An Alfresco Italian-Style Luncheon

The company was large, and for the greater part, all of its members were known to one another in long established friendships; so that there was a delightful freedom from the restraints of etiquette in the informality of the feast and the conversation. The luncheon, which was after the Italian manner, was devised with the simplicity of the master, prepared with the skill of an artist, and was served with the liberality of a prince. It was accompanied by both white and red wines.  
—Image of a 19th century pergola, still beautiful in its state. Source, Pinterest 

A Fete at El Quito

One of the chief social events of the past week was the garden party with which E. E. Goodrich entertained his friends on Thursday among the cherry trees and olive groves of his beautiful home, El Quito. The day was propitious to an outdoor fete in the evening. It had been warm at noon, but at the hour when the company began to arrive there was a pleasant coolness in the air and a general sense of freshness, which made it a joy to be out of doors and out of town.

Mr. Goodrich received his guests on their arrival in an arbor of grapevines called “the pergola” and led them to the cherry trees, where the ripe and delicious fruit hung tempting and luscious in great abundance among the green leaves. Orchard ladders were placed beneath the branches for the convenience of the ladies, and perched on them they feasted to the fulness of desire, while the gentlemen bending down the lower limbs of the tree fared not less sumptuously. At sundown a bell from the residence summoned to a luncheon which was spread beneath a natural bow formed chiefly of a huge oak tree, and partly of two pepper trees which grew near it. 

The company was large, and for the greater part, all of its members were known to one another in long established friendships; so that there was a delightful freedom from the restraints of etiquette in the informality of the feast and the conversation. The luncheon, which was after the Italian manner, was devised with the simplicity of the master, prepared with the skill of an artist, and was served with the liberality of a prince. It was accompanied by both white and red wines. 

The menu was written on bits of olive wood which were kept by the ladies as pretty souvenirs of the festival. The time of the twilight had come when the company left the tables and gathered in chairs and hammocks in an other part of the lawn. Here the gentlemen smoked their cigars, while a musical coterie composed of some of the best musicians and sweetest singers in San Jose, tilled the night with the melodies of voice and flute and banjo. 

As the air grew darker with the coming night, Japanese lanterns were lit in the arbors and among the trees, and added their fantastic brilliancy to the beauty of the starry evening. Addresses of thanks to the host on the part of the guests were made by N. J. Haines and Judge Spencer. A quartet of Italian laborers in the orchard closed the evening with a chorus of the songs of Tuscany. The company dispersed shortly after 9 P. M. and returned home with memories of a glad day, a happy fete and an accomplished host. — San Jose Mercury News, 1899

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