Dinner at Deny’s

March 11, 2009

My friend Deny has the most exquisite taste of anyone I know.  Her apartment looks like a jewelbox:  the foyer is mirrored and there is a red lacquer table right up against it on the right, and on it are blackamoor lamps with zebra lampshades and a Chinese porcelain bowl.   There is a chair that looks like it is made out of antlers or horns or something, a zebra rug and there are floor to ceiling bookcases on tho other three walls, chock full of books.

Straight ahead is the living room with an ivory Aubusson rug on the floor, antique furniture with ivory damask upholstery, beautiful built-in cabinets and lots of fascinating art on the walls and bric-a-brac. (she’s British, so she has bric-a-brac, not tchochkas)  I don’t know where she keeps it all, but it seems like every time she entertains, she uses different dishes and table linens (ivory with a green border and monogram.  This time the chargers were green, the dinner plates had green rims cross-hatched with gold, and the salad plates had an ivory background with leaves painted on them.  She has beautiful sterling silver flatware and crystal glasses, and for decoration, two big candelabra with four candles in each, two silver pheasnts and a bowl of granny smith apples, limes and clementines (orange).

When I arrived, she opened a botle of rose champagne, which she knows is my favorite, and put out hummus with pita chips.  We chatted for a while and then sat down at this beautiful table.  First she served an avocado and endive salad with this yummy dressing and then the main course, penne with pancetta in a cream sauce.  It was absolutely delicious – much simpler than she usually cooks, but every bit as good.  There was a choice of red or white wine, but I chose to stick with the champagne!  Dessert was four kinds of fresh berries with creme fraiche, served in individual square glass bowls.

And she sent me home with a doggy bag too!  I still haven’t finished it.  It was such a pleasure to be in such elegant surroundings, to sit at such a beautiful table and to dine on such wonderful food.  She really gives her guests an Experience, and I, for one, truly appreciate it.  And yes, I sent her a very pretty thank you card with a note inside, the next day

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