Paula was one of my mom's best friends and since my mom died 3 years ago Paula has become a good friend of mine too. She loves to open up her house for great dinner parties, and it shows. She always has her table set so elegantly and on this occasion her house was festively decorated to celebrate Christmas! Lets take a look...
Menu:
Cheese appetizer (Pamela)
Herbed crown roast of pork w/ mustard seed sauce (Paula)
Potatoes Gratinee (Steve)
Shredded brussel sprouts w/ chestnuts, shallots and applewood smoked bacon (me)
Corn (Paula)
Chocolate mousse (Pamela)
Chocolate truffles - mint/tarragon; chai pistachio; earl grey (from my friend Beth who has started her own small chocolate enterprise, "Little Dipper Chocolate")
Calvados/Coffee
Appetizer
Where's the mousse?! 
Once the calvados kicked in, the wackiness began...
Still life w/ papillote 
I learned something new... according to the salesperson at the cooking store where Paula bought the papillote, these are also called panties... so as the zaniness continued, one of the guests tried on the papillote/panties but they were too small!
Then I started spanking the monkey and we proceeded to corrupt our new friends the Worthingtons!
Me thinks it's time to go home...
Paula, thanks for the hospitality and friendship (and fun)!!
Happy New Year everyone!
I love big dinner parties, I wish we had them more often.
Posted by: Brilynn | December 28, 2006 at 12:27 PM
I totally agree Brilynn, and if you put the right group together the chemistry is amazing!
Posted by: Bruno | December 29, 2006 at 05:00 AM
*innocent look*
Will the monkey be ok?
*smirks*
That feast looks like it's on high dregree of YUM.
Posted by: sprite | December 29, 2006 at 05:20 AM
That looks like it was a fabulous party. Happy new year to you, too, Bruno!
Posted by: Lisa | December 29, 2006 at 04:06 PM
Sprite - Thanks...the feast was definitely YUM! FYI, the monkey was not harmed.
Lisa - Thank you! I hope 2007 will be the best year yet!!
Posted by: Bruno | December 30, 2006 at 08:27 AM
What a wonderful evening! Any chance of prying the brussels sprouts recipe out of you? They sound delish.
Happy New Year from the farm!
Posted by: farmgirl | December 31, 2006 at 10:34 AM
Thanks Farmgirl! I will e-mail you the brussel sprouts recipe when I get back in town. Hope 2007 is a great year for you on the farm!!
Posted by: Bruno | January 02, 2007 at 05:25 PM
A beautiful table Bruno. But the glasses are filled with water. I'm guessing it was soon replaced by wine.
Posted by: barbara | January 07, 2007 at 04:32 PM
Thanks Barbara! Oh yes, we definitely drank some wine that night!!
Posted by: Bruno | January 08, 2007 at 03:54 PM