If you are looking for a totally different way of entertaining your guests then step back 160 years to the Victorian Gothic Period and entertain with a flamboyant gothic table setting, a gothic inspired menu, gothic party games with prizes and some good classical music.

To recreate the 1850's I used a lot of silver and crystal pieces for this party. While I had or borrowed many pieces I managed to find a lot of wonderful vintage silver and crystal at both thrift and vintage stores. This was a real party, all meals and menus are included within this post.

To really set the gothic theme I created a series of Gothic Party Games which are featured in this post and some core printables which added colour to the black, silver and white theme.

The Gothic Party Games and Printables will soon be available from our on-line shop. While this was a dinner party, it would work really well as a Gothic Wedding.

This was a real party for eight, everyone arrived dressed beautifully in vintage styled attire to enjoy an evening of decadence and frivolity.

The Table

I used tiny pedestal silver goblets that were placed then on a larger silver pedestal tray for height. They were used for a very Victorian Sherry during the evening.

**Gothic Party - Silver Sherry goblets**

Vintage silver salt, pepper and mustard looked great on a pedestal crystal dish.

**Gothic Party - Vintage Silver Pieces**

To fit the period I used crystal glasses for this party and complimented with crystal and silver decanters. The Chairs were wrapped with Tulle and a vintage silver napkin ring secured the tulle in place.

I used small vintage style black photo frames for name place holders, and embellished basic silver charges with press on crystals. For this occasion I did use my Black Laguiole flatware which was just perfect for this party.

The Name Place Holders and Napkin rings will shortly be available from our on-line shop. They provided some vital colour to a very Black and Silver evening.

I used silver coasters under all the glassware, these were easy to find in vintage stores.

I styled a side board with pieces appropriate to the period, this included a selection of books available in 1850s and Vintage Globe book ends.

**Gothic Party - Novels appropriate to the period**

I did include a small number of Halloween pieces but only included what could pass as taxidermy or sculptures.

I displayed the menu on the sideboard and used the same style frame as the place holders.

The Menu

After much internal debate I settled on a menu of "normal" dish's made to look gothic, I included lots of red dishes and different shapes but everything was very edible. The menu will soon be available for sale in our store.

For starters (selection of holy relics) I included four courses that were served as tasting plates. The first starter was a wonderful Oyster Shooter served in a crystal sherry glass with a small rat.

**Selection of Holy Relics - Oyster Shooters**

The next starter was a petite bloody Mary served in petite stemmed glasses and served on a vintage silver tray.

**Selection of Holy Relics - Bloody Mary**

Our third starter was Prawn with green olive aioli. These were served in a small cut glass and silver cup on a silver serving tray.

**Gothic Dinner Party - Prawn with Green Olive Aioli**

The final starter was a simple Bacon and Tomato on Toast, the toast was cut into a crucifix using a cookie cutter.

**Gothic Dinner Party - Bacon and Tomato Crucifix**

We included a soup course (Broth of sewer Rat served with dead mens' fingers). This was a warm Borscht served with Italian Bread sticks with almond sliver finger nails.

**Gothic Dinner Party - Borscht with Italian Bread**

All good Victorian Parties included a palette cleanser. I settled on a dark red Cherry Sorbet, these were served in vintage silver goblets with vintage collectable tea spoons.

The main meal (Rack of suckling Wolf served with Brains and Veins) consisted of a herb crusted rack of Lamb with root vegetables cut into crucifixes. The Brains were provided via a Cauliflower Smash made in a plastic brain mould and the veins were simple green beans with garlic and butter.

**Gothic Dinner Party - Herb Crusted rack of Lamb**

Both the Ladies and Gentlemen received a different dessert of Panna Cotta (Breast of Troll and Eye of Ogre). I used red and blue jelly as the base of the Panna Cotta and food dye as paint. Final touches included some well placed jewellery.

**Gothic Dinner Party - Panna Cotta Breast**

**Gothic Dinner Party - Panna Cotta Troll Eye**

Dessert was served with strawberry and blueberry sauce (fresh plasma). This was served on ice in test tubes

The Games

I incorporated a number of games into this party that were all in line with the period. To avoid shock on the night of the party I provided details of the games as part of the invitation. The games included;

Each Couple was allocated a famous couple of the 1850 and part of the night was spent in Character.
We had Poetry readings of the Raven
Various "guess who" games based on household objects from the 1850s or occupations from the 1850s.

I used a small table at the party that held everything I needed to run the games

The party games, including full invitation instructions have been produced as a Gothic Game Package which will soon be available from our shop.

I used a black velvet canteen to store everything required for the Gothic Games during the evening

For this Party I played Queen Victoria and proudly wore my tiara while in character. I created a number of prizes for guests including the best Poetry Recital.

The invitations were delivered a few weeks in advance, I used my youngest child dressed as a Royal Messenger to deliver the invitation and details for the Games.

The Party

And yes, this was a real party and my guests all went to so much trouble to source wonderful custumes for the evening. They all looked absolutely splendid.

**Gothic Dinner Party - party in action**

I created a relaxed Victorian drawing room to serve starters and Cheese before the main affair commenced.

The Recipes

For this Gothic Dinner Party I opted for a menu I knew people would like and served it in a way to look "gothic". I included a lot of red dishes and used shapes to depict a gothic scene.

While the recipes were not difficult it did require a good plan to ensure the meals hit the table on time. I also asked different guests to assist with plating the various courses and this was invaluable help.

How I approached the cooking.

Some of these ingredients will not be available at your local supermarket, try asian food stores and shop well in advance of the party.
The Shooter liquid must be made two to three days in advance.
Prepare Bloody Mary's late morning of the day of the party
Prepare the Green Olive Aioli the morning of the party
Prepare the Panna Cotta on the day before
Prepare the strawberry and blueberry sauces the morning of the party
Prepare the Herb crust the afternoon of the party
Make sure the table is dressed the day before the party
Have all serving ware close at hand and ready to use.

**Gothic Dinner Party - Oyster Shooters**

Oyster Shots

(Part of the Holy Relics)

Ingredients

Dozen Oysters
1 teaspoon wasabi paste
1 litre Mirin
250 ml Sake
80 ml rice wine vinegar
50 ml light soy sauce
2 tablespoons wasabi powder

Method

Place the miring and sake in a small saucepan and bring to the boil. Once boiling light a match and burn off the alcohol (be careful). Set aside and allow to cool.
Once cool transfer to a glass jug.
Add the rice wine, soy sauce and wasabi powder.
Stir until the wasabi has completely dissolved.
Store upright in the fridge for 2 days to allow the sediment to sink

To Serve

Place an Oyster in each Crystal sherry Glass
carefully fill with the shooter mix
The Oyster should float, if required use a small spoon to bring the Oyster to the surface.
Place a small amount of Wasabi on each Oyster.
Position Shooter Glasses on a silver tray and add a rat for effect

Bloody Mary's

(Part of the Holy Relics)

Ingredients

500 ml chilled tomato juice
4 tablespoons Vodka
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 teaspoons worcestershire sauce
Tabasco Sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
pinch pepper

Method

Mix all ingredients together and store in a sealed bottle in the fridge.

To serve

Pour into small long stemmed glasses
Place on a silver tray
Add a Rat or Spider to the tray

Prawns with Green Olive Aioli

(Part of the Holy Relics)

Ingredients

20 green prawns, peeled with tails intact
4 cloves garlic
1/3 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup whole egg mayonnaise
2 tablespoons chopped green olives
1 tablespoon baby capers
1 clove garlic crushed
sea salt and pepper

Method

To make the Aioli, place the mayonnaise, olives, capers, crushed garlic, salt and pepper in a bowl and mix well. Cover and store in the fridge for serving
Place the prawns, garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a bowl and toss to coat.
Allow to marinate for 5 - 10 minutes.
Cook prawns in a large pan with olive oil for about two minutes each side

To Serve.

Place the Olive Aioli in the bottom of a glass or cup
Add two prawns per person
Place on a silver tray
Add a Rat or spider

**Gothic Dinner Party Toasted Bacon and Tomato**

Toasted Tomato and bacon

(Part of the Holy Relics)

Ingredients

1 Pane Di Case bread cut to toast
4 rashed of Bacon
4 large Cherry Tomatos

ethod

Heat oven to 180 C
Cut the bread into crosses using a cross cookie cutter
Cut the bacon into strips, equal length and width to the cross and lay on the bread
Cut the centre slice (widest part) from the cherry tomato and place in the centre of the cross
Place on a tray in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes

To Serve

Serve on a silver tray
Add a rat or spider

Borscht with Italian Bread Sticks

(Broth of sewer Rat & Dead Mans fingers)

Ingredients

600 - 700 grams beetroot
500g ripe tomatos
1 clove garlic crushed
1 onion
2 tablespoons olive oil
500 ml beef stock
salt and pepper
125g greek Feta
2 packets of Italian Bread Sticks (1 plain and I sesame
Almond slivers
Red gel Pen

Method

Heat Oven to 180 C
Half the tomatoes, drizzle with olive oil and salt and roast for 25 - 30 minutes
Finely chop the onion and fry in the remaining oil until soft.
Grate the beetroot and add to the onion mixture with the stock and bring to the boil, season and boil for 8 - 10 minutes or until the beetroot is tender.
Stir in the tomato, and transfer to a blender to process until completely smooth.
Place in the fridge until ready to use.

To Serve

Break the Italian Breadsticks in half and attach the almond sliver using the red gel. Make sure the gel is visible to look like a bloody finger nail
Tie 3 Fingers together using black ribbon.
Reheat the borscht and divide between pedestal crystal bowls (I used the bowls traditionally used for Ice Cream).
Crumble Feta over the top
Place the Borscht, Italian Bread and a rat on a plate to serve.

Cherry Sorbet

(Sorbet of blood letting leech)

Ingredients

6 cups cherries (I used bottled)
1 1/2 tablespoon Lemon Juice
3/4 Cup Water
1/4 cup Caster sugar

Method

Place all ingredients in a food processor and blend until the mixture is smooth.
Place mixture in a shallow cake tin, cover with cling wrap and freeze
Every 1 hour stir the mixture to break up any ice crystals

To Serve

Remove from the freezer about 1 hour before required, as it starts to melt stir the mixture. If it melts to fast, return to the freezer.
Place Sorbet is silver goblets and serve with an ornate collectable tea spoon

Herb Crusted Rack of lamb

(Rack of suckling Wolf)

Ingredients

4 racks of lamb (3 - 4 per person)
Olive Oil
Potatoes (4 to 8) *
Pumpkin
Beetroots (4 to 8)
sea salt and freshly ground pepper
4 tablespoons English Mustard
8 Slices of day old Bread
two bunches of parsley
1 bunch corriander
1 bunch of thyme
4 Rosemary Sprigs
100g Parmesan Cheese, Freshly grated

Method

Heat Oven to 200.
Peel the Potatoes, Beetroot and pumpkin. Slice approximately 1.5 cm wide and using a cross cookie cutter cut cross shapes from all three vegetables. *I used a larger cross for the Potato and a smaller cross for the beetroot and pumpkin. Make sure you buy potatoes that are large enough for your cookie cuter.
Toss the vegetables in olive oil and sea salt and bake for 50 minutes, turning once.
Season the Lamb and seal in a hot frying pan with the Olive Oil until golden brown.
Transfer to the oven for 10 to 15 minutes, then allow to rest for 10 minutes.
Tear the Bread into pieces (remove crusts) and place in a food procession.
Roughly cut the herbs and add to the food processor with the Parmeson. Blend until you have fine crumbs with a green tinge
Brush the lamb with the english mustard and cover with the herb crust. Return to the oven for 5 minutes.

Rosewater Panna Cotta

(Breast of Troll & Eye of Ogre)

Ingredients

900 ml thickened cream
1 1/2 cups Milk
250g white chocolate
1/3 cup caster sugar
4 teaspoons dried gelatine
1 1/2 tablespoons rosewater
1 teaspoon Vanilla Essence
1 packet red Jelly
1 packet blue jelly
Blue and Red food colour
Glace Cherries

Method

I used small Chinese rice bowls for the eyes, they provided a rounded shape rather than a flat top. I also use a product called Sprink from Bakels as a release agent, this is great for releasing items from moulds and does not have any taste or colour. I made 10 deserts to allow a couple of spares.
Combine the cream, milk, chocolate and sugar in a large saucepan over a low heat.
Cook string for 5 minutes or until the chocolate and sugar dissolves
Add the gelatine to warm water and wait for it to dissolve, then add to the cream mixture.
Add the rosewater and Vanilla and stir to combine
Pour into the moulds but leave 1/2 cm for the jelly base
Place into the fridge to set
When set, make both jellies according to the package and allow to cool
When cool add the jelly to the panna cotta 5 red and 5 blue

o Serve

Place a small blunt knife at the edge of the panna cotta and gently tip onto the plate.
place a small amount of blue food colour on a saucer and using a round cookie cutter coat the base of the cookie cutter in the food colour, place the cookie cutter in the centre of the panna cotta, this will provide a true circle for you to work with.
Using a paint brush paint the blue dye from the centre of the eye to the outside rim,
Use a new paintbrush and red food colour to paint the veins on the eye
Repeat step 2 and 3 with the red food colour on the remaining panna cotta's
Place a glace cherry in the centre of the breast and pierce with a craft wine glass holder

**Gothic Dinner Party - Strawberry and Blueberry sauce**

Strawberry Coulis & Blueberry Sauce

(Fresh Plasma)

Ingredients - Strawberry

500 g fresh strawberries
1 teaspoon Vanilla escence
2 tablespoons caster sugar
3 tablespoons water

Method - strawberry

Hull and quarter the strawberries
Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan
Cook stirring until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture thickens (about 10 mins)
Allow to cool, blend in a food processor until smooth
Store in the fridge until required

Ingredients - Blueberry

1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blue berries
2 tablespoons caster sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla escence
3 tablespoons water

Method - Blueberry

Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan
Cook stirring until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture thickens (5 - 10 minutes)
Allow to cool, blend in a food processor until smooth
Store in the fridge until required

To Serve

Divide mixture between test tubes (with lids)
Place in a silver bowl on crushed ice

Vendor Credits

Vectorian.net for the wonderful lace vectors
Powerpuffjazz for the wonderful pink paper vector