For a Scottish, Italian feast #2, in pictures.

A group of friends were reunited at our Table on Saturday night, the chatter, wine and later port were wonderfully free flowing and the bright colours and flavours of our dishes savoured and enjoyed. Here are the photos.

My favourite kind of blue.

Bringing the garden in.

 To welcome Caledonian blue cheese mousse, homemade oat biscuits.

 A selection of homemade breads including date and walnut and sun dried tomato (thanks Tara).

 To start Nectarine, Mozzarella, Parma ham, green leaves.

 To follow Beef, salsa verde, green beans, crispy potatoes.

 A cheeky cheese course Fig, nectarine, Tallegio, homemade crackers.

  To finish Ricotta and white chocolate cheesecake, strawberries with basil, walnut and date shards.

For a Scottish, Italian Feast #1, in pictures.

Despite our first ever group cancellation this week and thanks to some enthusiastic diners joining us last minute, Friday's supper went ahead with all the usual verve and reminded us happily of how our supper club started at the original Charlie and Evelyn's Table. The guests and flavours were vivacious and we hope we transported their taste buds to Italy with some fine Scottish produce. Here are my pics.

To welcome Caledonian blue cheese mousse, homemade oat biscuits.

Pea and pecorino smash, toasted ciabatta.

To amuse Pappa al pomodoro.

To start Venison carpaccio, garden salad (thanks Hannah), orange.

 To follow Pan-fried cod, tomato farro, green beans, salsa verde.

Fig, nectarine, Tallegio, homemade crackers.

 To finish Ricotta and white chocolate cheesecake, strawberries with basil, walnut and date shards.

With coffee Chris's homemade chocolate truffles.

With a touch of Provencal inspiration, in pictures.

As I type, tonight's guests are merrily next door, some with whiskeys in hand and I'm at the computer having a cheese and crisp midnight feast to celebrate another successful supper club! Tonight's table was booked by one group of friends, none of them had been to a supper club before and were all unsure what to expect, but, given the clean plates, happy chatter, empty bottles and positive feedback, I think they're converted and really hope to see them back again.

Tonight there was also a first at Charlie and Evelyn's Table - the guests started their evening with their own cocktail hour - sipping seville orange gin cocktails with our canapes. Inspired.

And then, here's what they ate:

To amuse: Rocket, sauvignon blanc and potato soup.

 Armstrong's fine gambas.

To start: Gambas with mango and chicory salad.

To follow: Bowers' fillet of beef, truffled green beans and yellow peppers, crispy potatoes.

To finish: Strawberry soup with petite meringues.

Menu for thirteen.

Posting this menu after the event owing to broadband drop out. We're blaming this awful rain but are very glad we didn't have to cancel unlike poor Taste of Edinburgh. This is what our guests ate:

To start

Mozzarella, orange and beetroot salad. 

To follow

Cod with garlic, herb butter, caramelised tomatoes

and for our vegetarian guest, mint and feta potato cakes with garlic, herb butter, caramelised tomatoes.

To finish

Chocolate “tart” with strawberry ice cream.

For Laura Robson, in pictures.

Two of the couples who joined us on Friday night had dined at the original Charlie and Evelyn's Table many months ago while three of the couples dining had never experienced our supper club or any supper club before. (I think they're converted!) It made for an great evening, interesting conversations (including sharing the best year of your life to date) and a special guest appearance from our little girl who knows a good party when she hears one. Here are the pictures.

 Pretty peonies on the table.

To welcome Pea and Pecorino toasts.

Tandoori stuffed mushrooms.

To amuse Spiced courgette and coconut soup with orange zest and mint.

To start Crevettes*, new potato and smoked bacon salad.

To follow Salmon* wilted lettuce, cucumber, vine tomato sauce.

To finish Strawberry meringues, strawberry, black pepper ice cream.

*The weather was not in our favour for our fish and seafood focussed menu (sea too choppy, rivers too full) so, instead of Scottish langoustines we had crevettes from French waters and instead of wild salmon we had farmed salmon.

If you go down to the "woods" today...

Admittedly, any first birthday is as much of a milestone for the parents as it is for the child but we still wanted to have a little fun. We dug out toys that had been our childhood favourites and encouraged our grown up (and younger guests) to bring their bears to join in. Then we added in, Eva's carefully posed teddies, some hampers, bunting, a picnic and a tiger who came (to life, thanks Katie) and for tea!

A tiny tea set all ready.

The Tiger Who Came to Tea.

We must say a huge thank you to both of our Mums for believing that the party would happen despite seeing the chaos beforehand, for their help and for making the delicious teddy bear cake. Also to Carrie for her beautiful baking and creative branch complete with edible nests and to all of our friends near and far for celebrating with us.

Edible teddy.

Edible nests.

Treasured toys old and new.

A help yourself picnic.

Amazing ready to bake goat's cheese from Henri's.

More cake. This time a triple layer lemon and blueberry sponge by Daddy.

It didn't last long!

Best dressed Ted, first prize!