Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Tuscan Tablescape


This week I have featured my kitchen remodel and my
wood-burning pizza oven so I thought I should set
a Tuscan Table in my Italianate back yard.



It is a beautiful fall day here at Purple Chocolat Home.  The
garden is just gorgeous with lots of vegetables that have
ripened. 


Tuscan colors remind me of fall with the beautiful
yellows and greens and burnt oranges.


This beautiful pitcher was purchased on our last
trip to Italy.  We have had three opportunities to travel
to Italy, two in May and one in September.  Spring and
Fall are wonderful there, if you ever plan on going.
Since this pitcher was so large I had it shipped
home and was thrilled that it made it.

This is the other side of the pitcher.  I love it.  It
adorns my pizza oven that I showed you in my last
post.  I also brought home two other pieces that match
it.  Those I hand carried in my carry on.  Actually, I
had three pieces that I was carrying, but alas, one of
those broke.  I think this one is my favorite.




One of the most beautiful colors in Tuscan architecture is the
buttery yellow of this wavy placemat.




Both goblets look great with the colors of the table.





More golden touches in the napkin and napkin ring.





Olive oil is such a staple in Italy so we need to feature
some on the table. 


 My Garlic Basil Oil will be
great for dipping crusty bread.

When we visited Rome a few years ago we had the
opportunity to eat with a native Italian family in their
apartment.  She had just gone and picked olives and
pressed the oil.  She served it too us.  It was a beautiful
cloudy green, so full of the pulp of the olive.  I have never
before or since tasted anything like that freshly squeezed oil.

Speaking of bread, in Tuscany to this day they do not use
salt in baking their bread.  Anyone who has accidentally
left the salt out of their bread will know how that tastes -
rather bland and flavorless. 

The Venetians controlled the salt trade and when they
raised the taxes to an unbearable level in the middle
ages, people from Tuscany revolted and refused to
put salt in their bread.  That tradition continues
today.




Don't worry when you come as a guest to my Tuscan table
I will revolt against the Tuscans and put salt in my
bread.




And since zucchini is such an Italian vegetable, I am going
to make you a three layer Chocolate Zucchini cake with
Chocolate Cinnamon Icing.

I am going to serve it with my beautiful new fork carved
with Italian figurines.



These little cherubs are so appropriate with this heavenly
chocolate cake which I will post the recipe for tomorrow.



I hope you enjoyed your Tuscan afternoon with me.

I will be posting this on


and


Dishes - Tai Pan
Goblets - Tai Pan
Flatware - Best
Candleholder - Pier 1
Pitcher - from Italy
Napkins - Tuesday Morning
Napkin Rings - Wal Mart
Serving Fork - ebay


Jacqueline
Jacqueline

Chocolat - French for Chocolate. I adored chocolate from a young age when I had to sneak in the cupboard to find where my mother had hidden the Nestle's Chocolate Chips. Having read about the famous chocolat shoppes in Paris, when I finally got there I was determined to try a chocolate from every Paris shoppe. I invite you to share my adventures in creating, in travel, and in life.

30 comments:

  1. I love all of your Tuscan colors also...you've done them proud!!! Gorgeous pitcher...definitely an heirloom! Love your gorgeous kitchen!!!

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  2. wow! gorgeous and stunning :-)

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  3. Oh my gosh..are you sure you are not in Italy now? Wow this is stunning. It just makes me want to be at your table right now. The plates are so beautiful and hello gorgeous pitcher. You and your sister are so amazing! I love what both of you come up with...tablescapes, recipes, fun ideas. Thanks for sharing everything and linking up to Centerpiece Wednesday!
    Karin

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  4. This is all very beautiful and I love the gorgeous items you have and the colors also. Very nice job!

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  5. What a beautiful setting! Love the yellows and greens! Looking forward to the cake recipe!

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  6. Wonderful table setting! Lovely accessories!Hugs,Fatima-Scrapart.

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  7. Absolutely gorgeous! I'm a new follower and an event planner. Your tablescapes are positively inspiring and your recipes are making my mouth water...thanks for sharing and check out my blog about newlywed life if you feel the urge: http://myhappilyeveraftertheend.blogspot.com/

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  8. Jaqueline -- how is that I have missed that gorgeous mural? Is it rather new? I love this table...the gorgeous colors that just pop out on the table! That pitcher and fork are something else! I will take both bread and cake. Joni

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  9. I really like your table setting !! it looks great !! happy evening.....hugs from me........Ria...

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  10. So beautiful. It's a shame one piece broke. I carried home two large glass candle votives from Switzerland and would have cried had they broken. I love the colors and the way you layered the cloths and the placemats and the square plate is wonderful too!

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  11. What a beautiful setting for lunch. The plates and goblets and pitcher are so pretty. I love that serving fork - I've never seen anything like it. Thanks for sharing a little Tuscan culture with us tonight!
    Blessings, Beth

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  12. The colors for this table are really, really stunning to me. I have always loved the Tuscan look. It just has a certain warmth to it all its own. My favorite part of tthe table is the place setting. Those square dishes are so unique and pretty! Love the WHOLE thing.

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  13. Your Italian tablescape is just so pretty, Jacqueline. It is so cheerful with all the bright colors. We find a lot of Sevres and Meissen pieces in antique stores. Thanks for coming by...Christine

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  14. Such a happy setting! I love everything Italian! And the colors are so nice!

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  15. This is just beautiful. I love that pitcher and the colors you used on the table are stunning. I really like that overhead photo...so pretty.

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  16. This table is so elegant! I love the pitcher. These colors are perfect for fall.

    Thanks so much for your comments on my table!!

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  17. Gorgeous! I am swooning over that pitcher -- it's amazing. Worth taking a trip to Italy to get!

    I can only imagine what fresh pressed olive oil would be like --what a wonderful experience. Lovely post, lovely blog! Thanks!! Cass

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  18. I love the Tuscan colours and you've created a wonderful 'scape with them! Those plates and the centerpiece grouping all combine to give an Italian feel. That pitcher is gorgeous! What a lovely outdoor setting too!

    DD

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  19. The elements that you have chosen captured the colors of Tuscany with grand style. The pitcher is magnificent. Thank you for sharing your gorgeous design. Cherry Kay

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  20. Absolutely gorgeous, what a pretty picker, and an amazing centerpiece!

    Love it!

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  21. Beautiful Italian pottery. The colors are beautiful. The cake looks wonderful. I will be back.

    Carol

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  22. So colorful and gorgeous and that chocolate zucchini cake looks to die for :)

    Blessings!
    Gail

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  23. Beautiful Tuscan table...love the olive branch plates...the pitcher is gorgeous.

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  24. Just gorgeous! I love those plates, and your green and gold glassware is just perfect. Great centerpiece, too!

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  25. Jacqueline, I always spend lots of time looking at your photos and enlarging them so I can see every detail. These colors are beautiful and I can see why you purchased that pitcher. I had fresh pressed olive oil once in Italy and it was delicious! This is a beautiful table--I could sit here for hours just like they do in Italy! Linda

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  26. So pretty! I do love that pitcher! This looks like the perfect Tuscan table.

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  27. I love your Tuscan colors and the setting is really gorgeous. I collect Italian pottery and your pitcher is wonderful. Is the design painted on the back wall?
    Love it.
    xo, Sherry

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