Downton Dinner: Hosted at Downton Abbey South

For those of you familiar with the British television drama, Downton Abbey, you will understand how tablescapers, designers, drama fans, and Anglophiles around the world are all mad for the series' characters and sets.

So mad, in fact, that fans often host dinners on Sunday nights during the season so that the whole family can watch together.
 

This year, our godchildren's parents and grandfather took it one step further...

They hosted an end of the season Downton Dinner, complete with costumes, characters, and a gorgeous table set to perfection with the dinner served in courses by "footmen"...and cute ones at that!

Alfred serves at table and does it well!

We all had a blast, from the youngest who came in gloves and bow ties with bears ...

Left to Rirght:  Fast-Forwarded Downtonians include Sybbie Branson, George Crawley, and Henry??? -- though the latter bears a striking resemblance to Tom Branson!

To the teenagers who came in tuxes and costumes while serving as the "staff"...

Left to Right:  Jimmy, Alfred, Carson, Daisy, Mrs. Patmore ;-)

To the adults who played the various "upstairs" character parts...

Left to Right and Standing:  Lord Gillingham, Alfred (the footman) and Tom Branson/Left to Right and Seated: Lady Mary, Lady Edith, and Lady Grantham

Mr. Magpie was out of town on business and couldn't attend. Had he been able to go, I think we might have been Isabel Crawley and Dr. Clarkson.

In his absence, I opted to be the Dowager Duchess because Maggie Smith, though the eldest, is my favorite actress playing my favorite character. Age before Beauty, after all! [Downton fans might note that my character's status was elevated from that of countess to duchess. At some point, we might have a Part II to our own Downton South version where this elevation in status will be explained. Until then, just roll with it!]

The Dowager Duchess' Cane

Lord Grantham, our host for the evening (who coincidentally had polished all the silver while Carson was off doing who knows what), was truly the proof of the adage about "no good deed going unpunished."

Much to his chagrin (and our amusement), Lord Grantham experienced a bit of a wardrobe malfunction. Naturally, it was on Sunday and couldn't be corrected.

You see, Lord Grantham had generously donated his two tuxes, both a bit snug, to Carson (played by his teenage grandson/my godson)...

And the other went to Lord Gillingham (played by his son in law)...

While Lord Grantham rented a tux for himself.

Hence, when Lord Grantham (or his valet aka known in this scenario as Nathan) opened the suit bag on Sunday, he was shocked to discover a...


 ...wait for it...


Black, and I do mean BLACK, as in the-polar-opposite-of-white, SHIRT. Not TUX (which thankfully by some miracle of God was black), but S-H-I-R-T.

The Offending Article of Clothing (Exhibit 1)

Lady Grantham (played by our host's daughter) put it this way, "You bear a striking resemblance to the grandfather on Pawn Stars!"

Offending Article of Clothing (Exhibit 2)

To which the Dowager Duchess replied, "Whatever Pawn Stars is!"  ;-)

Left to Right Standing:  Lord Grantham and Tom/Left to Right Seated:  Lady Mary, Lady Edith, Lady Grantham

Black shirts aside ...

From the beautiful flowers...

In blue and white...

With hints of blush...

Selected to match the blue and white in the Herend Blue Garland serving pieces...

To the gold and white heirloom Limoges that held handsome heirloom napkins...

To the sparkling Baccarat crystal in the Massena pattern amd Gorham silver goblets...

To the gleaming Chantilly flatware...

To the majestic candelabra...

That glowed from every angle and corner of the room...

 

 

To the opera and piano concerts (Carson, opera and Sybbie Branson, piano)

It was a night to remember!

Lady Mary researched what would have been served in England during the period and arranged for the various courses...

We started with hors d'oeuvres served in the drawing room...

And moved to the dining room for dinner...

During which the first course was mushroom soup...

 

Then we had the fish course of shrimp cocktail, followed by raspberry sorbet, and the meat course which consisted of filet of beef (the best I've ever eaten with the recipe to follow below), white asparagus, and a delicious potato dish...

Alfred serves Lady Edith

We ran out of time (before the show started) for the salad course and jumped straight to the French pastries we had for dessert. No one wanted to miss that course! My compliments to Mrs. Patmore...

Whose trip to Florida saw her drinking from the Fountain of Youth (and pinching some of Lady Edith's pearl bracelets)!

Want to know what happens next season?

Tom sets his long lost chauffer's cap for Lady Edith!

But can you blame him, when (after her recent plastic surgery and personality transplant) Edith turned into THIS?

I rest my case!  But, the question is:  "Will Lady Grantham approve?"

Tom (standing) with Lady Edith (left) and Lady Grantham (right)

And who can say if the lovely Lady Mary...

Will fall prisoner to the powerful sway of Lord Gillingham?

Or will she remain hopelessly tethered to the memory of Matthew?

Stay tuned to find out!

In the mean time, I am joining my friend Sally for Blue Monday HERE.

My friend Susan for Tablescape Thursday HERE...

And  my friend Michael for Foodie Friday HERE.

And I am back to visiting you which is always a sterling experience for me!

It was, however, a whirlwind week of travel, meetings, volunteer work, parties, and a 3:00 AM fire alarm malfunction that brought two of the handsomest firemen I have ever seen out to the rescue!

That almost made up for the night of no sleep followed by the day spent with the electrician and the burglar alarm tech that followed.  I got interrupted every time I tried to check in with you. I left only two calling cards all week which is a sorry state of affairs that needs to be rectified.  Sigh.

Thankfully, all is well again in the Kingdom of Downton South!

So I will see you soon if not sooner!


Devotedly,

The Dowager Duchess aka Mrs. Magpie (Sheila)

Edit: As always, I am so very grateful for your kind comments. Additionally, Lord Grantham and family have been reading your comments daily and want me to extend their gratitude as well. xoxoxo

Downton South's Grilled Beef Tenderloin

1 Four-Pound Beef Tenderloin
1/4 cup Worcestershire Sauce
1/4 cup Soy Sauce
1 and 1/2 cup Brown Sugar

Remove/Peel membrane from tenderloin and trim off any fat. Mix sauces together with sugar in a medium bowl and rub mixture liberally on meat. Marinate covered overnight in refrigerator.

Cook on covered charcoal grill for 18 to 20 minutes for medium rare meat.

Note: "Lady Mary" found this recipe when she was in Saudi Arabia years ago. She wandered into a shop and found a Galveston Jr. League Cookbook which contained the original recipe that calls for two large pressed garlic cloves. Since Lady Grantham is allergic to garlic, Lady Mary had Mrs. Patmore alter the recipe. It also tells you to marinate the meat at least two hours beforehand, but Lady Mary assures me it is best when marinated overnight.

Divine!