The Design Duo Behind Antoinette Poisson Shares Their Secrets to Cozy Chic French Entertaining

Jean-Baptiste Martin and Vincent Farelly join more of the world’s most influential tastemakers in a new book by Pierre Sauvage, owner of Casa Lopez

Two men cooking in a rustic kitchen, one holding a pie, the other stirring a pot, with hanging copper cookware.
Jean-Baptiste Martin (left) and Vincent Farelly create meals inspired by their grandmothers. Photo: Ambroise Tézenas, Courtesy of Flammarion

Just as it takes the exact right blend of ingredients, time, and skill to create a perfect cassoulet or light-as-air soufflé, an unforgettable dinner party also requires a magical mix. And there are a select few who can effortlessly move from the kitchen to the dining room, cultivating an enchanting fête each and every time.

The secret is “a well-chosen guest list, a nice table, flowers, delicious food, and a lovely environment,” says Pierre Sauvage, owner and creative director of the exquisitely curated Paris home design boutique Casa Lopez. In his luscious new tome, Be My Guest: At Home with the Tastemakers (Rizzoli), Sauvage spotlights more than 20 creatives from around the world whose invitations are always met with a resounding yes.

Book cover of "Be My Guest" featuring a blue-themed dining room with floral arrangements and elegant table setting.
Pierre Sauvage’s latest book Be My Guest: At Home with the Tastemakers (Flammarion). Photo: Courtesy of Flammarion

The book opens the door of notable hosts such as Linda Pinto, Chahan Minassian, Robert Couturier, and Christian Louboutin. Also included is an intimate look inside the rustic dining room of Jean-Baptiste Martin and Vincent Farelly, the A Paris chez Antoinette Poisson founders who welcome friends at their weekend home in Eure-et-Loir, France. Their reimagined 17th-century posting inn, which captures the same romance as that of their hand-blocked wallpaper atelier, is where they host friends for classic meals like creamy scrambled eggs with truffles or vol-au-vent.

Rustic dining room with a wooden table set for a meal, surrounded by chairs and decorated with plants and a woven light fixture.
A Paris chez Antoinette Poisson founders Jean-Baptiste Martin and Vincent Farelly’s rustic table in their French country retreat is just one of 20 welcoming settings featured in Pierre Sauvage’s new book, Be My Guest: At Home with the Tastemakers. Photo: Ambroise Tézenas, Courtesy of Flammarion
Dining table with a rustic setting, colorful patterned plate, silverware, and floral centerpieces.
Dinnerware designed by Antoinette Poisson for Gien. Photo: Ambroise Tézenas, Courtesy of Flammarion

“We really like the comforting dishes of our grandmothers, like Vincent’s grandmother’s famous Italian osso buco from the 1960s,” says Martin, who finds inspiration in Antoinette Poisson’s patterns, seeking out plates and textiles that re-create colorful geometric and floral designs from the 1700s, which bring an old-fashioned sensibility to the table without ostentation. “The decor is as important to us as the dishes we serve. The pleasure is complete when the table is beautiful, the dish delicious, the wine exquisite, and the guests happy.”

Four dessert glasses with chocolate topping next to fresh greens and truffles on a rustic kitchen countertop.
Creamy scrambled eggs with truffles. Photo: Ambroise Tézenas, Courtesy of Flammarion

Sauvage concurs that it’s the personal touches that elevate a meal into an event. “Right now I really like making centerpieces in 19th-century silver plate warmers overflowing with flowers,” says the author. “When I organize dinners sufficiently in advance, I’ll have the napkins embroidered with the initials or first name of my guests. Sometimes, I even have the bread plates painted with their names.”

While clean plates and empty glasses indicate a successful meal, what signifies a memorable night is much more experiential. “For me, the sign is when the time speeds up and the guests forget their watches,” says Sauvage. “They then leave later than scheduled and have not even finished their conversations.” 

A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2020 Fall issue under the headline “Affair to Remember.” Subscribe to the magazine.

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Antoinette Poisson’s Founders Share Details On How They Entertain At Home

A Paris chez Antoinette Poisson founders Jean-Baptiste Martin and Vincent Farellyu2019s rustic table in their French country retreat is just one of 20 welcoming settings featured in Pierre Sauvageu2019s new book, Be My Guest: At Home with the Tastemakers.

Photograph by Ambroise Tézenas, Courtesy of Flammarion

Creamy scrambled eggs with truffles.

Photograph by Ambroise Tézenas, Courtesy of Flammarion

Dinnerware designed by Antoinette Poisson for Gien.

Photograph by Ambroise Tézenas, Courtesy of Flammarion

Vol-au-vent.

Photograph by Ambroise Tézenas, Courtesy of Flammarion

A Creil-Montereau Japon service in Jean-Baptiste Martin and Vincent Farelly’s home.

Photograph by Ambroise Tézenas, Courtesy of Flammarion
Rustic dining room with a wooden table set for a meal, surrounded by chairs and decorated with plants and a woven light fixture.
Four dessert glasses with chocolate topping next to fresh greens and truffles on a rustic kitchen countertop.
Dining table with a rustic setting, colorful patterned plate, silverware, and floral centerpieces.
Quiche with cheese and truffle slices on a white plate garnished with fresh lettuce and herbs.
Blue and white floral china dishes and glassware neatly arranged on wooden shelves in a pantry setting.
Rustic dining room with a wooden table set for a meal, surrounded by chairs and decorated with plants and a woven light fixture.
Four dessert glasses with chocolate topping next to fresh greens and truffles on a rustic kitchen countertop.
Dining table with a rustic setting, colorful patterned plate, silverware, and floral centerpieces.
Quiche with cheese and truffle slices on a white plate garnished with fresh lettuce and herbs.
Blue and white floral china dishes and glassware neatly arranged on wooden shelves in a pantry setting.