! I love your setting and the food looks good.
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