Tea at Trianon: Autumn Supper Menu

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Monday, October 8, 2018

Autumn Supper Menu

Yes, it is still pretty hot down here, but the bugs are starting to finally go away. It is perfect weather for late suppers on the screened porch. From Southern Lady:

Welcome fall with a vibrant seasonal menu, gathering loved ones around a table that effortlessly blends the beauty of rustic charm and hearty cuisine.There’s something about the arrival of crisper weather that calls us back to the comforts of home. Make the most of simple pleasures with loved ones, sharing a relaxed spread inspired by this transitional season. Enrich a beloved blue-and-white palette with deep navy, then incorporate dashes of sun-soaked yellow that fade into the rich golden hues of autumn. Plan a lineup filled with the savory flavors of fall, but keep them light and fresh enough for mild evenings. Dress the table with accoutrements like a cheese plate accompanied by figs, crackers, green olives, mixed nuts, and persimmons. (Read more.)