Dinner Party

October 01, 2012





We recently went to Patty and Jack's lovely home for dinner.  They are wonderful hosts and cooks, plus they have the most gorgeous garden.  The weather was perfect and we started with drinks and appetizers outside.  At this time of year we can linger outdoors in the evening for quite a while.




And linger we did, Patty served this beautifully arranged antipasti platter with all things local from our farmer's market.  This looks like a lesson in how to make a platter look and taste perfecto and is a great trick to learn and add to the appetizer arsenal.   Above is her artful combination of dried and fresh fruits, nuts, olives, crackers and cured meats and cheese.  It belongs in a magazine!




 But first, before we go inside for dinner, I want to take you around their beautiful back garden.
It also belongs in a magazine.


The patio is an un-grouted close set brick herringbone pattern.


Massive Thai pots collected on their travels.



Mature landscaping and charming private paths.

A welcoming entry.

Around the corner and a cozy sala from Thailand surprises us.


The potting shed.

Now up to the house for dinner!  You know I am crazy about table settings and this one was stunning!   Oranges and golds and mossy greens with lots of sparkly crystal was the setting for this fall dinner.  The beautifully decorated table overlooking the garden from the large paned dining room window was quite the treat.






The dinner was divine and I do have a recipe to share because I know you like that, a very gorgeous Vegetable Tian  from Ina Garten.   I knew you would want to be alerted to this layered vegetable dish found here.   You'll be very happy if you make this.  I'm making a small one to bring to a friend who recently had surgery and am certain it will lift her spirits!



Thank you for stopping by.  I'm really happy I was able to share this special evening with you.  This is my first in a series of 6 fall parties that I will be showcasing here.  Our friends really are an entertaining bunch, and I know we are pretty lucky about that.  Fall is a favorite time for many hostesses, the menus are more homey and earthy, and the seasonal colors and decor are so inspiring.  So, coming up I have an Octoberfest and a Harvest Brunch to share with you, also a penthouse party in the city to celebrate Fleet Week and America's Cup and then later in the month there will be a cozy fireside dinner for 20!  Lastly, a spooky gourmet sit down Halloween dinner party on Halloween night.  One of the things I love about blogging is being able to share these beautiful table settings, homes and gardens and recipes with you, from my very talented friends who aren't in magazines, but should be!  I only wish I could soup up my photo and writing skills and showcase these parties in the exceptional way they deserve.  But alas, it's just me and my iPhone.  So until next time...xoxo

Plus, I have two sweaters I need to get photographed and Raveled.

Oh, and my new adorable pumpkin latte header was from my local coffee shop, Satura.  I could do a post just about their scrumptious pastries!

You Might Also Like

10 Comments

  1. Hi Kristen!
    Love the new picture on your Blog Header. I enjoy reading all the dinner party postings. It makes me want to become a better cook. Happy Fall!
    Kim

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow, that latte has some serious magic happening in the artwork created in the foam! Lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wonderful party... It looks so beautiful... and so delicious... The perfect dinner for Fall... xv

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love the new header picture, makes me want a pumpkin spiced latte right now! What a beautiful home your friends have, a treat for the eyes. I bookmarked that vegetable Tian recipe. If Ina made it, it's got to be good!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love your Blogs!!!!
    Carole

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow! The things a good Barista can do. Love your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh why oh why did I have to see this when I was already hungry--all of this inspiration makes me positively starving! :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Gorgeous house and garden. How nice to wander about, leading up to dinner with friends.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow, that yard, home, food and table settings are just beautiful and how nice to share all of this on your Blog. Makes me feel good to see all of your parties that you attend. Just beautiful......

    ReplyDelete
  10. Love the appetizers! They look quite delectable.

    - The Tablescaper

    ReplyDelete

You make my day when you make a comment!

Labels

afghan Alana Dakos ally pally ambassador Amy Herzog Ankestrick Arte Italica baby Baby Cocktails bakelite baking berry picking Best Friday of the Month best of Ravelry Big Sur blue transferware book review books boutique brook cables California candy child children children's activities Christmas Christmas crafts Christmas knitting cleaning collections cookie cutters cookies cooking craft Crafts crochet cross-stitch day trip decluttering decorating designer spotlight discount diy dog dolls Easter eau de vie Elizabeth Bradley Elizabeth Zimmerman embroidery entertaining Facebook fall fall decorating fall garden family featured first car fit flower arranging flowers free pattern Friday night party group friends funny Fur garden gardening Giants Gifted Hostess give-away giveaway gluten free gourmet group Halloween herbs holiday home how to set up a party group jewelry Kaffe Fassett KAL Kim Hargreaves kitting Knit Picks knitting laundry Le Jacquard Francais Little French Knits Los Altos lunch Mailbu Making Things Marie Wallin Martin Storey menu minimalism money talk mosaic movies my house my patterns my town nails needlepoint needles October challenge Octoberfest ollalie organizing original design outdoor seating owl party prep pear peg dolls pies pomegranates poncho preview quilting recipe recycling redwork review roses Rowan San Francisco Sarah Hatton sewing sewing room tour shawl shopping shower social media softie spring spring garden stash Stitches West summer summer garden summer knitting Sunday Morning Swans Island table setting test test knit Thanksgiving Three Irish Girls TNNA tomatoes top 10 list toys travel tutorial twinning ufo Uncommon Threads vacation Valentine vegetable garden videos wedding winter garden wip Woolfolk yarn yarn for sale Ysolda