French Country Barn Dinner

Joining rustic and elegant has always fascinated me and for years I’ve wanted to have a fancy dinner in a barn.  Finagling the decor to fit the bill demanded vision and panache so I called my good friend  Daniela Faget of Bella Signature Designs.  Daniela loved the idea and within minutes we’d fashioned a sit down dinner for 20. 

Our idea was to offer the event as an auction item for the preschool our children attend.  Our next call was to our dear foodie friend Lisa C.  She happily joined our little crew and before you can say fois gras we’d designed the menu and chosen the French Country theme.

 

Menu

Welcome

Assorted Cheeses and seasonal fruits

served with Champagne Cocktails

Starters

House Made Pate with Home Pickled Green Beans

paired with Coppola Claret

Warm Goat Cheese Salad with Bainbridge Island Organic Greens

Main

Bouillabaisse with Garlic Roux and Crostini

served with Coppola “Sophia” Rose

Dessert

Fruit Tarts with Bainbridge Grown Strawberries

 

As things go, I fell so much in love with the event that I wanted it for myself.  When it came time for the bidding to begin, my dear husband and best pal Lisa B. joined forces and bought the fancy barn dinner as a gift.

Happy Birthday to me!!

Bountiful Farm is beautiful and the barn fantastic.  Daniela created an intimate feel by hanging filmy white linens from beams then laid three tables end to end.  For seating, we alternated linen covered parsons chairs with hay bales.  We topped each hay bale with cushions then draped them with burlap. 

Daniela used lavender and poppies.  6 year old Jane was in charge of the napkins and she tied bows with garden twine and tucked a sprig of lavender in each.  Lisa’s welcome table overflowed with fresh berries assorted French cheeses and fancy crackers.  The roux she made to accompany the bouillabaisse was out of this world; rich with saffron and garlic.

Guests played croquet, admired the peacocks and made friends with the horses.  Chickens clucked, horses neighed, glasses clinked, guests laughed.

 

    

We cooked all the food outdoors over a fire ring and gas barbecue.  Everyone helped out, Alan and Brad poured wine, Elaine kept an expert eye on the bouillabaisse and made sure the seafood was cooked to perfection, Kevin grilled the crostini. Hollind, Heather and Lisa served.

 

 

At the end of the evening I looked around.  No words can express the joy of having my parents and sibs mingling with all my dear friends and know they were all there for me.

Candles flickered, music played, people laughed.

Cheers,

 

Carla