Luxe Made Easy: A French-Inspired Dinner for 8 [PFB Challenge #3]
We made it to the next round of PFB! We’re now down to just 200 bloggers. What better way to celebrate than invite six people over, stress all week about the menu, and go crazy cooking and cleaning all day? Someone pass the wine already!
The challenge was to host a luxury dinner party. To me, luxury is high quality ingredients, simply presented, but prepared in an interesting way. So I set out to plan a menu that reflected that, and I ended up with a bit of a French twist. French stuff always sounds fancy-schmancy to me. I’ve really got to get to Paris one of these days. Maybe that’s what I’ll do with my 10 grand.. stuff my face with croissants and macarons while wearing a beret and posing in front of the Eiffel Tower (really, I haven’t thought about it at all).
This was our first dinner party in our new house. Actually, it was probably our first real dinner party ever. I wanted to present some new tastes, but keep it classic enough that everyone would enjoy it and no one would be awkwardly picking at food they didn’t like. I picked beef instead of fish [thank goodness, we had a few fish-haters at the table, ha!] for just that reason.
Here’s a peek at my menu:
the courses.
first: Goat Cheese and Thyme Souffle, Salad of Arugula, Radicchio and Shaved Parmesan
second: Braised Beef Short Ribs, Puree of Celery Root and Yukon Gold Potato, Red Wine Reduction
third: Dark Chocolate Pots de Creme, Whipped Sweet Cream, Fresh Raspberries
In my opinion, you know you had a good meal if the pictures get progressively worse- that means you were having so much fun that you didn’t care about documenting it! If it weren’t for the challenge, I don’t think I would have snapped a single photo, and that makes me so happy!
Here’s a little secret: recipes that sound fancy usually aren’t that hard to make. It’s all in how you describe things. Example A: I could have written ‘chocolate custard’ on the menu, but I wrote ‘dark chocolate pots de creme’ instead. Easy to do, fancy pay-off. Your guests will be impressed before the food even reaches the table.
I’m no Martha (in my dreams), but here are a few tips to help you go luxe:
don’t stress about setting the perfect table. Chances are, if you’re trying to go luxe, you’ll have your hands full with the food. Give yourself a break and go easy on the decor. Use simple, classic dinnerware and the food will take center stage.
choose simple centerpieces. Produce is always easy, less expensive than flowers, and you can use it afterwards. Who’s coming over for lemonade this week?
pick recipes that you can make ahead. in my opinion, this is key! You don’t want to be slaving away in the kitchen while everyone is having fun. Do just enough that all you have to do is plate the food. In this menu, the souffle, the short ribs and the dessert were all make-ahead items- it made all the difference when it came time to serve the meal.
be mindful when it comes to drink options. Not everyone likes wine with dinner, so keep other beverages on hand so no one goes thirsty.
relax. After all your hard work, make sure you actually enjoy the party!
This party was a smashing success and tons of fun. Thank you, PFB, for getting me off my tush and finally inviting some people over! Now I’ve got the entertaining bug.
Voting for this challenge is open October 4th at 9AM ET until October 7th at 9PM ET. As usual, I pinkie promise to remind you about voting (even though I’m sure it’s getting old, “vote for me, blah blah blah”) and swear on my overabundance of lemons that I will throw you an even fancier dinner party if I win. Try me.
Oh, I so want a goat cheese and thyme souffle now!!! that looks so yummy!
Great Ideas!!!!!!!!!!! I’m going to have to steal some of those! Amazing Job!
Great job!! I love your table setting and the food looks stunning!! You’ve got my vote, girl! 🙂
This meal was delicious and extremely well executed! It was luxury at its best and I wish we could have fancy parties all the time now! Thanks for having us over 🙂
VOTEDDDDDDD! Good luck! Wish you all the best!
jen @ http://www.passion4food.ca
You are awesome I really hope you win this!! I had a great time and I know Jon did too, we will have to have you guys over for dinner sometime, even if it isn’t as fancy as yours! 🙂 By the way I really would love the recipe for the dessert! It was incredible!
Your menu looks scrumptious! That goat cheese and thyme soufflé especially sounds mouthwatering. And I love your tip about using produce for decoration! Good luck!
that sounds awesomeee!!! love the lemon centerpiece, fresh and lovely! Congrats!
http://whitneysamusebouche.blogspot.com/
Whit
Looks like it was a wonderful dinner party! It all looks delicious! Hope we both make it to the next round! 🙂 You have my vote!
I love your centerpieces–so pretty! Also, you had me at “goat cheese souffle.” Everything got kinda hazy after that. 😉
Lovely party, the decor looks great and I loved the souffle idea. Good luck in this round. You got my vote.
Goat cheese and thyme souffle?? YUM!! That sounds amazing 🙂 I’m so impressed by your party and I love your lemon decor! I hope we both make it to challenge #4 too!!
Sues
What a lovely dinner! Loved the lemons on the table. Loved the French menu! So very impressed! Best of Luck in PFB!!
Lovely menu and table setting. Best wishes! Hope we both advance too (=
Great tips! Everything looks elegant and delicious! Good luck! I’m off to give you a tweet.
Those souffles sound delicious! I’ll have to bookmark your post w/the recipe for later! Good luck with round 3!
I love the table… everything looks really great! Good luck, and thanks for the vote for Livefire, too! 🙂
yum! this looks amazing. i can eat pot du creme all day!
Looks like you did an amazing job on your very first dinner party! The Goat Cheese and Thyme Souffle sounds fantastic! Good luck on round 3!!
Your whole menu sounds delicious, but the Dark Chocolate Pots de Creme with Whipped Sweet Cream and Fresh Raspberries made me fall in love! Good luck – I’m sending a little red heart your way.