A SUMMER EVENING IN PARIS (Briarwood Style)

The Cake

To celebrate my wife’s 65th Birthday she finally decided it was time for a birthday party in her favor.  For the last two years she’s wavered between a destination style family get together; a sit-down restaurant experience, party room or not; and several formal style dinners at home inviting small groups of family or friends each time.  We finally convinced her to just go with the flow and plan a night for people to remember at home, even if that meant cramming tons of people into our apartment.  It was also actually going to be on her real birthday 7/25/2015!

We selected the theme: A SUMMER EVENING IN PARIS!

Be on the lookout, I’m planning a separate picturesque post describing the decor, awaiting more pictures to come my way!

The Color Scheme: Black and White started with the Black and White postcards sent for save the date with a Parisian Skyline Graphic to the Black and White Invites and request that our guests dress casually in Black or White or Black and White!  Happy to report everyone was in very fashionable compliance!

The Look: Lots of white china, real flatware, glassware, and linens were deriguer.

The Playlist: Jazz, a pleasant mix of vocals and instrumentals.

On the TV: Black and White Slideshow of Paris pictures.

The Mood: Festive with plenty of laughter, good stories and catching up with old and new friends, and minimal tears (mostly during heartfelt Champagne Toasts to the lady of honor)!

The Menu:

DRINK BAR

Signature Cocktail: White Wine Kir

French Chardonnay (unoaked); Cotes du Rhone; Pinot Noir; French Rose

Assorted Belgian Beers

Perrier; Perrier Lime; Evian

CHARCUTERIE TABLE

Cheese board: Comte, P’tit Basque, Brie, Goat Cheese covered with Fig Jam, Champagne Grapes

Meats board: Saucisson Sec; Rosette de Lyon (Busseto Salami);  Moutarde a l’Ancienne; Cornichons, Pickled Onions, Picholine Olives

Pates: Pate de Campagne; Mousse de Canard au Foie Gras; Mousse Truffee; Truffle Butter

Breads: Sliced Baguette; Garlic & Herbed Crostini; Mini Whole Wheat Toasts; Water Crackers; Peppered Water Crackers; Sea Salt Bread Sticks

CRUDITES TRAY

Carrots, Celery, Mini Cucumbers, Endive Petals; Lemony Artichoke Dip

Honey Roasted Peanuts

Champagne Grapes

THE DINNER BUFFET

Boeuf Bourguignon

Cold Poached Salmon w/Cucumber Sauce

Croissants w/Chicken Salad Veronique

Roasted Baby Potatoes & Radishes

Ratatouille

Haricots Verts w/Caramelized Shallots & Lemon

Spinach & Strawberry Salad w/Shallot & Champagne Vinegar Dressing

DESSERT BAR

Birthday Cake

Black and White Cupcakes

Macarons

Cocoa Batons

Champagne Naturale

Coffee &  Tea

 

Kathleen’s 65th

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black & White Cupcakes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was an amazing evening, all three grandsons were in attendance and we both enjoyed showing them off! Along with their parents of course!

The Lady of Honor

Toast with Tiffany

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toast with Burke

Many comments included how smoothly the chef and his two sous chefs and capable kitchen assistant delivered an amazing meal!  The sous chefs, of course, were our Son Burke and Daughter Tiffany and special shout out to the best all round kitchen assistant and bartender Vanessa, officially adopted into the Huff Cooking Clan!

Sous Chefs and Chef

 

The Best French Bartender Evah!

 

Guests included family that traveled from Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and a surprise cousin from Hanson, Ma! Also in attendance were new friends, old friends and neighbors who only had to traverse the elevator to our simulated Summer Evening in Paris!

The Lady of Honor was heard saying it was everything she had hoped for and more!

Thank you to those of you who participated in making this Kathy/Kathleen’s best birthday ever!  Truly a night filled with amazing memories!

Eat Well…Be Well!