This year, I chose to create an Easter table with a distinctly rustic feel. I was very tempted to set it out in the garden, but the past two weeks have been full of those unpredictable spring showers. Stepping outside without an umbrella was simply not an option, it felt almost like being in Ireland: bright blue skies one moment, then hail under a brooding sky twenty minutes later. And yet, the air had started to warm, and one could almost hope for a gentle pause in the weather just in time for Easter, to enjoy a long, leisurely lunch outdoors.
Still, spring is making itself known in quieter ways, the thousands of tender green leaves unfurling on the trees, the magnolias nearing the end of their bloom, and the tulips just beginning to push through the soil. Those who know me will not be surprised to hear how eager I am to start gathering flowers for bouquets.
A few weeks ago, I set a table using daffodils from the garden along with mimosa, and it did me a world of good to bring a touch of colour and nature indoors. Yet somehow, it is Easter that truly marks the beginning of the season at home.
This year, I felt drawn to keep things simple. As here, with a series of small vases arranged in a gentle line to form the centrepiece. This way, everyone can enjoy them, several small bouquets, kept low enough not to obscure the person opposite, placed in a staggered rhythm along the table. The flowers, narcissus, daffodils, and ipheion Alberto Castillo, all come from the garden, and I chose not to add anything more, appreciating their quiet, understated elegance. The blue and white tableware brings a touch of character, with something subtly poetic about it.
For those who are curious, the dinner plates with the blue rim are from Gien, while the smaller plates, perfect for salad or even a light soup, hold a special place for me. I found them in the shop at the Highgrove gardens, the private estate of King Charles III in England. I am very fond of them, and each time I use them, they bring back memories of that beautiful place in Gloucestershire. The clear glasses come from a home décor shop, while the blue green ones were discovered at a village brocante. There you have it, you know everything.
This is what I love most about setting a table, creating a setting filled with memories and things I cherish, and pairing it with simple, homemade dishes that bring family and friends together.
As this is a table for lunch, I tend not to overload it with chocolate decorations, those usually disappear rather quickly at breakfast. Still, I manage to save a few each year to adorn the table, especially those shaped like charming little animals, which add to the rustic, countryside feel. They are almost too delightful to eat. I also enjoy adding a few coloured eggs here and there, you can find particularly lovely ones at my favourite confectioner, Florian in Nice, or at Jeff de Bruges, perhaps a little more industrial, but still quite charming and easier to find, even if Florian does have an online shop.
I deliberately chose not to use a tablecloth, a sacrilege according to my mother, as I wanted the natural beauty of the table to come through and enhance the rustic setting.
In truth, Easter breakfast is the true highlight in our home. It brings together both savoury dishes, charcuterie in particular, and sweet treats, with an abundance of cakes and delicious kouglofs. We also have a tradition of decorating hard boiled eggs and competing to choose a winner, who wins absolutely nothing, it is purely a matter of honour. Writing this, I realise I really must show you our Easter breakfast in detail one day, it is well worth it, especially if, like us, you are true lovers of good food.
Happy Easter!
