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Tuesday 10 January 2012

The Art of Dining



One of my prized possession is a battered, green leather book with the words 'HOME DINNERS' embossed in gold on the front.


Inside are details of Dinner Party Menus dating from 1904 - 1910. Not only do they give the Menu for the evening but detail who the guests were, what was served and by whom, and the flower decorations. All noted down in very pretty handwriting in black ink, presumably by the hostess. I do wish she had written her name on the inside cover of the book for me to research her.

This is a typical Dinner Party Menu for fourteen guests and 'ourselves':

Menu
*******

Consomme Chiffonade
Filets de Sols a L'American/Lobster Sauce & Madeira
Ris de Veau a l'Italienne

***
Welsh Saddle of Mutton
Sea Kale
Pintades a la Broche
Langue de Boeuf Russe
Salade Mache
***
Plum Pudding
Compote de Pommes
Croutes de Sardines
a la diable
***
Dessert

The table was decorated with : All coloured Tulips - Dwarf Similar
and Fern Velsken centre.
The servants: Bertha, Jessie, Nancy and the Cook: A Newland




Such an elegant and gracious way of living










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