Background art by French artist Laurence Pardoux
When a friend was celebrating a birthday right before leaving on a trip to Paris, I couldn’t resist surprising her with a dessert send-off soirée imbued with joie de vivre. My soul sister Ann loves coconut (moi aussi!) so I decided to attempt my first coconut layer cake for the occasion. You can find the recipe for this classic triple layer confection here:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Coconut-Layer-Cake-102696
The coconut-covered cake was decorated with clematis “Etoile violette” flowers and showcased on a fluted crystal pedestal cake stand to give it a little je ne sais quoi. To create a Parisian ambiance, an Eiffel tower replica, a gift from Ann, was given center stage placement on the table with some passion flowers woven through it. The gold-edged botanical dessert plates were placed on a purple velvet throw next to gold damask serviettes for some added French flair. An antique metal tray holding the wine glasses was accented with a gold fleur-de-lis. A French bronze candelabra was set on a stack of French books, a nod to the Old-World charm of Paris. A bouquet of fresh hydrangeas from the garden completed this little dessert table vignette. Elegant, French, et très délicieux! Bon voyage!
“Paris is always a good idea.” Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina
French Gardener Dishes 