"We want guests to feel like they have stepped into Provence, France" was the direction my Client gave to me when it came to planning an intimate evening of Olive Oil Tasting, Wine Tasting and Snacking. My Job: To transform the kitchen into a warm and inviting space, much like a French bakery or neighborhood cheese market.
The main inspirations for this event were grape vines and olive branches found off the Client's property, a future site for events on landscaped agriculture.
The Olive Oils and Wines to be tasted were all varieties that could be grown successfully on the soil found here.
To create a spread similar to what would be found in a French specialty shop, I gathered unique items that could be used to hold the bread sticks, olives, nuts, sun dried tomatoes, etc. including a rustic metal glass holder and different sized glassware with etched filigrees.
Incorporating seasonal fruit like pomegranates, and fresh herbs like basil, into floral arrangements adds pops of color and lovely fragrances into the space. If your local flower shop doesn't have the greens you need to complete the arrangement, pop into a produce market . Dill, Basil and Rosemary are great fillers.
Adding wire baskets of seasonal fruit and rustic bread
created the feeling of an Old World kitchen.
With just a bit of research I was able to find which cheeses paired best with each wine. Labeling the cheeses and plating them accordingly made it easy for guests to pair sips with bites during the tasting.
The Menu:
Prosciutto Wrapped Goat Cheese Stuffed Mission Figs
Smoked Salmon wrapped Asparagus with Lemon and Black Pepper
Italian Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
Homemade Parmesan and Thyme Butter Crackers
Grand Marnier Ghirardelli Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
The evening ended with Scharfenberger Chocolate Squares, Strawberries and of course... Cabernet Sauvignon! Cheers!
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