As we step into March, it's totally normal to start dreaming about the warmer months ahead - but first, we need to deal with the temperature rollercoaster that this transitional time usually brings.
While our brains are daydreaming of al fresco dining, this is still a time to stay cozy indoors surrounded by friends and family. That's why we're giving you an inside look at one of our favourite meals to gather around: A Mussels Dinner.
Some people only order mussels when dining out at a restaurant because of how intimidating the preparation seems, but if you use a simple recipe and straightforward ingredients, it isn't nearly as difficult as you might think.
Our love for this dish stems from our time spent in France and Seb's family heritage. His mother grew up in Brittany, on the coast of the English Channel in the north of France - a place is known for its amazing cuisine and fresh seafood. To this day, nothing satisfies our cravings for cuisine quite like mussels do.
First, as always, we set the table. Family-style meals like this one are all about comfort, so instead of going above and beyond to set an extravagant table, we like to set a simple, rustic tablescape. For a mussels dinner, we like to use wooden cutting boards instead of charge plates or serving platters. Not only does this add to the rustic theme, but it also alleviates the need for a tablecloth, as it gives the table some added depth and visual interest.
When you're setting the table for a large group it's important to plan well in advance and make sure that you leave some open space to help balance the table. Florals are one of the easiest ways to overcrowd your table, so for big dinners like this one, we recommend having three or four small arrangements of flowers that you can position around the table with ease. W like incorporating rich colours like burgundies, dark reds, and dark greens to stay within the rustic theme.
Now that the table is set, we invite you to take a seat and follow along as we walk you through this special evening all month long!
Be sure to check us out on Instagram @sebandsheila!