Stylish entertaining is an art. For Michelle Pangallo, my good friend and client, setting a gracious table, creating beautiful floral arrangements and whipping up mouthwatering courses all come naturally. Together with her husband CD, they are the ultimate hosts!

I recently attended a splendid luncheon at Michelle and CD’s Swedish style cottage. Yes, I devoured every delectable morsel 🙂 I want to thank them for a glorious afternoon, and for allowing me to share the luncheon with my readers. Their hospitality was truly world class.

By the way, if you recognize the house, good eye! I’ve written about it here and here. There are some new acquisitions, tweaks and seasonal changes. Shall we revisit Michelle and CD?

Guests are greeted by an abundance of roses climbing over the white picket fence.
Such an inviting Swedish style dining room! No one sets a prettier table than Michelle, who confidently mixes garden flowers, seasonal fruit, humble pottery, new and old pewter along with antique silver and china. 19th century English Spode transferware, white ironstone jugs and creamware jelly molds are from Tone on Tone. The pewter chargers are from Match.
Appointed with Swedish furniture from the 1780 – 1810s, the dining room feels fresh and airy thanks in part to the bare, bleached floors and light-gray walls painted in Benjamin Moore’s Classic Gray. The Gustavian chairs are from Tone on Tone, and they are upholstered in Palmerstone by Classic Cloth, Dessin Fournir.
For the first course, a velvety tomato-basil bisque with a dollop of creme fraiche. Michelle rolled the linen napkins with roses and marjoram – the scent was heavenly!
Are you ready for the main course? A lemon-basil shrimp salad in a Parmesan basket with fig jam and St. Andre cheese crostini. ABSOLUTELY divine! So light, too! Michelle shares the Parmesan basket recipe from Southern Living. Here’s the recipe as found on SL’s website:-Wrap outside of an inverted 6″ terra-cotta pot in aluminum foil. Use a clean pot, of course.

-Coat foil with vegetable cooking spray.

-Place a 12″ square of parchment paper on baking sheet.

-Spread 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese onto parchment paper, patting it into an 8 1/2″ circle. Grated cheese will not work for this recipe!

-Bake at 375 degrees for 5-7 mins or until pale golden.

-Remove from oven, and let cool 10 seconds.

-Carefully lift parchment paper off baking sheet.

-Working quickly, invert Parmesan circle over the prepared pot.

-Carefully remove parchment from Parmesan circle.

-Gently press cheese over inverted pot into desired bowl shape. Tip: If cheese circle is too hot, it will slide down the pot, causing small tears. If this happens, gently press the cheese together to seal any large gaps.

-Cool basket completely (about 5 mins), and remove from pot.

-Repeat to create as many baskets as you need. It’s important to work quickly to shape them when they come out of the oven, so make one at a time.

You can bake these a day ahead, and store them individually in Ziplock bags.
For the lemon-basil shrimp salad recipe, go here.

Let’s pause before dessert and check out the latest addition in the room: a 19th century American child’s quilt in a log cabin pattern – notice how no two squares are alike. Also, look at the vivid colors and graphic lines. It’s what I call folk art with a modern spirit. The quilt came from Beverly Norwood Antiques in Maryland.
Another new piece is the 18th century French trumeau mirror from my current shipment. When I found this mirror, I knew Michelle and CD would understand and admire its stripped down pine surface and patinated mercury glass. I suggested it for the living room mantel, and we all love it! The mirror’s humble charm is an unexpected contrast to the richly carved Swedish tea table, also from Tone on Tone.
A sweet arrangement of hydrangeas with hyacinths. Michelle likes to use antique Delft tiles as one-of-a-kind coasters. It’s always great fun to select just the right one!

For dessert, refreshing mango sorbet served in an antique champagne glass with mini cupcakes on a reticulated creamware plate. Yes, please 🙂

My warmest thanks to Michelle and CD for a special afternoon filled with delicious food, lots of laughter and many lovely moments.
Loi