In the remote, dreary Jutland coasts of 19th-century Denmark, a pair of spinster sisters took in a Parisian woman named Babette as their housekeeper, even though they could not afford to pay her.  For the next fourteen years, Babette cooked the bland meals demanded by the sisters’ late father, whose strict religious beliefs they still followed.

Then, one day, Babette won the lottery.  But instead of going back to Paris, she spent it all making the most lavish feast the sisters and their fellow believers had ever seen.  Course after course of the most exotic delicacies were served on the most beautiful china.  As the feast progressed, its sensual pleasures overwhelmed even the most hardened souls, as the diners reconnected with each other, forgave old sins, and re-kindled long lost loves.

Finally Babette reveals that she was once the head chef of the famed Cafe Anglais in Paris.  The sisters were horrified!  Babette had spent her last cent on them and could not go back to her glamorous life again.  They sob that she would be poor for the rest of her life.  But Babette tells them, “an artist is never poor.”

This novel by Karen Blixen, of Out of Africa fame, was made into a movie in 1987 and became an instant classic.  It won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language film, a Cannes Film Festival award, and a Belgian Grand Prix.  Even Pope Francis mentioned it as his favorite film in a New York Times interview.

Recently, one of our clients from Brazil recreated this very film after some serious research and shared her photos with us.  Her table is spectacular:

The first course, blinis demidoff:

Followed by a salad:

A potage a la tortue:

The main course, cailles en sarcophage:

And of course, dessert!  The savarin au rhum:

And to make it a really special occasion, beautifully dressed guests at the party!

Did you recognize Haviland’s Imperatrice Eugenie dinnerware on the table?  This is the same pattern Babette ordered from France for her feast and is especially appropriate to the story, since the Cafe Anglais was one of the greatest restaurants during the Second Empire, when Empress Eugenie and Emperor Napoleon III were at the height of their power.

For more photos and tips on how to create your own Babette’s Feast, please see our inspiration gallery.

We hope this will help you celebrate your Thanksgiving.  Remember to be grateful for the kindness of others and enjoy the pleasures of good food, good friends, and loved ones.  Don’t forget to share your special celebration with us — just write us or instagram us with #graciousstyle.

And thank you, Renata, for having shared these stunning images with us.

What’s the perfect gravy boat for your Thanksgiving feast?  Naturally, a question for Bon Appetit’s big November 2015 issue:

And one of the answers is the Vista Alegre Venezia Gravy Boat:

According to the editors, “The intricately patterned piece has a pointy spout for daintier pours (and less mess).”  See if you agree:

Click here to see the rest of the Venezia dinnerware and other Vista Alegre collections.

In L.A., where we are surrounded by so many people in the (movie) industry, Halloween is serious business.

For the past several years, local artist/photographer/baker Christine McConnell has taken over her parents’ house and made it over for Halloween.  Last year, her design was inspired by Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas:”

This year, she created an even more over-the-top version, inspired by “Monster House:”

Over in Beverly Hills, local real estate agent Michael Libow’s Spadena House (better known as “The Witch’s House”), is perfect for trick-or-treating. Designed by Hollywood art director Harry Oliver in 1920, it’s been carefully renovated and a must-visit on Halloween.

And of course, don’t forget the West Hollywood Carnaval, the world’s largest Halloween street party:

But what if you love to party and you’re short on time?  Halloween’s easy, because you can take things you already own and just add accessories.  Here are a few ideas.

See how just one Witch Hat napkin ring transforms this black and gold setting.

One black skull is all you need on your console table:

Same idea on your dinner table with one white skull:

If you’ve got a few glass jars in the kitchen, fill them with candy and label them (get your candy here and  free printable label here) to create a Halloween Party “Specimen Table”:

And for the little ones, keep it simple with Hershey’s Kisses:

Happy trick-or-treating!  Click here for more Halloween party ideas.

For one week only, we have selected Mauviel French cookware pieces at 40% off.   Plus, you get free shipping on all orders over $75.

Originally created for professional chefs, Mauviel has long been a standard bearer in the world of high-end cookware. Sought by professionals since 1830 for its exceptional heat control and elegant designs, Mauviel cookware is both easy to use and sure to look beautiful in your kitchen. All Mauviel products are made in France and include a manufacturer’s lifetime warranty.

Here are a few of our favorite collections:

To view our entire sale section, click here!

Want stylish glassware that’s perfect for outdoor and the pool this summer?

Mario Luca Giusti’s acrylic glassware looks just like crystal and the colors are resistant to sunlight (acrylic will not yellow), so they’re a must-have for all your parties outdoors.  And because they are not glass, they’re great near small children or on yachts year-round.

Their yummy Lente red tumbler was recently featured in House Beautiful

And look at this gorgeous spread in Architectural Digest:

For those who want just a bit of color in their glasses, their brand new collections this year include the Rolling Stones – a collection of wine, water, and flutes in green, turquoise, blue, and red:

Which is your favorite color?  Click here to view all our Mario Luca Giusti collections.  And for a limited time, get free shipping on any order over $75.

Great news!  From now until the end of June, all Garnier-Thiebaut table linens and kitchen towels are on sale for 20% off.  Plus, you get free shipping on all orders over $75.

The linens from this well-known French company have been used by the Four Seasons George V in Paris, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Geneva, Le Meridien Bora Bora, and The French Laundry restaurant in Yountville.  Their designs range from classic neutral tablecloths to vividly bright jacquard table runners and wonderful kitchen towels.

Plus, their easy care collection is stain-repellant, so you can wipe away all spills for easy summer entertaining.  To read more about the company’s Green Sweet easy care collection, click here.

Here are a few of our favorite collections:

To view our full Garnier Thiebaut section, click here!

The new house we are building will have a wine room in the basement, so I’ve spent a good amount of time looking at pictures of wine rooms online.  Many of them are very old school, the kinds of rooms you would find if you were living in a castle in France.  But since we’re in L.A., I wanted something a little hipper (and friendlier).  I wanted a mix: a room with glass doors and wood elements so that it would be both inviting and timeless.

My architect mentioned that he’d worked with the owners of Wally’s, a well-loved wine store in west Los Angeles, several years ago to design their private wine room.  So he put me in touch with their cellar expert, who shared that he’d recently finished working on Wally’s Vinoteca, a wine bar in Beverly Hills.

I went twice last week, and I was blown away.

Opened in December 2014, Wally’s Vinoteca was the brainchild of Christian Navarro, a kid from Palm Springs who twenty years ago started working with Wally’s founder Steve Wallace.  Fast forward to 2013, when Guess? founders Maurice, Paul, and Armand Marciano bought into Wally’s and brought with them a whole different attitude: yes, deeper pockets, but also a sense that the city was ready for something more exciting.  Christian, for his part, had always dreamed of a place that was more convivial – sort of like the Harrods Food Hall in London – where you could drink something, get a bite to eat, and linger.

The Marciano brothers let Christian run with his idea, and they’ve created a super exciting food destination in Beverly Hills.  The vinoteca stocks 150 wines by the glass, but you can also order a bottle (from their 2,500+ bottle selection) and enjoy it on site.  All the seating in the restaurant is communal, and – this I love – it’s available at different heights.  So if you feel like lingering at a regular table, you can, but if you prefer to swing from a bar chair and face the room, you can do that too.

As you’d expect, the place is serious about wine, with floor-to-ceiling, handcrafted solid wood shelves.

But it’s also very inviting.   The lighting is terrific (love the Edison lightbulbs) and they’ve used lots of natural materials: four-inch Carrara marble counters, reclaimed lumber ceilings, and distressed seating.

The food – a mix of cheeses, charcuterie, and small plates, is served in white bowls or olivewood boards.  All very simple.

Halfway through the vinoteca is their cheese counter.  They also stock breads, chocolates, and jams.

Behind it, there is a game mosaic inspired by the one at Harrods.

And to top it off, we got a private tour of their back room, which included wines from 1901!

Finally, I’ve found a wine room that I can understand: one that does what you need it to do (store wine), but also gets that it’s ultimately about creating a place where you can enjoy yourself and have a good time with friends.

So glad Wally’s is in our neighborhood … you should visit next time you’re in town!

Note: All images courtesy Wally’s Vinoteca.

Like the look?  Here are a few ideas to get you started:

When I think of Koreatown in L.A., I am instantly reminded of the sweet, savory, smoky flavors of the all-you-can-eat, grill-it-yourself, belly-busting Korean barbecues. But when our office decided to spice up our weekly meeting with lunch at Roy Choi’s (of Kogi truck fame) Commissary restaurant, we were in for a huge surprise.

Commissary is located at the edgy and unusual The Line Hotel, which from the outside, looks super colorful because of the extra-bright curtains used in each room.

In the lobby – which is meant to mimic a large living room – you’re greeted by a series of round banquettes with a coffee shop at one end and a bar at the other.  So you’re covered from morning to night.

But the star of the hotel is located on the second floor, right next to the pool: Commissary, a restaurant designed to look like a greenhouse.  Nestled in the crevices of the surrounding skyscrapers, it was breathtaking.

In the bar (which was partitioned using old crates), there was a miniature truck like the one Jon Favreau drove in the movie Chef (whose main character was inspired by Roy Choi).  Flooded with sunlight, this magical haven was the opposite of the clamoring, crowded KBBQ hot spots on the street below.

On each table, there was a stack of mismatched napkins and dime-store glasses.  We sat down to snoop through some mail, which actually contained our menus …

We ordered a burger, a French dip sandwich, the shrimp po’ boy, fries, roasted carrots, green tea, and root beer for old times’ sake.

Naturally, none of the plates matched.  Easier that way, plus it made the table much more fun.

The food was good.  Smothered in gooey cheddar cheese (a twist on the classic), and piled high with lean cuts of roast beef, each jus-drenched bite of the French dip oozed with warm, flavorful broth.  The po’ boy was everything this southern staple should be: a zingy-spicy delight, a buttery, crispy creation, and a complete mess.

And the burger was excellent.  The patty was a juicy mix of 80% beef/20% pork; combined with homemade tomato marmalade and zesty horseradish mustard, this was a home run.  We were sorry to leave, but we had to head back downstairs to check out “LA Weekly’s Best Cookie:” the POT cafe’s famous mocha chocolate chip cookies.  Filled with chunks of espresso dark chocolate and topped with flecks of sea salt, these cookies were unforgettable.

We highly recommend Commissary next time you’re in Koreatown.  And trust us when we tell you: it’s OK to eat with mismatched napkins and plates.  It’ll make you feel like a kid all over again.

Like this look?  Check out some of our newest arrivals at Gracious Style:

Although most of my recipe gathering happens online these days, there’s no doubt that kitchen design is something that’s best left for the experts: they are the ones who are cooking heavily day in and day out, so they know how to put a good kitchen together.  So when I heard that Bon Appetit had completed its move to 1 World Trade Center in New York, I was dying to look at their new test kitchen.  It is gorgeous!

Designed by Gensler, this kitchen is 2,126 sq ft and features four islands, eight Wolf gas ranges, four Elkay faucets, two Traulsen refrigerators, two Traulsen freezers, and an Imperial Brown walk-in for fresh food.  And for drinks, there’s a Kold-Draft icemaker that can produce beautiful 1- and 1 ¼-inch cubes.

On one side of the test kitchen, there’s a 515-foot tasting room.  At 3 pm each day, senior staff members meet here to test dishes at the walnut dining table.  Note how modern and organic everything feels.

Table settings are kept simple with white dinnerware, modern flatware, and low-maintenance succulent arrangements.

The built-in bar is at one end of the kitchen; perfectly tucked in between rows of glasses, cocktail equipment, and recipe books.  Here, all the cabinets have solid doors to keep the look clean and minimalist.

Open walnut shelves are a great way to keep frequently-used pieces handy, and they add interest to empty walls.

Waterfall Calacatta marble countertops, mixed with natural wood accents and steel stools, are a clean counterpoint to the dark graphite cabinets.

Plenty of natural light; perfect for testing and photographing food.  Notice the glass pendants; imagine these little sculptures all light up at night.

Do you like this kitchen?  Create this look at home with the handcrafted collections from Jars, Juliska, Simon Pearce, Mauviel, and Michael Aram.  And of course, from the chef who is an inspiration to so many, Thomas Keller’s Hommage and Checks dinnerware lines.

We love Colin Cowie’s and Carolyne Roehm’s over-the-top gorgeous parties, which are all about layering flowers, color, and heights.  But you’d be surprised to know: they both keep their napkin folds surprisingly simple.

1) Roll the napkin and thread it through a napkin ring.

2) Fold the napkin with a point at the bottom.

3) Fold the napkin into a rectangle.

4) Fold the napkin into a rectangle, but leave a fold out so you can tuck in a gift or a menu.

5) Pull the middle of a napkin through a napkin ring.

Inspired?  We’d love to see pictures of your tables.  And if you’ve got a party coming up, click here to see our  napkins and napkin rings.