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Hitting the High Notes

For more than three decades, bons vivants and musicians Michael Harold and Quinn Peeper have both entertained and inspired with their melodic mix of tablescapes, tips, and recipes.
A table is set with roses, carnations, magnolias, and teal napkins.

Photo by Randy Krause Schmidt

The hosts adorned the table with towering bouquets of carnations, lilies and roses with a garland of magnolias and carnations at the bottom. They set the table with their grandmothers' Rose Brier china by Royal Heidelberg and Chantilly silver with vintage monogrammed French napkins.

Despite their demanding “day jobs,” Michael Harold and Quinn Peeper, a successful attorney and a prominent physician respectively, have managed to lead double lives as concert pianists and consummate hosts. Together, they have entertained audiences of 5 to 500. In 2018, the duo helped raise over $100,000 for charity during a guest performance with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and, just last year, they traveled to New York City where they played for Princess Anne at an intimate (and somewhat impromptu) post-gala gathering hosted by the English-Speaking Union of which Quinn serves as chairman.

Michael Harold and Quinn Peeper sitting with their headphones on.

Photo by Paul Costello

Michael Harold and Quinn Peeper enjoy a variety of hobbies including music.

Hands pouring a floral ceramic teapot.

Photo by Randy Krause Schmidt

Michael and Quinn host a tea every year in honor of Queen Elizabeth II's birthday.

Rivaling the couple’s love of music is their love of parties and, after almost three decades, they have hosting down to a science. Michael tackles the menu and takes care of the cooking or catering, and Quinn creates the tablescapes from their endless mélange of heirloom china; antique silver; vintage stemware; and hand-embroidered linens. While their style leans more towards the formal end of the entertaining spectrum—think dainty passed hors d’oeuvres and candlelit sit-downs—their themes are anything but traditional. In fact, some are downright obscure. Take their annual “Christmas Adam” tea that takes place the day before Christmas Eve. Teas and hot toddies are served alongside a rainbow of marzipan, Fortnum & Mason mini mince pies, sweet meats, and homemade sugared fruit. The duo’s “Tempête Tropicale Feast,” held in the late August heat, commemorates the start of hurricane season in New Orleans. While the theme may seem rather unconventional, Michael and Quinn have had enough experiences with the wrath of these storms to learn things they feel are worth celebrating.

Table is set with tempête tropicale linen set.

Photo by Randy Krause Schmidt

The pair used D. Porthault’s linen collection, Tempête Tropicale, to inspire their hurricane-themed feast.

“The idea was born when Quinn discovered D. Porthault’s linen collection, Tempête Tropicale, which translates to tropical storm,” Michael says. “In the aftermath of these disasters, we have gone days, even weeks, without electricity and become all too familiar with the fragrance that permeates from an unintentionally thawed-out freezer. Now, when severe weather threatens, we pull all the casseroles out of hibernation, and our friends and neighbors do the same. If you’ve never had a potluck supper served on Bernardaud china, you’re really missing out.”

People at a party dressed in kilts.

Photo by Darryl Schmitt

Guests come properly dressed for a Scottish birthday party celebrating the poet Robert Burns.

But above all the special (and not-so special) occasions that Michael and Quinn like to celebrate, they are particularly big on birthday parties. The honoree could be anyone—a dear friend or family member, a fictitious book or movie character, or perhaps a deceased musician. At their “Mad for Plaid” party, guests clad in kilts and tartan frocks were greeted at the door by a bagpiper. The occasion? The 265th birthday of Scottish poet and lyricist Robert Burns, best known for writing Auld Lang Syne in 1788. To avoid showing favoritism, they have hosted similar themed dinners for composer Franz Schubert’s 227th and Beethoven’s 250th birthdays.

Don’t miss: Quinn and Michael share the Easy Cranachan Recipe from their Robert Burns fêtê.

Peonies and forsythia in an arrangement near a window.

Photo by Chris Granger

Quinn selected spring blooms of forsythia, miniature hydrangea, parrot tulips, and roses to set the stage for a birthday dinner honoring his grandfather.

A crystal flute holds tropical flowers on a table.

Photo by Elizabeth Dondis

A Baccarat crystal centerpiece holds Macara orchids, orange ranunculus, tulips, flat fern, pincushion, and orange brain celosia for a party celebrating Faulkner's THE WILD PALMS.

Michael and Quinn share more about these “shindigs” and dozens of others in their book, Classical Shindig: Amateur Artistry from the Simple to the Sublime (Susan Schadt Press, 2023). Part personal memoir, part entertaining manifesto, the tome’s 380-plus pages burst with stories and snapshots from some of their most famous (and infamous) fêtes. The features are peppered with tips, original recipes, whimsical illustrations, and exquisite eye candy, including floral arrangements, place settings, place cards, menu cards, and assorted paperie aimed to inspire the most seasoned hosts and hostesses, as well as the nervous novices.

Seashell embroidered linens decorate a table.

Photo by Randy Krause Schmidt

To celebrate Quinn's sixtieth birthday, the duo brought out sea-themed pieces that Quinn collected at a Mario Buatta estate auction.

Blue hydrangeas contrast with red roses in an Imari vase.

Photo by Randy Krause Schmidt

Michael and Quinn hold a deep appreciation for flowers, knowing that they add that final touch of elegance to a party. These blue hydrangeas and bright red roses pair beautifully with an Imari vase.

“When naming the book, we felt it was important to include the word ‘amateur’ in the title,” Quinn says. “We are not professional chefs, florists, event designers, or interior decorators. We are amateurs—a word derived from the Latin word amare meaning ‘to love.’ We do all the planning, prepping, creating, and cleanup because that’s what we love to do.”

By Margaret Zainey Roux

Cover of CLASSICAL SHINDIG with Michael Harold and Quinn Peeper, flowers, food, and tablescapes.

Published by Susan Schadt Press, 2024.

Classical Shindig: Amateur Artistry: From the Simple to the Sublime (Susan Schadt Press, 2024)

By Michael Harold and Quinn Peeper

Buy the book and enjoy more recipes and tons more beautiful, themed celebrations!

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