Winter Tales: Brunch Style

Monday


You've rung in the new year,  maybe even partied a little, and relished time with family over the holidays. Now, that you have returned to work it’s often difficult to get back into the swing of things.

When it comes to creating a relaxing environment or merely entertaining, we certainly understand, and try to do it in a fun way. Setting aside time to swap holiday stories and new ideas with dear friends don't have to be complicated at all. In fact, the simpler the better!

Our solution for bringing everyone together, whether it’s for discussing new ventures with friends or catching up with longtime associates always involves food for us. Why? Because it’s an easy way to unwind comfortably—some of the greatest conversations with friends have come from our dinner parties or fittingly, a weekend brunch gatherings like this one.

In collaboration with Harry & David here’s our weekend brunch table that I styled for a casual setting—a late brunch for a proper post-holiday catch up with friends. Harry & David is famously known for their decadent treats, including their signature gift towers, gourmet food, and Royal Riviera® Pears.

To celebrate our first weekend of the year together with our artistic crew of friends, we used some of Harry & David’s delicious appetizers to accompany our light brunch table.

I decided to add a few handmade touches to the table by using a chalkboard theme. A fun way to make your guests feel warm and welcomed is with custom glasses or settings. Blending the old with the new for a simple, yet sophisticated and approachable setting was ideal. So, I used vintage lace overlaying it on cobalt and cream printed tablecloth with a modern motif.  

The menu included an artichoke pesto spread, potato corn chowder, Norwegian smoked salmon, raspberry-lemon tarts, and miniature cinnamon doughnuts, amongst other epicurean bites. The bruschetta spread is extremely complementary on toasted slices of a French baguette. The merlot-laced spread is boldly flavoured with tomatoes, red peppers, a kick of merlot, and has the bite of balsamic vinegar and artichoke.


The Artichoke Lemon Pesto (a group favourite), is creamy and tangy and finishes with the fresh flavour of lemon. We used a champagne sharp cheddar to go along with our spreads as well. Add cilantro or jalapeño slices to top off the soups, then finish with Hungarian paprika, and “Voila!” I highly recommend the pumpkin bisque, as well as any of the delightful spreads, which will be a brilliant companion to many other meals, such as the spreads atop grilled veggies, poultry, or with your favourite crostini.

The comfortable and refreshing setting was the perfect way to enjoy good company and a first brunch gathering of the year.



What do you think of our brunch styled setting?
The goods: Classic Bruschetta, Artichoke Lemon Pesto, and Merlot Laced Artichokes, Pumpkin Bisque, Harvest Vegetable with Pastas Soup, Potato Corn Chowder, and Wild Mushroom Soup-Courtesy of Harry & David. Shop other items here. Other items: Vintage lace cloth overlay, Ralph Lauren tablecloth, Whole foods: Norwegian smoked salmon, Handmade chalkboard glasses with chalkboard paper, Martha Stewart Paint-buy it here, or use other templates here. View the cinnamon doughnuts recipe-here



31 comments

  1. Couturetrend19 January

    Wow!!! Delicious.

    Cultureandtrend

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  2. Hello Madison! It involves food also for me, is the best way to catch up with friends indeed. Your table is gorgeous, so bright and lovely! But most of all, I enjoyed the menu, reading it at this hour made me hungry, Im sure your friend have been delighted!:) Have a great week, many kisses! xo

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  3. Delicious and beautifully set!!!
    Would you mind sending some of them my ways? lol
    Have a great week Madison!
    xo

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  4. I love it, looks so wonderful :))) Love sitting down to a big table of food with friends!! Perfect. Happy Monday xx

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  5. Everything looked soo amazing, Madison! From the setting to the food....woweeee!

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  6. Esmeralda Evangelista19 January

    Your friends are very lucky! The table and the menu are fantastic!!

    Don't Call Me
    Fashion Blogger


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  7. alessia milanese19 January

    Wow, delicious!

    Alessia
    THECHILICOOL
    FACEBOOK
    Kiss

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  8. Ivana Džidić19 January

    your brunch table looks amazing...and food always tastes better when shared, right? Nothing better than to enjoy a lovely mean with family or friends...or both.

    http://modaodaradosti.blogspot.com/

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  9. This is lovely brunch table Madison. The settings look really inviting and so does the food!

    Rowena @ rolala loves

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  10. Missy May19 January

    Galllllllllll....you wetting my appetite right NOW!! The table looks so good. Love it :-)
    Alles Liebe and have a blessed week.


    missymayification.blogspot.co.uk

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  11. Wow, this food looks so incredible! I wish I was coming for brunch. ;)

    Tara x

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  12. Looks amazing. You must have had a lot of fun.

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  13. SHE Jenmarie19 January

    You're just the perfect little hostess! I love all the details you put into the table settings.

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  14. Oh wow, I wish I'm one of your friends and I get an invite from you! Your table arrangement is lovely, I think you did a fantastic job!

    Shireen | Reflection of Sanity

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  15. rakhshanda20 January

    The table and the menu are wonderful, your friends are so lucky to have a talented friend like you. Kisses <3

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  16. Wow Madison the brunch styled setting looks totally amazing. I would love to have a brunch like that. Esp. would love to try the artichoke lemon pesto (haven't tried something like that before). I can see why it was a group favorite. Du musst mich nächstes Mal einladen. Eine wunderschöne Tischdeko. Ich habe nicht so das Händchen fürs dekorieren. Wünsch dir eine tollen Dienstag. Bei uns schneit es leider schon wieder :D
    xx glamdevils.com / miradevils.blogspot.com

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  17. Lady parisienne20 January

    you make me so hungry!!!

    http://ladyparisienne.fr/

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  18. Erika Sorocco20 January

    Brunch is my all-time favoritefavorite meal! I am absolutely adoring the tablescape here, Madison!

    xx

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  19. If you invited me for this kind of brunch, I certainly would accept! :)

    www.LUXESSED.com

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  20. Yum and beautiful indeed <3 ...made me very hungry.

    My brunch setting is far away from being stylish :)

    <3 <3 Mahshid مهشید

    http://www.thankstofashion.com

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  21. Lola Finn20 January

    Niiiiice:))) everything looks soooo yummy!!!
    Liebe Grüße aus München <3

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  22. Daniella21 January

    Hehe I agree with Anouk! As your brunches look delicious! Everything looks beautiful, not a detail missed :)

    Take care,
    Daniella xox

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  23. Anshul Bhargava21 January

    The artichoke lemon pesto sounds like it would be soooo soo delicious!!! I absolutely lovee such brunches, and you make such a perfect hostess!! Love the effort you put in there!! <3

    http://anshul90.com

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  24. This makes me want to host a winter brunch now!

    -Kati
    http://almoststylish.blogspot.de/

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  25. little luxury list21 January

    This brunch looks scrumptious! I used to love their pears! It is nice to see that they have a nice selection of spread and other goodies now too!

    xoxo,

    little luxury list formerly Chic 'n Cheap Living

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  26. Glad that you liked it!

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  27. Haha, sure! <3 Thanks so much for your comment Adeola. x

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  28. It is very good. So Delicious. Give it a try! Thanks for your lovely comment. :)

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  29. Would love to have you and Anouk for brunch one day, haha. Thanks dear for your sweet comment. xx

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  30. All hiya Lola. Vielen Dank. Lola. xx <3

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