hostess with the mostest hotel
The best part of having a vacation home is that people come to stay with you. One of the challenges is figuring out how to feed all of those vacationers in a way that doesn’t make you feel like hotel staff. Three meals a day for three days or more is a tall order. Breakfast for a crowd is my Achilles heel. It doesn’t matter how early I wake up
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
I’m not sure about you, but with a houseful over the holidays breakfast can really throw me for a loop. It doesn’t matter how well prepared I am, it’s as if the clock moves double time. I never quite get it together, and then all of a sudden, my ho ho ho begins to slip into a mumbled bah humbug. I am always on the quest to turn the first holiday
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food detective
The other night we stopped by my cousin’s in Lincoln Park for a glass of wine before heading out to dinner. She had a wonderful spread of cured meats and the most amazing fresh ricotta. My husband and I couldn’t wait to find out where she got it. Turns out there is an Eataly in Chicago. It’s a 12-minute drive from my apartment. And if you spend
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food detective
Last month I traveled to Omaha for my aunt’s services. It was a bittersweet occasion, for she died quite unexpectedly right after my dear uncle’s passing. The services were held on what would have been their 62nd wedding anniversary. My cousins all did such a wonderful job of crafting a weekend that truly celebrated my aunt’s life and her love
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making it for two
My husband and I are navigating the waters of the newly retired. When we moved to Dayton nine years ago I gave up my day job of thirty years and began working exclusively from home. A big switch for sure. This past fall my husband’s job transitioned, and he started a new venture and is now working remotely. Those of you of a certain age will
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food detective
Best thing about Brooklyn? Hands down our grandson, and his equally amazing parents. Next, the views from the Brooklyn Bridge. Close third, 1 Hotel’s avocado toast. What tops a great dinner? A surprisingly delicious breakfast. 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge is an incredible waterfront oasis. The nighttime panorama from their rooftop bar is worth the
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food detective
I came of age at a time when it was considered chic to dine on quiche and crepes. There were entire restaurants devoted to this fare. I loved the savory creamed chicken crepes, the studded quiche with its flaky crust, and the crocks of cheese capped French onion soup. But just as jumpsuits and wide-collared shirts went out of fashion, quiche seemed
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food detective
This is probably the most incredible breakfast sandwich… ever. Best part you can make all the components a couple hours ahead of time, then it’s just a quick griddle until you plate it up. And while it’s uncommonly light and airy it’s actually pretty sturdy, so you can take this toasty on the road. If you feel the need to add a meat serve it on
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food detective
As the countdown for the eclipse approached, I wondered how best to mark this extraordinary event. The moon was scheduled to block out the sun at 2:28 on Monday afternoon. Not the time I typically entertain. Then an idea came to me the night before just like a flash in the dark. With my Amazon procured ISO certified glasses in hand, I asked my
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
This Christmas morning I served up one of the best breakfast brunches of all time. A while back I stumbled upon a recipe for hash using leftover stuffing from the night before. I thought how incredible this would this be with my grandmother’s sausage stuffing topped with poached eggs. But let’s be serious who has the time or wherewithal to whip up
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Wherever I find myself, I’m happiest with a full dining room table. As a former professional chef and caterer I want to share what I’ve learned over the past three decades of entertaining. On this site you’ll find tricks of the trade to help even the most harried of you pull off a seemingly seamless fête. Come join the conversation! read more →