Dining with Creative Friends

This blog explores the art of FINE DINING in the company of CREATIVE FRIENDS.
Each week I will hold a dinner party based on a letter of the alphabet - A to Z. The menu will follow the alphabet, and at each dinner I will host a guest of honour whose name also corresponds with that letter of the alphabet.
Each guest and their work will be featured on this blog - and there will also be A to Z etiquette tips for the guests at the end of each posting ...







the cook in his kitchen





For many years I have collected recipes from books, newspapers, magazines, tv cook shows etc. and my passion is to use those recipes as a basis to creating original and tantalising dishes from my own kitchen.

During the time of this blog - 6 months - I will be compiling an A to Z recipe book with details of all the dishes I have served, and this book will be available to purchase at the end of November.

So here goes ... a huge undertaking yes - but enormous fun ...






the table is laid

Of course there will be friends who miss out on an invitation to sit at the head of the table - but - I will endeavour to include them on the guest list in the coming weeks so they will also get the chance to dine on fabulous fresh food and communicate with other creative friends.
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... A ...






A. Guest of Honour ...
Audrey Raymond








Entree ...
Asparagus Roasted
with Fetta Cheese





Main Course ...
Atlantic Salmon - grilled
served on a bed of Arborio Risoto Rice
with Avocado & Banana Set
& Coconut Mayo







Dessert ...
Amaretti Chocolate Cake




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Profile ...
Images de Plumes created by Audrey Raymond










From a fascination with silhouettes, was born the idea of Audrey’s appealing Images de Plumes – feather pictures, in which she dresses figures with feathers, insect wings, snake skin and treasures from the garden and wayside.

Audrey is inspired by the beautiful variety of bird and insect life found in the hinterland of the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, Australia. She is particularly in awe of the wondrous subtlety of colours found in birds’ feathers and feels blessed that she is able to use them to create an art form that will live on in eternity and attract admiration for the exquisite work of nature. No dyed feathers are used. Her experience with colour and design, together with skill developed with scissors while practising classical decoupage, is utilized in her Images de Plumes.








Image de plumes





Audrey’s work nearly always employs two elements which particularly appeal to her - humour and elegance. More recently she has expanded her work from 18th and 19th century silhouettes to images from the Georgian era and the dizzy period of the 1920s and 30s.

Through providing descriptions of the materials she uses in her pictures, such as the birds represented, she believes they acquire an extra dimension and are of added interest to the onlooker.

Audrey’s work hangs throughout Australia, the UK, USA, France and New Zealand. She is also now retailing greeting cards of her unique Images de Plumes

http://imagesdeplumes.blogspot.com

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Madame de Plumes Talks Etiquette -


A...
Always show your appreciation for a dinner party by a phone call to the host the next day - a written 'thank-you' note is more acceptable - however - an email 'thank-you' is a lazy way out.
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The next posting to this blog will be "B" - on Sunday 13 June 2010 ...
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