Italian on the Terrace

Is it a patio or a terrace?

And what exactly is the difference

Patio sounds more 50s California ranch house

While terrace is European, Italian, French

We have one at Linderhof

put there years ago

And it's big!

Big enough for a big party

But small enough, too,

that on a nice fall evening

We can dine on our terrace

When we eat outside,

there are still candles

And tablecloths

And napkins

We favor lace

both inside and out

And white napkins

There is just something so classy about white napkins

(and if someone uses one to mop up spilled wine

you can bleach the heck out of it!)

And we move from salad course

to entree

Just because we're outside doesn't mean that there isn't courses!

And the blue and white looks as good outside and it does in!

And a centerpiece, always
A Guy Wolff pot with a white geranium
It's the summer centerpiece on the table
sans cloth most of the time
And a lantern for candlelight

And the food?

Italian!

A simple pasta supper of penne, Italian sausage, sauce and Parmesan

A slice of ciabatta with tomatoes and cheese on top.

Alas, no dessert!

But perhaps a stroll around the garden after dinner

The dogs are shameless beggars

especially outside

And Husband Jim

feeds their cause!

They hang around him,

not me!

For I'm not as generous as he is!

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