How to Set a Beautiful Table: The French Patisserie Table at Home
Does anyone else love to recreate an amazing dining experience that they’ve had while traveling? Maybe it was that time you had the perfect Aperol Spritz in Italy while sitting on a sunny terrace filled with giant potted lemon trees.
Inspiration: Afternoon Tea at Ladurée or Chocolate Service at Carette
One of my favorites is the French Patisserie version of afternoon tea. For me, it’s not really the “afternoon tea” that I'm after. It’s the table setting, the colors, the sweet treats, and the beautiful environment that I crave.
Source: Ladurée
It’s that kind of experience I think of when planning a French inspired cozy weekend brunch with my SO, a show stopping end to a dinner party with family and friends, or even yes, an afternoon tea and champagne with the girls.
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how to set a beatiful table the "French Patisserie" way and the elements that make it so special so that both you and I can easily recreate it.
I like to have a few really special pieces on hand so that I can pull the look together whenever the mood strikes me.
Shop This Blog Post
You can shop this post and stock up on some antique and vintage sterling silver or vintage limoges for your own version of the chic French Patisserie table.
My source of inspiration is the afternoon tea or brunch at Ladurée (Paris and other locations) and the hot chocolate service and pastries at Carette (Paris).
At Ladurée, I love everything about sitting down in a beautiful environment filled with eye-catching treats.
Source: Ladurée
It's the mix of pastels in the pastries, porcelain, and even the woodwork combined with the silver serveware (sterling silver coffee pots, silver tiered dessert stands and silver berry bowls) that makes up the signature Ladurée look. Don't forget the macarons!
At Carette, I've fallen in love with chocolate service. I'm especially enchanted by the footed silver bowl piled high with whipped cream or strawberries, the delicate pastries, and their silver pots filled with hot chocolate.
Source: Carette
And while I enjoy being there in person, there is something so much better about recreating it at home, bringing out all of your sterling silver treasures and lingering in private for as long as you like.
The key Elements of the French Patisserie Tablescape
So what are the key elements? A beautiful wood or marble topped table, white linen, white and pastel or white and gold or silver rimmed porcelain, lots of silver serving pieces, fresh flowers, and colorful food.
Choose a group of colors and weave it through the entire tablescape. I chose candy colored pastels, but I am also a fan of rich-hued sorbets, caramels and creams, all highlighted with gold and silver.
Lots of Silver Serving Pieces
Silver is a key element. It provides a soft shimmer and glow and instantly elevates the table. Both Ladurée and Carette incorporate a lot of silver serving pieces into their experiences: silver coffee pots, tiered silver dessert stand, and footed silver bowls.
I’ve set this table with Sugar et Cie's silver macaron holder, French silver serving pieces, a sterling silver chocolate/coffee pot, and a silver compote piled high with whipped cream inspired by a very similar style used at Carette.
The Silver Macaron Holder
I am so excited to share with you that we have designed our very own silver macaron holder and it is now available.
© Copyright Sugar et Cie
This silver dessert stand can be used to display macarons, petite pastries, fruit, flowers or a mix of everything. It can be placed off to the side or act as the center-piece of the table.
© Copyright Sugar et Cie
Each stand is made-to-order by a silver artisan. There are three arms, each with two holders, so six plates in total. At the top of the stand is a classic artichoke finial inspired by 19th century silver designs.
Visit our store to see more images, details, or to purchase.
Silver Coffee Pot
On every french patisserie or Salon de Thé table is a silver coffee pot, chocolate pot, or tea pot. This one is actually English, hallmarked for London 1899.
Use it for hot chocolate during the cold months and for coffee service at brunch or after dinner the rest of the year.
© Copyright Sugar et Cie
Dessert Set: Silver Serving Pieces
This French, Art Nouveau set is made for the kind of petite sweets that you might serve with tea, dessert, or brunch.
© Copyright Sugar et Cie
I think my favorite piece is on the far right. It is the perfect size and shape for a macaron or a petit four.
I also love a dedicated Berry Spoon. This kind of slotted spoon is for berries or citrus. It allows the juice to fall though to the bowl in order to avoid transferring it to your plate.
© Copyright Sugar et Cie
Silver Footed Bowl
As I mentioned, I cannot resist Carette's presentation of whipped cream in a silver footed bowl (compote). I did my best to recreate their version.
It was a bit of a hunt to find something in sterling silver. But I think ours is a pretty good match. We used a pastry bag to pipe a tower of whipped cream, but you can simply mound it up and it will look just as decadent.
The footed silver bowl shown here is vintage sterling silver. You could also use it to serve strawberries (see Carette's presentation) and I have noticed them being used to serve potato chips with cocktails.
© Copyright Sugar et Cie
Limoges/Porcelain/Bone China
This is a chance to pull out your pretty china or porcelain. You can keep it really simple with mostly white, and add touches of platinum, gold, and silver or you can really lean into the Ladurée pastels.
This set of cream and gold rimmed Haviland Limoges, the second plate from the bottom (available in our store), can be used as a salad or a dessert plate.
© Copyright Sugar et Cie
Beautiful Pastries, Colorful Food, and Fresh Flowers
Finally, layer on more color with your food and flowers. I am always on the hunt for beautiful and unusual pastries. Something a bit unique that you can't find just anywhere. Look around and you might be surprised by what is available locally.
Super Secret Tip: You can take a basic petite tart and pile it high with your own berries. Melt apple jelly (not jam) and brush on to glaze the fruit.
Another way to make a basic pastry look a little more unique: add edible flowers (pansies, rose petals), crystalised flowers or fruit (violets, lemon peels, orange slices) or edible gold leaf.
© Copyright Sugar et Cie
I can't resist including an array of beautiful candy colored macarons. If you can't find macarons locally, Ladurée and others are more than happy to ship.
Here is a list of my fovorite local Patisseries:
Maison Alyzee: Saint Honoré (glazed choux with cream), Strawberry Pistachio Entremet Tart.
Mademoiselle Colette: Chocolate Entremet an individual chocolate mousse cake with a chocolate disc printed with a cursive "C" in gold.
Alexander's Patisserie: Macarons. They had the nicest looking ones and the widest selection of colors and flavors.
Eataly (Silicon Valley location): They have the perfect sized petite pastries that fit on our macaron stand including a cream-filled choux.
Online & Beyond the Bay Area:
Ladurée (The U.S. site): Macarons.
Bouchon Bakery (Yountville location): The best macarons I have tasted in the U.S. My favorite is the large sized raspberry.