Escape Room Party at Home
There’s nothing quite like a relaxed birthday gathering at home—good food, a beautiful table, and a little something unexpected to make it memorable.
This time, we were celebrating Tony and our friend Jordan, and as both the Kellys and the Lockharts love a good board game, I wanted to do something a little different. Instead of our usual games, we brought out an escape room game we’d picked up from TK Maxx before Christmas.
And it turned out to be such a fun choice.
The idea is simple: you work together as a team to solve puzzles and move through the “rooms” of a mansion within 90 minutes. It started off quite easy, but quickly became more challenging—and much more entertaining.
What I loved most was the teamwork. Normally we’re competing in pairs or playing individually, but this had everyone gathered around, thinking, laughing, and working things out together. It completely changed the feel of the day.
Escape Room Party Tablescape (Vintage Style)
To tie everything together, I leaned into a soft vintage theme—something that felt a little like stepping into an old English home.
I started, as I often do, with a simple white tablecloth (you really can’t go wrong with it), and layered over it a few vintage linen runners from my collection.
For the centrepiece, I used an old timber box and styled it with faux flowers and some of my much-loved English teacups. To give them a little height, I placed them on small cake stands, then added a few old books throughout the table for that layered, collected look.
One thing you’ll notice about my tables is that I keep the centre relatively low. Tony isn’t a fan of not being able to see everyone across the table—and honestly, I agree. It keeps the space feeling more relaxed and conversational.
For a personal touch, I used my Cricut machine to cut initials for each guest and added them to the cutlery bundles. It’s such a simple detail, but it always makes people feel special.
Easy Entertaining Menu (Simple, Elegant & Stress-Free)
To match the vintage feel, I kept the menu simple and comforting—something that felt a little like Downton Abbey, but without the formality.
Menu:
- Creamy Tarragon Chicken
- Green Beans with Shallots & Herbs
- Duchess Potatoes
It was one of those meals that quietly impresses—nothing complicated, but full of flavour. And best of all, it was easy to prepare ahead, which makes such a difference when you’re hosting.
Creamy Tarragon Chicken
This dish is a favourite for a reason. It’s incredibly easy to make, but the flavour feels just a little bit special.
I prepared it in the morning and let it gently simmer before serving, thickening the sauce slightly with cornflour at the end. I couldn’t find fresh tarragon, so I used dried—and honestly, it was still delicious.
It’s mild enough for fussy eaters, but still has that lovely depth of flavour. I finished it with a sprinkle of parsley for freshness.
Creamy Tarragon Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 Boneless chicken breasts
- 200 grams button mushrooms sliced
- 3 green onions sliced
- ½ garlic clove crushed
- 375 mls chicken stock
- ½ cup cream
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp dijon mustard (heaped)
- 1 tsp dried tarragon Fresh would be great I couldn't find any so I used the try version instead. If you use fresh you can use more than 1 tsp.
- 1 tsp cornflour
- fresh parsley to serve
Instructions
- Season the chicken breasts lightly with salt and pepper (or your favourite chicken seasoning).
- Heat oil and butter in a frypan, add chicken and cook on both sides until browned and almost cooked through. Remove from pan and set aside.
- Add mushrooms and saute until brown and then add the green onions and garlic and cook for another minute.
- Add chicken stock and cream and mix for a minute.
- Add in the mustard and tarragon and stir well.
- Add the chicken and simmer for about 10 minutes.
- If needed mix the cornflour with a little cold water and then add to thicken the sauce.
- Serve in a beautiful dish topped with fresh tarragon or parsley.
Notes
Green Beans with Shallots
This is one of those simple side dishes that you’ll come back to again and again.
The flavours are subtle but work beautifully together, and it comes together in minutes—perfect when you’re entertaining. I sautéed the shallots and herbs ahead of time, then finished the dish just before serving with a splash of chicken stock.
Easy, quick, and always well received.
GREEN BEANS WITH HERBS
Ingredients
- 500 grams frozen green beans
- 3 tbsp french butter
- 2 shallots (not green onions) finely sliced
- 1 tbsp chives (finely chopped)
- 1 tbsp parsley (finely chopped)
- ¼ cup chicken stock
Instructions
- Heat butter in large frypan and then add shallots. Cook for 2-3 minutes until softened.
- Add the herbs and chicken stock and bring to boil.
- Toss through the beans well and cook for about 5 minutes or until the beans are tender but not soft.
Duchess Potatoes
Now, these were a bit of a mixed experience—but still worth making.
The flavour? Absolutely beautiful. Rich, buttery, and easily one of the nicest potato dishes I’ve made.
The only challenge was getting them to hold their shape. They were quite soft, which made transferring them from the tray a little tricky. I baked them on paper, which may have contributed, and while the air fryer helped slightly, they were still delicate.
Would I make them again? Definitely.
Next time, I might skip the piping and serve them as a beautifully rich mash instead—but for this day, they suited the vintage theme perfectly.
Duchess Potatoes
Equipment
- Potato Ricer (not necessary to make it – just makes it easier)
- Stand Mixer (not necessary to make it – just makes easier)
Ingredients
- 2 kgs potatoes any potato that is suitable for mash is good for this recipe
- 3 egg yolks
- 6 tbsp good french butter
- ⅓ cup pure cream
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp fresh grated nutmeg
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp milk
Instructions
- Peel the potatoes and cut into fairly equal sizes. Boil in a large pot until tender. Drain in a colander allowing to steam off all the moisture and shaking every now and then.
- Using a potato ricer (if you have one) mash the potato into a large bowl for an electric mixer. (If you don't have a potato ricer or an electric mixer just use a masher and make sure there are no lumps).
- Add the butter, salt, nutmeg and cream. Mix with the mixer for approximately 5 minutes until really smooth.
- Add the egg yolks and mix on low until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Using a large piping bag with a star tip pipe the potatoes into high mounds. I piped them on to baking paper in the containers I would place into the freezer.
- If you're not going to freeze overnight I would recommend freezing for at least an hour.
- Preheat oven to 200C°. Mix the egg and milk well.
- Remove potato from freezer and place on a large tray, on baking paper. Brush with egg and milk mix – go lightly with this you don't want it to gather at the bottom as the stacks will collapse.
- Bake in oven for 30 minutes.
A Simple Celebration Done Well
That was our full menu for the day—simple, comforting, and easy to manage.
I made two versions of the chicken (one without mushrooms for a few guests), and instead of dessert, I created a birthday cake for Tony and Jordan—which felt like the perfect way to finish.
This gathering was such a lovely reminder that entertaining doesn’t need to be complicated. A thoughtful table, a simple menu, and something a little different—like an escape room game—can turn an ordinary lunch into something truly memorable.
If you’ve been looking for a new idea for your next gathering, I can highly recommend giving this a try.
Rather than a traditional dessert, I made a birthday cake for Tony and Jordan—you can see my lollies and chocolate birthday cake (perfect for birthdays and celebrations) here.
Creating gatherings like this is what inspired the next chapter of my journey. If you love beautifully simple celebrations, you can explore my curated party ideas at The Joyful Celebration Studio.
