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Steal This Look: Parisian Oyster Party

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Steal This Look: Parisian Oyster Party

October 30, 2018

Parisian ceramicist Cécile Daladier throws four parties every year: one per season, and each with its own theme. A while back, Daladier, her partner Nicolas Soulier, and their friend Lucile Demory found themselves shucking 350 oysters and pouring white wine for their “White and Mother-of-Pearl” dinner party.

Daladier felt the theme was nicely aligned with her ceramics, so she designed pieces just for the event (the parties are an understated way for her to showcase new work and connect with old and new friends). First, she molded oyster shells in clay and glazed them in an opaque white. Then, drawing inspiration from rustic cheese boards, Daladier designed flat slab ceramics for her homemade loaves of bread. Her son knows a fisherman in Normandy, and a friend drove from Paris to fetch several bushels of oysters the day of the party. Daladier, Soulier, and Demory shucked the oysters, finishing the task moments before the guests arrived. As Demory says, “You can’t open them too early, otherwise they’ll dry out, so it’s a lot of last-minute work.” In addition to the oysters, the menu included white and opalescent fare: brie, white wine, yogurt ice cream, and rice pudding.

If you’re like us and dream of re-creating this look, see how Daladier threw the party together and some of the key sources below. For more of her work, go to At Home with an Artful Couple in the South of ParisFlower Arranging á la Parisienne, and A Ceramicist and Architect in Paris.

Photography via Cécile Daladier.

the table setting before the party. 17
Above: The table setting before the party.
source a gigantic round of brie style soft cheese to feed hungry guests. 18
Above: Source a gigantic round of brie-style soft cheese to feed hungry guests.
demory and daladier pulled in a large table on wheels from the studio: &#8\ 19
Above: Demory and Daladier pulled in a large table on wheels from the studio: “We just added pieces of wood all around it to make the edges higher. Then we stapled a big plastic sheet to the wood to keep the ice from running when it melted,” Demory says.
a dormant fern called a selaginella lepidophylla (or jericho flower) unfurls in 20
Above: A dormant fern called a Selaginella lepidophylla (or Jericho flower) unfurls in a white dish on the ice-covered table. Source an individual Jericho Flower from Amazon for $5.71.
demory notes, &#8\2\20;the great thing about oysters is that you don&#8 21
Above: Demory notes, “The great thing about oysters is that you don’t need a plate, just a little fork, so no dishes involved.”
ceramics are molded from beach shells, then coated in a high gloss white glaze. 22
Above: Ceramics are molded from beach shells, then coated in a high-gloss white glaze.
daladier&#8\2\17;s matte glazed bread boards have a rustic, seashell like a 23
Above: Daladier’s matte-glazed bread boards have a rustic, seashell-like appeal.
crates of oysters from normandy. 24
Above: Crates of oysters from Normandy.
daladier&#8\2\17;s oyster inspired serving dishes. 25
Above: Daladier’s oyster-inspired serving dishes.

Steal This Look Parisian Oyster Party portrait 3

the melltorp table in white is \$69 from ikea and is scratch resistant and easy 26
Above: The Melltorp Table in white is $69 from Ikea and is scratch-resistant and easy to wipe down.
cover your tabletop with parchment paper, wax paper, or plastic wrap—and 27
Above: Cover your tabletop with parchment paper, wax paper, or plastic wrap—and be sure to double up. A roll of Unbleached Parchment Paper is $3 from new company Brandless.
ikea&#8\2\17;s svalka white wine glass is a quick fix for an impromptu part 28
Above: Ikea’s Svalka White Wine Glass is a quick fix for an impromptu party, priced at $4.99 for a pack of six. (Or, see 10 Easy Pieces: Space-Saving Stackable Drinking Glasses.)
source antique silver flatware on etsy, or buy new flatware made to look o 29
Above: Source antique silver flatware on Etsy, or buy new flatware made to look old, like this pre-distressed Bricklane Cutlery. See more at Object of Desire: Artful (and Affordable) Pre-Distressed Flatware.
the 50 ounce pinch carafe is \$\19.95 at crate & barrel. 30
Above: The 50-ounce Pinch Carafe is $19.95 at Crate & Barrel.
the mechanical polder \1\1 pound stainless steel kitchen scale is about \$7\1.4 31
Above: The Mechanical Polder 11-Pound Stainless Steel Kitchen Scale is about $71.40 from various sellers on Amazon. It’s also available for $57.02 from Sears.
to purchase daladier&#8\2\17;s ceramics, contact her directly via céci 32
Above: To purchase Daladier’s ceramics, contact her directly via Cécile Daladier.

For more entertaining and tablescape ideas, see:

This post is an update; the original ran on October 16, 2012, as part of our West Marin and Beyond issue.

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Product summary  Item 6 161Item 7 162

Steal This Look Parisian Oyster Party portrait 9
Pitchers & Carafes

Pinch Carafe

$19.95 USD from Crate & Barrel

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