Dinner for Four At Half Past Six

We love to have company and in June we love to entertain outside.     But this year, everything is early -- the lilacs bloomed early, the roses bloomed early . . . and the 100 degree temps came early.    We don't usually have them in June.     Sometimes in July but more often in August. we get 100 degree days.   

We invited friends for dinner . . . the heat hit before the party and so indoors we moved.

Into the dining room . . . 

The dining room ready for company.

And for four, we like to set the table two by two.    

Hydrangeas in a blue pitcher.

With flowers on the end.    Husband Jim abhors centerpieces you can't see over.     It is a pet peeve of his -- talking around the greenery is "no fun"!      But when you do two by two -- centerpieces high or low can sit on the end -- you still have a pretty table and no one is bobbing from one side to the next to carry on a conversation.

Table set two by two.

Rattan chargers, my blue and white (of course), green napkins (to remind us of the garden that we weren't in) and pink hydrangeas in a blue and white pitcher.     Silver candlesticks with candles which were lit for the evening.

We have gotten a lot of mileage out of those hydrangeas but with our heat and draught there isn't much else blooming!

Dinner was a wonderful pork tenderloin that Husband Jim smoked.      Served with an onion marmalade sauce.

To go with -- Potatoes Anna -- they'er simple and good.

Pommes Anna (in French)

And I used my copper tart tatin pan for the potatoes.    You can buy a Potatoes Anna pan -- but alas, I'm not sure if I would get my $400 back in use from that specialty pan!

I added herbs and I love the creamy crunchy potatoes.

Potatoes Anna (In English)

Which looked so pretty turned out on a plate and cut into wedges.    Rosemary in with the potatoes and rosemary garnish.

My guests were New Orleanianers.    One still lives there and was visiting my neighbor who used to live there.      What does one feed perhaps homesick New Orleanianers for dessert?

The dessert of New Orleans -- creme brûlée -- in honor of our guests.

Why creme brûlée, of course!!!      Daughter Sarah's recipe and it is good.    Garnished with garden mint and a few Farmer's Market blackberries.

We drank martinis before and had wine with dinner.     All too soon, the clock struck the magic hour and our guests departed.    

Husband Jim helped clear the table and I did the dishes and cleaned the kitchen.    There was just enough pork leftover for lunch the next day!

It is so nice to gather with friends around a table.

It is Thursday and I'm joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday and Kathleen at Cuisine Kathleen for Let's Dish.