collected white

A few years back I started collecting white dishes.  I was not collecting certain brands, just anything white that caught my eye.  Some of my pieces are new but recently I have been doing more thrifting and everything on this table, except for a couple of exceptions, is from one of several thrift stores or the estate store in my area.

This table is set for a ladies night out.  The group is small, just four, for a few Italian favorites and some conversation.  The table is ready but the food is not.  I will, however, share links to the recipes.

The tablecloth is a length of fabric purchased at Goodwill.  The napkins, napkin rings, candles and candlesticks were all purchased used.  The salt and pepper shakers were a recent find and I am using an individual white salt cellar at each place that will hold freshly grated Parmesan cheese  The flatware is my everyday stainless. 

Our meal is meatless so the antipasti is simply bread dipped in a small puddle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.  The small bread plate is centered over the other plates in the setting and the soup bowls are stacked at the end of the table to be brought out for the first course.  The bread plate is part of an appetizer set sold by Pampered Chef.  The white cruets, a Goodwill find, hold the olive oil and the balsamic vinegar.  

The first course is a butternut soup.  The rimmed soup plates were purchased new and a gift from my daughter.  They can also be used for pasta or salad but today they are holding soup.

 The soup tureen was a Goodwill find.  The butternut soup recipe is here savory butternut squash soup.

The second course is typically a meat but we will be substituting a pasta selection.  The large bowl that will be used to serve the pasta was found at New Leaf, a local thrift store that specializes in estate sales.  The pasta is a homemade pumpkin ravioli with a white sauce, sauteed kale and Parmesan cheese.  The recipe is here pumpkin ravioli.  The ravioli is served on a white salad plate found at Goodwill.

The third course, the salad course, is a caprese salad.  Tomato, basil and mozzarella with more olive oil and balsamic vinegar served on a dinner plate from Savers.  This recipe is here caprese salad.

The dishes for dessert sit waiting on the dresser.

The lion's head bowls found at New Leaf will be used for the affrogato. Affrogato is a serving of cold gelato with a shot of hot espresso poured over it.  I have been pinning recipes for homemade gelato but today we will be having a version purchased at the grocery store.  The espresso, though, will be authentic, made in a vintage Italian moka pot.

We will end our evening with the digestivo--a small glass of limoncello served in a fun thrift store glass.

buon appetito

Joining Tablescape Thursday at BNOTP.