“The oldest form of theater is the dinner table,” said actor Michael J. Fox. Though Fox may not have been at Historic BK House & Gardens Dining by Design, the designers and creatives who put together the elegant, sophisticated, over-the-top tablescapes for the event understood the assignment.
The party on May 21 was co-chaired by Michael Harold and Dr. Quinn Peeper (authors of the recently released, “Classical Shindig – Amateur Artistry: From Simple to Sublime”), who were joined in adorning tables of many moods by Balzac Antiques and Lulu Lux; Gayle Benson; Patricia Brinson, Virginia Dunn and Lisa Brooking; Brockschmidt & Coleman and Sud; Pam Georges; Gibbens-Dupuy Decoration; Andrew Lamar Hopkins; Scott James and Greg Morey; Grace Kaynor; Randle Looney and Stephen Sonnier.
The dinner menu was inspired by Frances Parkinson-Keyes’ 1955 cookbook. (Parkinson-Keyes was a prolific author, and one of her best-known books was “Dinner at Antoine’s.” As an owner of the property, she did extensive renovations with architect Sam Wilson.)
Dishes included shrimp Dijonnaise, Cajun caviar, and tomato Vol au Vent for the cocktail hour; first course, Keyes crab salad; second course, seared redfish, after which a strawberry and Herbsaint granite was served as a palate cleanser. The third course was crawfish duck leg, and dessert offered a choice of a bananas Foster corndog, a ginger blueberry cobbler and Café Brûlot float. Each course featured a wine selection by Bayou Wine Garden, sponsored by James Douglas Hislop. Adding further ambiance was music by Harry Hardin Trio.
Fun Fact: The funds raised at the party were dedicated to the establishment of an interior furnishings and decor fund. This was the first time the Historic BK House & Gardens has been able to raise funds for anything other than structural repairs, of which the Soirée in the Vieux Carré on Oct. 8 is the culmination of over a decade of fundraising.
Gregory Holt, Lucy Burnett, Scott James, Gregory Morey
Lisa Brooking, Patricia Brinson
Mimi Koch, Pam Georges, Renee Masinter, Denise Morse
Scott Tilton, Courtney Coleman, Michael Harold, Emma-Lyle Campoux
Sonya LaComb, Andrew Lamar Hopkins, Jeremy Corkern, Josh DeCuir
