A Winter Table
With a hint of spring on the wind, we felt we were well overdue for a winter gathering of food, friends, good wine and a roaring fire. So this weekend, on a rainy afternoon, we brought many different dishes to the table and caught up on news and events with old friends. I love creating spaces with seasonal celebrations in mind. The ability to extend a table or have a space where you can gather a large family or a group of friends to share a meal is a great ritual that keeps us close in our busy lives.
I actually really enjoy the preparation stages - even had a little helper this time who was keen to peel garlic before stuffing it with rosemary into the lamb (thankyou sweetheart!). Setting the table is also quite theraputic, although flower arranging is NOT my strong point, I have the tendancy to throw them in a vase and figure they are beautiful in their own right....!
I love the potluck dinner concept where everyone brings a plate, in our case we allocated a course each and set a theme that we could work to. This absolutely minimises the stress of hosting a large lunch and means you are more likely to catch up more often.
Our menu consisted of starters of mozzarella, basil and tomatoes, and chicken sesame skewers, mains of long slow roast lamb & roast potatoes, balsamic roasted tomatoes, a lovely dish of mushrooms and a cauliflower tabbouleh, completed by a beautiful pear and almond tart and chocolate brownies.
All the photos were shot as we enjoyed the afternoon, with just the candle light and the diffuse rainy sky outside, and the food is presented naturally how it arrived at the table. I hope there is a sort of honesty to the pictures that shares the lovely relaxed mood of the day.
Many many thanks to our wonderful friends Karen and James, Sue and Anthony and all the kids for a great lunch, looking forward to doing it again soon!
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