Studio Christmas Dinner

This past weekend Joel and I hosted his office Christmas dinner. I love planning and putting these together! Some years we’ve booked a room at a restaurant and other years I’ve cooked the meal and had everyone come to our home. The last two years, however, the office Christmas party has been cancelled due to Covid, so Joel and I wanted this year’s gathering to be a little extra special for his team and their spouses. He works with the most wonderful people, and we are so thankful!

My dad and both of my brothers are all architects. One brother manages the Tennessee studio and my other brother and my dad are both here in Alabama at a fabulous studio which they converted from an old historic post office! Since my brother has not only hosted many family gatherings at the studio but has also offered to let us use it as well, we asked him if we could have our company Christmas dinner there. He was generous to oblige us and put in quite a bit of work himself to help get ready.

We had the meal catered so I only had to set the table. I packed up all of my China dishes, crystal glasses, silverware, chargers, greenery, flowers, table runners, and candles from home (my poor husband carried a lot of heavy crates for me that afternoon!). My brother had their drawing table cleared with chairs around it and ready for me to set up. The length of the table was fantastic, allowing everyone to fit at one table comfortably–something we haven’t been able to accomplish in our home with this particular group.

Per my usual, I snapped way too many photos and can’t possibly narrow them down so enjoy scrolling!

I just loved this fresh wreath (pictured below) when I saw it at Fresh Market and knew it would be a festive touch for the evening. I hung it with some gold silk ribbon and got to use the rolling library ladder which I’ve always wanted to do, ha!

And you might notice some little brass bells scattered among the greenery mixture of pine, cypress, and eucalyptus. I ordered those sweet little bells for this event, and it wasn’t looking like they’d arrive in time, but they were delivered literally minutes before I left the house that afternoon. Excellent.

For our dinner, Joel found a caterer to prepare and serve the entire meal which allowed me to sit and give my full attention to our guests. The meal was amazing!

Appetizers served were asparagus, prosciutto, and gruyere pastries and mini crab cakes.

For our salad we were served a spring mix topped with veggies, goat cheese, pomegranate and sunflower seeds, and a vinaigrette.

The main dish was filet of beef, Cajun shrimp, Boursin mashed potatoes, green beans, and a roll. The filet was absolutely perfect! Everything was delicious!

For dessert we were treated to a chocolate roulade–a lovely ending to a wonderful meal!

We all lingered a little while after the meal, talking and laughing and catching up on life outside of the office. As everyone departed, we had a table set up with some gift baskets for each couple containing olive oil, vinegar, salami, cheeses, pasta, crackers, bacon jam, chocolate, annnd…my favorite…the cutest wooden cutting boards in the shape of Christmas trees! I had a lot of fun shopping for and putting the baskets together.

I’m going to leave you with a few more photos from around the studio. It was the most pleasant setting of quiet ambience for our special evening with flickering candlelight, good food and conversation, beautiful art surrounding us, and soft Christmas music which my brother left playing on the speakers for us.

Good night and Merry Christmas!