Holiday Entertaining at Home

Last night, Mrs. G. and I hosted a few friends for a small Christmas get-together. As we were eating, it occurred to me that this was the first gathering we've hosted for people other than family since the arrival of the children. It helps that we now have friends who also have rambunctious three year old boys.I tell you, I spent two days cleaning the house in anticipation: polishing floors, vacuuming furniture and so forth. It took those three little punks about thirty seconds to undo all my work...which is exactly as it should be.

Anyway, on to the superficial trivialities upon which this blog is based.

The Togs:
A festive pair of trousers and a Brooks Brothers navy blue merino wool cardigan, worn with a white oxford, black tassel loafers and bright yellow socks. My apologies for not having my usual "action shot" of the clothes, but it was a long night.

The Spread:

Mixed Greek olives and roasted salted almonds,

Roncal, an aged sheep's milk cheese from Basque country. Fromager d'Affinois Brebis, a French soft ripened cheese, like Brie, but made from sheep's milk, sweet as butter. Fig paste from New Zealand. Chicken liver pate with black truffles and white wine. French petite toasts.

Baby spinach salad, in a homemade dressing of Dijon mustard, olive oil and red wine vinegar, with Bosc pear, dried cranberries, red onion and slivered blanched almonds.

Mini London broil sandwiches, with Gorgonzola and homemade parsley and onion relish, on fresh baguette.

Not pictured: Roasted chicken legs with Herbes de Provence. Potatoes and carrots, roasted, plain and simple, with olive oil, kosher salt and black pepper.

Washed down with plenty, and I do mean plenty, of wine. We had plenty of Chateau Coupe Roses Minervois, a medium bodied and slightly floral red blend from the south of France. An extremely approachable and versatile wine, not too dear at $12.99 a bottle. Also on the board were a racy little baby Tuscan, and a bottle of Chinon that didn't get opened...I'm saving that one for tomorrow. Word on the street is we're getting snowed in tonight.

Finished off with spiced hot cider and rum.

Damn, we should do this more often.