Kris wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> Thought I'd start a new thread with a subject I've been pondering
> lately.
>
> I want to host a couple of dinner parties in the near future, and am
> wondering about themes, or merely cuisine types to cook by (I like
> themes, I'm just geeky like that). In the past I've done Bistro,
> Italian, Russian, Swedish and regular French.
>
> In a ideal world, I'd like to re-create some sumptuous feast such as a
> British Royal banquet,or the last dinner on the Titantic or some fancy
> labour-intensive thing. But that's not gonna happen now.

If your interested i have a description of a "red" dinner prepared by
the head Chef of the Monte Carlo Hotel & casino August Escoffier in the
1800's.

To celebrate a large win at the roulette table a person won a
considerable amount of money by betting on 'red' so Escoffier prepared a
dinner for them based on the color red which they sp ent their winning one.

I have made the rose ice cream that was served and if you can get
certified organic roses its worth the effort (not hard to make but
getting edible roses is).

Some where i have a 40 course lunch menu that was served in the late
1700's early 1800's at the Brighton pavilion for George the IV of
England. The commentary on it states that it was a routine 40 course
luncheon for local notables. I have a copy of the menu but its all in
French so if your interested i can try to scan it and send it along.

>
> What do you like to do for a dinner party? I'd love to hear what
> others do,especially from such a talented group.

Up until a few years ago i gave at least one sit down, white tie, formal
dinner per year. Usually Christmas or New Years. Just as an excuse to
put on the tux.

A back injury kept me from doing any elaborate entertaining the last few
years but im so much better now i think im actually going to start doing
so again.

There's a big building that houses the Bechtel corp. local headquarters
not far from my place and they have a garden that can be rented for
special events.

Its a lovely, big, walled garden with a copy of one of the big 3 stone
pillars form Stonehenge situated near a waterfall and stream that runs
around the edge of the large garden.

I would love to host a candlelight dinner there but there's just no
guarantee about weather.

Same with the "Temple of the Winds" in Berkeley, lovely greek style
temple, which can be rented for special events. But the hills of
Berkeley can be very temperamental, sunny & warm down on the flatlands &
fog shrouded in the hills.

My fantasy dinner party would be held at San Simione, the old Hearst estate.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...astle_pool.jpg
http://www.everydaywine.net/images/hearstcastle.jpg

Its open to the public and available for special (primarily corporate)
events but probly beyond my means.

Now if Versailles were able to be rented for an evening i & my tux would
move to France Heck, i would even settle for the Grand or Petite
Trianon but they are reserved by the French Government for State
functions or very wealthy or well funded movie companies.

Dinner in the Salon d'Hercule and dancing in the Gallery de Glace?
But even if that were possible, im told there's a serious lack of
'facilities' as bad or worse than during the ancient regime when at
least then you could borrow a chamber pot

And while there is a charming little bistro near the eastern end of the
grand canal, im not schlepping myself to France for a bit to eat in the
park of Versailles.

Maybe we should all pool our funds and rent a Loire valley chateaux for
the summer?

Get out the powdered wigs and panniers and think about it?
--
JL

>
> Thanks,
> Kris