bébé, ooh la la

On Saturday, my friend and neighbor, Amy (that would the Amy – as in Amy’s Famous Taco Soup) hosted a French-themed baby shower for her girlfriend, Melissa.  It is true, I can’t mention Amy without referring to her soup.  Sorry, I simply cannot! I mean, I love soup and I love Amy, so it is just impossible.

Anyhow, back to the baby shower. Since I have a truckload of French stuff, Amy and Melissa asked if I’d help with buffet tablescapes. Yes, of course, I would love to!

Seriously, if I don’t use as much of my “stuff” as often and in as many ways as possible, how am I going to continue convincing Dave that I NEED and USE this stuff.  Matter of fact, I’ve loaned out my French “props” twice in the month of April alone.  First, decorate the stage at the Jacques Pepin taping and again for this adorable baby shower. Proof positive that my treasures are not junk to be easily disposed of.  See ladies, you were doing me the favor, not the other way around.  Thank you!

Back to the baby shower, again! At the time the invites went out, Melissa did not know the sex of the baby. So instead of the usual baby colors of pink or blue for the theme, she chose lavender. Reminiscent of the lavender fields throughout the French countryside.  So Pretty!

Amusez-vous s’il vous plaît ! (enjoy please!)

We packed up and put away the usual backyard accouterments from this corner baker’s rack and replaced them with flowers and one of my kids’ cookbooks from France… in French, of course.

These pretty scroll-work hooks usually hold pool towels.  Amy tied fresh herbs from my garden with raffia and hung the bundles in the towels’ place.

Don’t you hate it when you have to go through a buffet line balancing your plate along with the napkin and cutlery?  Me too! We set up a separate tray for them  –  so that the guests could grab those last-minute items – after filling their plates, while on their way to be seated.

We also set up two buffet tables, instead of one. Doing so helps keep the flow and prevents a long line and wait. This is the first table set up at one end of the patio – it holds the Artichoke & Olive Tart, a basket of Mini Croissants, and the Spinach, Leek & Gruyere Tart.

Aren’t all the little tags that Amy made for the food just adorable? I especially love this sweet Bon Appétit banner with a brooch attached in the top corner.

Buffet number two, located at the other end of the patio, held the Cheese Board and Cracker Tower, a lovely Mixed Fruit Salad, and the Field Green and Fennel Salad with “Melissa’s Herbes de Provence” Vinaigrette.

Since tarts were the main dish … we used a tart pan on the drink station, which held the ice tea fixings.

It was 85 degrees in the sun at lunchtime, luckily the food and tables were in the shade, but that was still a bit warm for the delicate desserts, so they were set up inside on the dining room table.

Beautiful job, Amy!  And Congratulations, Melissa! xoxo