Sonia invited us to do a progressive dinner last month with some neighbor friends, and I’m finally getting this post up so I can share the pictures with you. Pictured above from left to right: Bill & Susan, Stephan & Jeanne, Bob & Sonia, Joe & Meg, Kent & I. (This group shot looks bad because my iPhone is rotten in poor lighting. Of course just months after I get my iPhone they have to come out with the better one, which now has a stinkin’ flash. You’d really think that would be a no-brainer on a camera from the get-go wouldn’t you?!)
Everything was so delicious, I’ll show you what we had at each home…
Our first course at Bob & Sonia’s: Gournay cheese and perfectly steamed asparagus (so it still had a light crisp) wrapped with prosciutto, and also bacon-wrapped shrimp. Such great flavors all came together so nicely!
We actually had the next three courses at Stephan & Jeanne’s. Ours was there because Kal was babysitting all the kids at our house, and the side dish and main dish just go together. I started us off with this Caprese salad, and I forgot to take a picture, so here’s one from my post.
Stephan made his famous spätzle, it was so so goooood with the caramelized onions and dreamy cream sauce…
Also, here’s a picture of Jeanne holding the doohickey they use to make the homemade noodles:
Joe & Meg brought the fresh green beans and also the filet mignon (which we all pitched in on) and the crazy delicious bearnaise sauce to go with it.
They were mocking me for one of the cheap wines I love. I buy it in a nice big economy-sized jug (I never said I was a class-act!):
Dessert was at Bill & Susan’s, and by the way, we’re all so sad that they’re leaving us – they’re moving soon. Only to the other side of town but still, it won’t be the same. 🙁 This chocolate cake with raspberry sorbet was divine:
More random pictures. Susan & Sonia:
Meg, Kent & Joe getting everything just right:
Wine with dinner:
Jeanne, Bill, Stephan & Bob hanging on the deck:
After dinner coffee:
What a fun evening we had. Have you ever done a progressive dinner? Tell us what yours was like!
Have you seen these posts?
- Kent’s guest interview
- Bob’s guest interview
- Sonia’s guest interview
- The rest of you friends/neighbors, if you ever feel inspired to do this, please send your answers to me! Same for any of you, reader friends – if you have an interesting story to share, we’d LOVE to hear about it. Feel free to send me your answers, too. 🙂
healy says
I’ve never tried making my own party. Its always my mum have an idea about whats the best. These all look great. I will be making this soon. Thanks for the concept!mwaaph
CrunchyPea says
Kelly, this is a fabulous idea. And all the pictures made me hungry for a healthy, creative, tasty meal!
Nell
Nancy says
This sounds fun and we’ll have to plan one for winter when things slow down on the farm. Let’s see appitizer, first course, seond course, dessert and coffee course… any other stops to make?
Next Friday we’re hosting our “half a decade” party where all the guests will bring a cold dish for potluck and BYOB out on the back deck. We’ve been in East Texas for 5 years and it is also hubby’s BD month so it seemed a perfect resaon to celebrate with those who have become ‘family’ over these last five years… I’ll make deviled eggs, have raw milk , raw kraut as well as a healthy BD “cake” as my contributions. It will be fun- and the progressive dinner is on the back burner ;o)
Emily says
I once belonged to a group that ALMOST had a progressive dinner, but we never could get it together. Kudos to y’all for being so organized and committed!
Julie says
This looks like so much fun! I read once that progressive dinners started during the depression as a way for families and neighbors to have fun in a frugal way.
I’d like to know what your friend Sonia did to organize it–did families just sign up for the course they wanted to provide or did she make assignments?
KitchenKop says
She just asked what everyone wanted to do. Plus Bill & Susan had to come late so that’s why they had dessert. 🙂
WordVixen says
I’ve never been to a progressive dinner, though I’ve heard a lot about them and have friends who’ve done it. But as yummy as all that food looks, I mostly just think that pasta press is cool as heck! My parents had an electric pasta machine (pretty cool- it did all the mixing and extruding) and I’ve seen pasta dough rollers (like a little clothes ringer), but I’ve never seen something like that! Now I want one…
I’m also curious about your favorite cheap wine. Mine happens to be Lambrusco. 😉