Photo feature: Downton Abbey inspired dinner served at the Elms
Published 12:08 am Monday, March 24, 2014
Ben Hillyer / The Natchez Democrat — For one night, the Elms was transformed from a 19th-century antebellum house to a 20th-century Yorkshire country estate as the house hosted a dinner inspired by the wildly-popular public television show “Downton Abbey.” The dinner was given as part of a Festival of Music promotion. The multi-course meal cooked by Elaine Gemmell, Claudette Songy and Elms owner Esther Carpenter was served around a candlelit dining-room table filled with goblets and fine china. Opera singer Kayleigh Aytes provides live entertainment similar to the entertainment in the day of English country estates.
Ben Hillyer / The Natchez Democrat — Michael Calcote, above, serves the first course of cream of mushroom soup.
Ben Hillyer / The Natchez Democrat — Dressed in an outfit inspired by “Downton Abbey,” New Orleans resident Rhonda McColloug gets her picture taken in the entry hall at the Elms.
Ben Hillyer / The Natchez Democrat — The dessert course included a flourless chocolate torte with raspberries.