A French Dinner Party at Home

“Those French! They hate us, they smoke, they have a whole relationship with dairy products I don’t understand.” – Meg Ryan, French Kiss

Bonjour!

Though I am staying at home now per order of the Vermont governor in response to the pandemic, I am finding ways to stay positive and connected, help local businesses, have a little fun. One thing you can do to support local businesses is order from restaurants that offer carry out, curbside pickup, or delivery.

After two weeks of self-quarantine after our house closing and move, L’Husband and I were able to take a break working from home and spend the weekend chez Mes Parents in Cornwall, Vermont. To celebrate our reunion, my creative and resourceful mother planned a French dinner party.

Maman went all out for our French-themed evening. She pulled out her fancy china and flatware and created a springy tablescape with candles, place mats, chargers, and cloth napkins.

This event not only to lifted our spirits, it patroned a local French inn and restaurant, Tourterelle. It is currently offering a limited, set menu of meals for curbside pickup on Wednesday through Saturday nights. As this was our first experience with Tourterelle, we ordered a selection of classic French entrees: coq au vin, boeuf Bourguignon, steak frites, and fish.

Per special order of the Vermont governor, we may also order beer, wine, and cocktails from to go from bars and restaurants. Naturellement, we ordered a bottle of Pinot noir too. It’s not a French dinner party without wine!

To further set the mood, I added some rabbit figurines to the table (so helpful!) and queued up one of my favorite playlists on Pandora, French Café. Others that work include Bossa Nova and 60s French Pop.

Though we can’t travel right now, we were able to have a taste of France at home and enjoy each other’s company after so many weeks apart. Putting things in perspective, I appreciate my health and that health of my family and the fact that we now live only forty-five minutes from Mes Parents. A night in Paris was just the fun stay-at-home activity we needed.

What are you doing to have fun at home?

Merci for reading and please subscribe and share!

À votre santé,

Katie