Your CartAutumn is my favorite season for entertaining friends with a simple meal at home.
This is such a crazy busy week here at FrenchGardenHouse, from Wednesday through Sunday we are entertaining or traveling every single day. But this is my very favorite time to gather friends and family around the evening fire and share meals.
First hostess opportunity here is a small intimate dinner with friends.
Yesterday evening, while my soup was cooking, I thought about the appetizer and decided on cheese, grapes, crackers. I’ll add some apple slices since our farmer’s market had the most delicious honey crisps, and maybe I’ll melt a little cheese in a small antique French crock.
If the weather is agreeable, we could have a very simple appetizer and a glass of wine in the back garden. Otherwise, it will be served in our kitchen, since everyone seems to always congregate there!
French Silver Plated Wine Bottle Basket
I’m keeping the menu super simple, appetizers and a simple country soup. Â My friends are bringing other parts of the meal:Â salad, wine, and dessert.
One of my stylish girlfriends owns a tea salon, she always has her pastry chef create something magical for us! We are all always eagerly awaiting what is in those white pastry boxes tied with French ribbon that she brings along. Â Needless to say there are never any left-overs of those.
I started to lay the table in the kitchen and then got a little sidetracked by the flowers. Â I foraged these beauties from our almost bare fall garden, and decided to make individual little flower arrangements, one per guest.
I’ll be sharing them on a future Floral Friday.
European Embroidered Wheat Linen Napkins
In no time at all the soup was made, the table was laid and ready, and my friends arrived for an autumn supper.
This was such an easy get together. Â I made an appetizer, this soup, and an array of bread fresh out of the oven.
Dinner with friends, I love entertaining at home, do you?
It doesn’t have to be fancy, and no one really cares if your home is “perfect” – it’s just one of the small delicious pleasures of friendship. I’ve actually had friends say “thank goodness your home isn’t perfect everywhere, it’s nice to see a little corner of mess, so much less intimidating” -ha!
There is nothing I love more than gathering a few friends around my country table, serving a simple meal, {soup, salad and dessert} and sharing all the “new” things that have happened in our lives.
I want to encourage you to entertain at home as much as you can this beautiful season.
There is nothing wrong with making it a “pot-luck” or a super simple dinner like I served: soup, salad and dessert. You can buy it all too.
I’ll share the soup recipe next time.
What matters most is gathering people you love and spending some precious time together. Â
à bientôt
If you want to romance your Home and Garden with antique and vintage treasures to make you smile each time you come home, visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.
Lidy, you’ve made this beautiful, as always! Having friends over for a simple supper is one of my favorite ways to gather. 🙂
Thank you Stacey. And you have the perfect home to gather people you love. Happy Fall!
Hi Lidy – I was hoping there would be a recipe for that soup! It looks yummy!!
Celia
Celia, look for it tomorrow!
So beautiful and inviting! A perfect setting for a perfect time with friends!
It’s always a perfect time with friends, isn’t it Sharon? I find that I entertain more when I make it as easy as possible…..small groups are wonderful, no more than 8, that way conversation is easy to have with everyone there!
Lidy, I find that everyone loves simple meals. The soup and crusty bread looks delicious and I will be watching for the soup recipe. How much fun it would be to gather at your country table and enjoy your food and hospitality! I know I would feel at home my friend!
Pam, that would be so much fun!! We’d have to share a few meals to do all the talking we’re bound to do, though. xo
Yum! Awaiting recipe.
Alice, will post it tomorrow!!
Life is good when you can share a wonderful evening with friends….can’t imagine how wonderful that box of pastries was!….The soup looks amazing Lidy! The best dinners with friends is over a simple meal where conversation with friends is the true star of the table…
Yes, I so agree Shirley! Those are the best times. Xo