Make your next gathering French-inspired with a few thoughtful details.
As we move from outdoor to indoor gatherings, take a fall entertaining cue from the French! With an approach to elegance and simplicity, French women know how to host a dinner party with the kind of thoughtful details that make it special.
Amanda Herring inspired us to be a bit more sophisticated with some Parisian ways.
French-Inspired Entertaining
By Amanda Herring
I’m always impressed at how the French entertain. It’s both elegant and simple. It’s always thoughtful. In the south of France, life is really lived outside in the summer, and entertaining is often done outdoors. The fall is when entertaining moves from outside to inside with fires and candles. If you’re hosting your own fall get together, and want to make it a little more French, here are some tips:
1. Set the Stage
Add ambiance with candles or a fire. Add flowers, leaves, and a simple centerpiece. Be sure to have a cloth tablecloth and cloth napkins.
2. Apero/Aperitif
It isn’t always about alcohol, it’s about the opening to the meal. A lovely little drink and some delicious snacks.
3. Divide Your Meal Into Courses
- First: charcuterie or quiche
- Second: stew, like beef bourguignon, bread, and salad
- Dessert: apple tart, cheese platter
4. Game, Conversation, & Music
French dinners are long affairs, giving plenty of time for enjoying the food and enjoying each other’s company.
What I love about the French approach to entertaining is the care and love that goes into the planning. In my experience, French dinners are simple affairs, yet each ingredient is so carefully sourced to make a beautiful meal. When someone does all of that for you, you feel loved!
Amanda Herring is the co-owner of La Petite Maison Antiques with her husband Scott Herring. Amanda and Scott are not only curators of beautiful objects both old and new, but also storytellers. Through their passion for antiques and decor, they bring history to life and enable their customers to create unique and enchanting spaces that honor the past while embracing the present. Scott and Amanda continue to inspire and captivate those who appreciate the enduring charm of antiques in the modern world.
La Petite Maison
915 East 12600 South
Draper, UT 84020
385-308-8249
@lapetitemaison.ut
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