Hunt Chic Luncheon in Paris

Last October 24th, my dearest American friend in Paris, Frederic Benjamin West (named after his illustrious ancestor), organized a 30th birthday party for his friends and family at the Club de la Chasse et de la Nature in the Marais. It is a bonafide hunt club nestled inside a Mansart Hotel Particulier.

Frederic Benjamin West, Master of the Ceremony.

Champagne to celebrate your 30th year; Santé, dearest BenJ!

I unfortunately could not be there (Memo: I now live in Toronto), so I have decided to invite Benjamin to introduce us to his very unique birthday party: "I had 30 guests with a cocktail, sit down luncheon and afternoon drinks on a sunny Saturday. The attire was Hunt Chic and everyone went full out. Julien (Julien Leydis, stylist extraordinaire, who also designed my head piece for my wedding last September) designed some additional feather head pieces for the occasion. We had a photographer come to capture the moment."

Julien Leydis

The pheasant one is over the top, don't you think?

"The story behind the black hat is that it was originally made for Julien for his birthday party. It has since been passed about, including boat rides on the canal at Versailles, and thus found its way to the Hunt Party."

"Here is the menu for the party. Each table had a different theme with stuffed birds in the centerpiece to correspond: À Courre, Hallali, Renards Fouisseurs and Frayoir."

*Frayoir, Enluminure extraite du Livre de la Chasse par Gaston Phoebus

Note from the Emcee:

-Velouté de potiron (servi en salle a manger dans le légume par le chef)
-Fromages: Fourme d'Ambert, St Maure, St Marcellin, Cantal, Camembert accompagnés d'une salade.

Wines:

Château de Tracy, Pouilly Fume, 2007
Château Branaire Ducru, Saint Julien, 2003
Coudoulet de Beaucastel, Château Neuf du Pape, 2003

Frederic Benjamin West and his guests - what a chic luncheon party that was, my dear!
Thank you for sharing your feast with us.