A simple winter lunch

January and February seem to crawl by at a slow pace. This in-between season can be quite tricky, as there isn’t much to do in the kitchen garden. Even life in Paris feels rather dull, despite being busy at work and making the most of this time of year by visiting museums and exhibitions before the tourists arrive in spring.

These first two months of the year are also perfect for resting at home after the busy holiday season. It’s the ideal time to buy seeds and plants, plan both the garden and the potager, and experiment with new baking recipes. During this season, I also tend to spend more weekends in Paris, catching up with friends and inviting them over for a cozy lunch or dinner.

To be honest, I don’t feel like going out after work when it’s dark and cold outside, even though I enjoy meeting friends and discovering new restaurants. But when the whole family gathers in the countryside, we prefer staying at home—although a trip to the garden center is one of our favorite pastimes—and keeping things simple.

One tradition we love is inviting friends or family over for our traditional Galette des Rois (King’s Cake). It’s a wonderful moment to come together without the pressure of big festive gatherings.

The table setting you see here is the one I create for this kind of low-key winter lunch, reflecting our state of mind. It blends rustic simplicity with a touch of poetry and a few pops of color hinting at the arrival of spring.

Last year, I chose mimosa flowers to complement the table. They looked stunning against a deep blue tablecloth. This year, however, I’ve opted for oeillets du fleuriste in a rich pink hue. To add a modern touch, I incorporated black and dark blue candles along with colorful Italian glassware. I also have a fondness for gingham, a pattern I use often. Here, the gingham napkins work beautifully, as they feel both vintage and modern at the same time.

I love the contrast of black and white for a contemporary look, while the blue and pink combination perfectly captures the essence of the countryside.

I used plates from two different collections from Gien, one of which I really love and is dedicated to La Fontaine’s Fables. The bluish tones are perfect for setting a winter table and add a dreamy touch to the whole setting. I set a fairly simple table here, but I still wanted it to have a touch of poetry.

If you want to keep things low-maintenance, I’d recommend avoiding too many evergreens or branches to maintain a minimal table setting. And don’t forget to take some time for yourself—cook simple dishes, even when entertaining at home, as the rest of the year will be filled with events to plan and host!