April 10, 2016, posted by Gina – This past Tuesday I attended my cookbook club’s incredibly beautiful and delicious Spring Luncheon and I’d like to share it with you. It was as much a feast for the eyes as for the stomach so I took lots of photos of the décor as well as the food.
The hostess had hung a wreath filled with fresh spring flowers on the front door which made for a cheerful welcome. The weather was warm and sunny so we took advantage of it by spending a little time outdoors. Her large and inviting front porch, where we enjoyed our appetizers, is filled with antique wicker furniture and surrounded by blooming wisteria. All of this set such a pretty backdrop for a lovely lunch.
The avocado mousse appetizer was decorated with chives and fresh flowers making it almost too pretty to eat. We sipped on Honey Bubble Champagne Cocktails that were served in beautiful blue glasses. (1oz. Honeysuckle Vodka and champagne)
We were all excited to see the hostess’s recently remodeled kitchen as it has been under construction for several months. An exterior wall was pushed out 8 feet creating a larger space that could accommodate a butler’s pantry. Her impressive collection of Majolica was grouped together on her breakfast nook wall.
The hostess set two tables with the most beautiful china and linens. In the dining room, Annie Glass platters served as chargers beneath the Mottahedah Tobacco china and rabbit-topped cabbage bowls were showstoppers at each place setting. The coordinating napkins were hand embroidered. An assortment of hydrangea, roses and tulips made a beautiful low centerpiece. On the sideboards, white camellia blooms from her garden filled white vases.
In the kitchen, McCarty pottery served as the charger for the blue and white Juliska Country Estate. Blue hydrangeas and pink tulips in the centerpiece complimented the place settings nicely and little poodle figurines added a whimsical touch.
Now moving on to the food…as you may know, all of the recipes are from the Barefoot Contessa cookbook. We started with a tuna niçoise and a spinach pie made with phyllo and feta cheese which was a perfect pairing.
As if that was not feast enough, we were treated to desserts that were as pretty as they were tasty: Fresh fruit tarts, pots de crème and coconut macroons.
I couldn’t help myself… before leaving I had to snap a photo of the arbor draped with lush wisteria in the hostess’s backyard:
