I have always been amazed by how simply the French entertain in their homes. Certainly there are the grand evenings, fancy dinners, and elegant balls, but my original assumption about French entertaining style was that it was as sophisticated and complicated as the haute cuisine recipes of Auguste Escoffier.  When I had my apartment in Paris I discovered that the Parisians at home often hosted a very simple buffet for as few as four people, and that they often had these meals not in the elaborate dining room, but in the kitchen! They would prepare a couple of dishes (usually the main course, always the salad), but the accompanying dishes, along with the appetizer and dessert, were bought at their neighborhood traiteur, the Parisian version of the corner deli. 
Of course, with their love of good food and a culture that demands 
perfectly ripe cheese, small tasty vegetables, and affordable delicious wines, it is easy to have an "instant meal" without resorting to plastic fast food.

Whether a dinner in Paris, a luncheon in Normandy, or a seaside fête in St. Tropez, the French always start the moment with chilled Champagne. Customarily, hors d’oeuvres are as simple as a bowl of olives, slices of saucisson, and, in season, bowls of garden radishes served with sel de mer.  Of course, no respectable French dinner is complete without that perfect cheese, a fresh baguette, and red wine -- but the magic is more than the quality of this simple but delicious fare. If a picture is worth a thousand words (an old adage with which I heartily agree), then all culinary offerings are dramatically enhanced by the manner of presentation.

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All of these products are designed in France (produced in Vietnam—remember they were a colony of France for years) and for me, are the chicest way to create a fabulous table in the summer!