When I arrived here two years ago, I have to admit that I thought there’d be a little more fanfare — you know, maybe not the full red carpet and paparazzi line, but at least a velvet rope and a nice little cocktail reception.  Of course, none of that happened (shocker), and so a few weeks later I found myself conspiring with a new friend over how we might make our own fun.

Watermelon & feta salad with mint, garnished with lemon zest and olive oil

That’s when she and I crafted our own Coffee Mornings, inviting new ladies we met in our various comings-and-goings (which often frequently involved going to other people’s Coffee Mornings).  We wanted to build a network of friends, eat some good food, and of course, caffeinate.

Vietnamese summer rolls with chicken, mango & avocado

Last week I hosted my last Coffee Morning as an International Lady of Leisure.  I wanted to go out with a flourish, so I made foods that have had significance for me over the last two years.  I revisited a watermelon & feta salad, a dish I took to our first party here, adding lemon zest and olive oil as a dressing.  I assembled Vietnamese summer rolls that I learned to make while living here, and addded a twist by substituting the usual pork and shrimp with chicken, mango and avocado.  For our “main,” I took the remoulade sauce I made in spades for a shrimp boil and scaled it down to a more manageable, dainty salad for the ladies.  And, for my go-to classic Coffee Morning dish, I made the Barefoot Contessa’s cheddar-dill scones (if you haven’t had them, you need to make them now.  Immediately.  Go.  I’ll wait for you).

The best, most decadent scones ever: cheddar and dill, and oh, lots of heavy cream

There was a berry crisp with creme anglaise too, which I made because a friend of mine recently moved to Paris and left me with the precious contents of her freezer, including three bags of frozen berries.  Of course, in my excitement to eat and catch up with friends, I forgot to take photos.  I suppose a recipe for my shrimp remoulade salad will just have to do.  I hope that works.

Question: what are your favorite breakfast/brunch recipes?  I think Coffee Mornings can be a weekend thing, too, after we move home, and I’d love to hear yours!

(After the jump, my salad recipe.)