Tuesday, December 30, 2014

A Night In Paris ~ Joyeux Noel


A Night in Paris ~ Joyeux Noel




 A friend and I hosted a holiday

dinner party for our Mah Jongg group.





Some of you may remember

that I spent two weeks in France last fall.

One of my friends joined me when I arrived in Paris.

While there, we began planning a 

special dinner party for

A Night in Paris.





The table featured our own

La Tour Eiffel

complete with sparkling lights   .   .   .





Atop a Champ de Mars

of fresh greens and fragrant rose petals.





Une Magnifique Soirée!





There were twelve of us,

so we set another small table to the side.





While in Paris last September,

we dined at Auberge Bressane,

one of my favorite restaurants which offers

an authentic traditional French cuisine.


In anticipation of our dinner party,

our waiter let us buy some of the restaurant's napkins

to take home as souvenirs of our trip.






Dinner plates 

~ Spode Christmas Tree ~





We brought back these

adorable trays for each of our guests.





They served as perfect 

bread plates for croissants and butter.





Wrapped packages for 

each guest were sparkly Eiffel Tower

ornaments to hang on their own tree

and a copy of 

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS IN PARIS.





Brie En Croute and champagne to toast

the evening while lively French music filled the room.

We had a local restaurant make our main course,

authentic savory French crepes ~ The Eiffel and The Bruni.

You can see a complete menu for Café Crepé here.

Haricot Vert and fresh tomatoes

topped with a special vegetable mixture.

Dessert ~ Créme Bruleé, bien sur!

Sadly, no food photos ~ too busy!

Bonne Année 2015, Mes Amis!


Joining

Sarah
Sarah

The summer we married, my husband was in graduate school, and I was employed as a teacher. We took a portion of our savings that summer and purchased a sailboat. We christened our Catalina 22, “Hyacinths For The Soul” after Saadi’s poem. Our "Hyacinths" provided years of pleasure.

49 comments:

  1. What a wonderful idea to have a French theme for your dinner party. Paris and France will sure deliver up inspiration. Of course the Eiffel Towers were perfect for the centerpieces and I love the little French trays you brought back, great idea. I’m sure your guests were thrilled. I’m taking a few notes here, the restaurant sounds divine! Next time.

    ReplyDelete
  2. *sigh*
    We are all sighing with longing to be invited to such a lovely party. You and your friend put a lot of thought into the tables and I can just imagine the delight of your guests!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sarah the tables looked absolutely beautiful!! I loved the souvenirs that you both brought back home to give as gifts...sounds like a wonderful evening!! Wishing you a very Happy and Healthy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dearest Sarah,
    Lovely post and I love your ingenuity for creating the tall Eiffel tower!
    Guess those Auberge Bressane napkins are made by Le Jacquard Français, like the Eiffel tower cloth.
    Wishing you and your Chef a special New Year's Eve and a Happy and above all, healthy New Year!
    Hugs,
    Mariette

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a fun theme'd party Sarah! I LOVE the ornaments, bet everyone had a wonderful time! Happy New Year:@)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sarah, What a fĂªte for your friends in celebration of a Joyeux Noel! Just perfect and such delicious details from La Tour Eiffel centerpiece with sparkling lights, to sweet gifts and trays and souvenir napkins...*sigh* Your menu sounds wonderful too. Thank you for providing me a virtual seat at your festive table! Wishing you Bonne annĂ©e et bonne santĂ© in 2015 ♥

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh my Sarah...what a beautiful event...down the last minute detail. You & your friend thought of so many ways to bring the magic of Paris back home with you! The lucky folks who were invited to join you must have felt very blessed.
    I smiled at you buying the restaurant's napkins...LOL I did the exact same thing while in Italy! Too funny!
    Paris is on my bucket list...someday. Thanks for taking us there, in spirit, anyway.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sarah, I so love all the elements you put together here. I bet your guests were oohing and ahhing over all of the details - I know I would have been! It was so very thoughtful of you & your friend to have had the forethought while actually in Paris to plan for something as special as this - making the invited friends certainly feel that much more pampered. The ornament is adorable, and the little trays such a sweet reminder for each. Very, very nice!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sarah, Your tables are gorgeous! LOVE your attention to detail...the souvenir napkins...the little bread and butter plates and gifts. I'll bet your guests were thrilled. Wishing you a very Happy New Year.

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a fabulous table! I love the rose petals on the greens with the Eiffel Tower centerpieces. The trays were a wonderful idea for a gift! I love that you were able to get some souvenir napkins- what a great treasure!

    ReplyDelete
  11. ool, la, la! so magnifique! Love the textile on the table and the napkins. Your guests must have loved the the bread and butter plates. What a treat. Dianne

    ReplyDelete
  12. A friend gave me that same ornament last year..I love it..
    What a tabel..what a welcoming home..Everything is always so pretty here.
    Happy New Year Sarah.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Sarah, I love it!! What a wonderful tablescape and menu. Enjoyed looking at your beautiful luncheon table.
    Kathy from A Graceful Table.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sarah, oh my word, this is the best idea - you two really put on a nice holiday soiree! How I'd love to be invited to something so special.

    I spent some time in France years ago, and yearn to return. What a wonderful country, what a special trip. You through a wonderful dinner party honoring it! Well done!

    HAPPY NEW YEAR - may the coming new year find you in good health and in good spirits. Hugs.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Your party looks to have been a memorable evening, well thought out and executed! I love the centerpiece -- stunning!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Your guests must have been thrilled with your fantastic party theme. You have everything set to perfection. How cool that the restaurant let you purchase some napkins.

    Happy Pink Saturday and Happy New Year, dear Sarah!♥

    ReplyDelete
  17. Gorgeous photos!!! Happy 2015. :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. What an incredibly elegant party, Sarah! I know it must have brought back many wonderful memories of Paris. I simply love the table and the menu sounded fab. What a treat for all of you!

    Happy New Year, dear friend!

    Jane x

    ReplyDelete
  19. I was in Paris for Christmas,it's a magical city...Happy new year dear friend!
    Olympia

    ReplyDelete
  20. such elegant beauty...wishing you all the best as you celebrate!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Oh Sarah, what a party that you and your friend planned! I can just imagine how delighted all your guests were with the Parisian ambience, and the darling napkins, trays, ornaments and books. Thank you for sharing the festivities with us!
    Happy New Year's, my friend!

    ReplyDelete
  22. all love and a happy new year !!!!! love greetings from angie from Germany

    ReplyDelete
  23. You know this dinner is amazing! Love all of it and wish I could have joined you!
    hugs,
    Linda

    ReplyDelete
  24. Happy New Year, Sarah! Loved your french dinner. You had so many fun details to make it special.
    Fun to see the Auberge Bressane napkins that I recognized right away. We enjoyed a lovely dinner there in 2010. I will have to email a picture to you.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Sarah,
    This is one of favorite posts! I love everything and am so impressed you two thought ahead while in Paris. The little trays are divine bread plates, and did I understand correctly that the guests got to take theirs home? Love the Eiffel Tower with its lights and rose petals. The menu sounds so scrumptious, and the tables look heavenly. Do you need another Mah Jonng group? I will gladly join so I can attend the 2015 Christmas soiree.

    Happy new year!

    Judith

    ReplyDelete
  26. A night to remember!
    Bonne année et bonne santé from Normandy!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Absolutely stunning - What a lovely dining room and the table is just perfect! Your guests must have loved this dinner. I think the little trays as bread and butter dishes is a clever idea! The scattered rose petals are so pretty on the greenery. Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Stunning French setting dear Sarah! Beautiful dining room and the setting is gorgeous, every element and dishes are perfect for staging it.
    You went all the way with this dinner party, your guests must've felt like royalty! The little trays are awesome and what a clever idea I must keep in mind.

    Happy New Year dear friend and looking forward to visiting you.
    FABBY

    ReplyDelete
  29. Sarah!

    What a fabulous party! I loved every single detail. Your guests were some lucky ladies. Oh, how I wish I lived closer to you!!!

    Everything, every single detail was perfection. And that setting is divine. I even love your friend's dormat. SO cute.

    Sending you many wishes for the best year ever. Happy, Happy New Year, my friend. Be expecting a Happy Epiphany card from me. I am late, late, late! ;-)

    Love you,

    Sheila :-)

    ReplyDelete
  30. Oh mes étoiles et jarretelles ce tableau est fantastique! Je suppose que mon invitation est perdue par la poste. Oh attendez, je ne joue pas mah jongg. Bonne année mon amie!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Sarah:

    This looks like a magical evening. What a wonder!

    - Alma, The Tablescaper

    ReplyDelete
  32. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Oops!!! Take Two!!!
    Sarah,
    What a lovely 'Night In Paris" dinner party, dear friend!!!
    Planning ahead made each detail. . .C`est Magnifique!!!
    Happy new Year!!!
    Fondly,
    Pat

    ReplyDelete
  34. Sarah, Your "Night In Paris" table is fantastic. The Eiffel Tower covered in twinkling lights is wonderful to set the mood for all of the charming "Paris" themed accessories that bring this table to the top and over. Happy New Year!!! Wishing you and your family the best of health in the new year..... Candy

    ReplyDelete
  35. What a Fabulous Night in Paris...

    So elegant in every angle.

    Happy 2015.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Oh, wowsers! What a stunning dinner en Paris! C'est magnifique! Everything is gorgeous, and I love all the little details….from the napkins to the little trays! I love the lighted tree outside the dining room, too. What a perfect evening!

    Happy New Year!
    xo,
    Ricki Jill

    ReplyDelete
  37. This is beautiful, and how wonderul dining in Paris........
    Bet everyone really enjoyed this fun table.
    Very nice, and Happy New year to you.
    Blessings, Nellie

    ReplyDelete
  38. Happy, Happy New Year, Sarah! Thanks for sharing such a lovely evening with us - merci :) Cheers to a beautiful and bright 2015~

    ReplyDelete
  39. Happy new year to you Sarah. Such a lovely post and everything looks so wonderful. Have a great year ahead. Love sujatha:)

    ReplyDelete
  40. Bonne Annee! Love the table. Every detail is tres magnifique. Happy Pink Saturday!

    ReplyDelete
  41. It must've been so fun to relive your trip, Sarah! A lovely table, of course! Happy new year/best wishes to you in 2015! ~Zuni

    ReplyDelete
  42. An absolutely stunning party...:)

    ReplyDelete
  43. It is wonderful I like paris things. How smart you where to think of the party and get them back.
    HPS Laura

    ReplyDelete
  44. Wow! What a beautiful setting for your gathering, everything looks wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY.
    Blessings,
    Cindy

    ReplyDelete
  45. It's beautiful Sarah! Thanks for joining HSH!

    ReplyDelete
  46. How gorgeous - every single detail !
    I have that first ornament of the Eiffel Tower ( a gift from Piorra Maison actually ) and I keep it out year round - it's just too pretty to pack away!
    And I especially love the sparkling Eiffel Tower on the table - I've seen it sparkling in real life - have to pin that one for sure!
    Happy New Years !
    Hugs,
    Suzan

    ReplyDelete
  47. What a fabulously fun party Sarah! I just love all the details and thought you ladies put into it, and the wonderful treasures you brought home to share with your lucky guests! Stunning!
    Jenna

    ReplyDelete
  48. Oh dear Sarah, I'm so glad I didn't miss this incredible party! You are featured at MPM.
    The table with the Eiffel Tour is stunning, as are all the dishes and elements here. I do remember you went to Paris and visited with your friends. Everything you brought from there are lovely and what lucky guests!
    Hugs,
    FABBY

    ReplyDelete

Thank you to each of you who take the time to leave a comment. I read and appreciate each and every one and will respond to any questions. Your notes are the only way I know who has stopped in for a visit.