Feast For The Eyes: A Magnificent French 5 Course Hosted Lunch

Who can set a table as inviting as this and also cook the most delicious meal ever and pull it off looking effortless?

My very special friend, Cat from Sunday Brocantes can and did.  (I hope a photo of us every year in France becomes a regular thing…2 years and counting!)

She made our Brocanting Tour even more special by inviting us into her home and cooking the most delicious meal ever.

And what a home it is for sure!!!  This gal needs to be in a home décor magazine!

Cat’s home in Normandy is named Rabbit Hill.

This is what my eyes saw to the left when we entered the foyer…OMG!  Needless to say there was collective tour group jaw-dropping.

She has not one, but two antique armoires she uses for storage.  Isn’t that clever?

And guess what they surround?  An original fireplace mantle with a trumeau that’s over 300 years old!  There is so much eye candy everywhere.  The crystal chandy, the beamed ceiling, the original hand-painted dog tiles.  Be still my heart….

Cat has exquisite taste and an impeccable eye for great pieces.  Just look at this antique painted Swedish daybed.

A wine tasting table was used to serve aperitifs.  Her attention to detail is so apparent here.

A close-up of the hand-painted trumeau portrait.  You can tell its age by its worn beauty.

Cat had recently painted her draw-leaf dining table with a soft grey chalk paint she mixed herself! Heavenly.

All of the center table décor was live fruits and foliage she gathered from her property and at the market.

 

She prepared an amazing chestnut and mushroom soup.  I could have licked the bowl but manners, I had to mind my manners.  And the main course?  Duck confit. One of her specialties.  It tasted as good as it looked. Delish!

We then had a course of cheese and salad followed by her homemade tarts…apple or pear.

The group all agreed…this was the best meal we had in France! (and we didn’t have any bad meals!!!)

I hope you enjoyed seeing Cat’s dining room at Rabbit Hill in Normandy.  Please visit her blog at Sunday Brocantes.  You’ll be in for a treat.  She was in inspiration to all of us.

Note: Cat was so gracious in allowing us to take photos of her beautiful home.  My pics don’t do it justice and although these photos are watermarked with my name PLEASE remember that these were taken of Cat Bude’s house…Rabbit Hill in Normandy.  Please give her credit for the décor and properly identifying her home when pinning! Thanks.

I’ll continue posting about our trip. I’m still sorting through photos!

Blessings,

Kim