Our neighborhood’s Gourmet Group gathered for our monthly dinner party last weekend, and I had the opportunity to host with a Fall Dinner Party Menu.
I went simple with my table decor, utilizing funky pumpkins, gourds and candles. And I dressed up my masculine, Spanish-style wooden chairs with wide and sparkly wired ribbons (I got rolls of the ribbon at Sam’s Club in their holiday section).
Our Menu:
Featured Beverage:
Cranberry Amaretto Kisses
Appetizers:
Apple- Cheddar Sausage Meatballs w/ Dijon Balsamic Glaze
Pancetta Crisps w/ Goat Cheese & Pear
Salad:
Apple- Walnut Salad w/ Cranberry Vinaigrette
Main Dishes:
Blue Cheese & Mushroom Stuffed Beef Tenderloin
Cranberry Rice Pilaf
Roasted Butternut Squash with Garlic, Sage and Pine Nuts
Dessert:
Ginger- Spice Cake with Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream
We were really happy with all of the recipes that we tried for this dinner party! I’m not a cocktail kind of person, but the cranberry cocktails were very, very good, and not overwhelmingly flavored of alcohol. Both of the appetizers were delicious. The salad was simple and perfect for the fall theme. We didn’t add any cheese to it since there was cheese in other parts of the meal. The main dishes… the tenderloin was melt-in-your-mouth good. The blue cheese was subtle and just right. The cranberry pilaf and the roasted butternut squash are both favorites of mine and are easy to make too. I knew I wanted to make the Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream (spicy and delicious and reminiscent of the flavors of Pumpkin Pie), so a simple cake was in order to serve with it. The Ginger-Spice cake was the perfect accompaniment to the ice cream. All was delicious, and it was a great kick-off to the fall season.
All recipes for the fall dinner party can be found by clicking on the recipe titles above each photograph.
Other dinner party menus you might be interested in:
Greek Dinner Party Menu
Portuguese Dinner Party Menu
Cuban Dinner Party Menu
Sicilian Dinner Party Menu
I am in the process of “practicing” through this menu in preparation for a dinner in October. The pancetta crisps were great! Can’t wait to do the stuffed beef tenderloin!
This menu is PERFECT!!! Exactly what I was looking for. Lori, you have mad skills!
Hi Lori, I was wondering where you found your placemats, table runner and your gold wine glasses. All the colors you have are the ones that I love and would go well in my dining room.
Thanks!
Judy
@Judy Jursch, I got those placemats and the runner at HomeGoods (love, love that store!). Not sure about the goblets- maybe Homegoods, maybe World Market?
Lori – it’s so funny – I could have bet that you got the placemats and runner at HomeGoods! I love that store too! I was just there today (Temecula store)and their placemat/runner section was wiped out..I guess I should start my fall shopping earlier! I also thought of World Market for the goblets! We have the same shopping haunts! Thanks again for the info…I really appreciate it! Judy
Thank you for the information Lori! I am bummed – went to my local Sam’s Club (Murrieta) and the only colors of ribbon they had were the dark and light green…I think the only other Sam’s Club close to me is in Corona… I really like the gold ribbon that you used. I wonder if I could find that anywhere else… Anyway, thank you again…love your posts… Judy
@Judy Jursch, That’s a bummer. I wonder if they could find gold at another club for you… or online? Ask the manager!
Seems like the gold is a popular choice and they are out of it at several stores. They do not sell it online unfortunately. Oh well, that’s the way it goes!
Hi! I love your table! Can you please tell me how many rolls of ribbon you used for your 8 dining room chairs? Thank you! Judy
@Judy Jursch, I bought two rolls — I think they were 10 yards each. I used all of one and a little bit of the 2nd for the chairs. I believe I measured out about 4 feet or so per chair.
The presentation is excellent, and pleasing to the eye and the palette? Looks like it.
Culinary Institute LeNotre Blog
Looks like a wonderful dinner! Great idea to dress up the chairs too!
I’m loving that crispy pancetta with goat cheese and pear, Lori!
When I lived in Michigan we had a dinner group…it was such fun. Guess I will have to wangle an invite to yours! 🙂
I wanna be apart of that group! Holy yum Batman!
Oh my gosh, Lori – I need to move to your neighborhood!