My hubby just turned another year. He stated he didn’t want any fanfare but I know him well enough to know that he would appreciate a little something special to mark the occasion. So I invited a pair of close friends and put together a menu that would wow without any muss and fuss. What would be better than breaking down the steak house version of
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Just got back from Philadelphia where I was a delegate for Garden Club of America’s centennial annual meeting. Needless to say it was an auspicious affair. Among the keynote speakers were Alice Waters chef, author, activist and owner of Chez Panisse in Berkeley. A champion of the organic food movement, Waters spoke of how gardening had shaped her
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Some nights things seem to come together perfectly. Last weekend we had one such evening. A great group and a meal that was comforting and light and fresh. Grilled scampi and sautéed spinach topped last Saturday night’s grit soufflé. Prepping and partially cooking both ahead of time makes this home down dinner come together in a matter of minutes.
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In a world of texts and tweets we can fall victim to the illusion that anything is instantly available. Some things in life to take time to develop. Consider the evolution of a friendship or a simmering ragu. Time and genuine attention can alter what is seemingly simple into the truly sublime. As fate would have it last Friday night we had the
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As for many with adult children our holidays are looking more like a sprawl. This year we must divide and conquer. All this entertaining demands that memorable meals come together with a minimum of last minute effort. For selfishly I want to be with those I love, not tied to my overused stove. Here’s the first of our three “Christmas” dinners.
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Just went to a charming wedding in West Chop on Martha’s Vineyard. Everywhere you turned there were the most personable touches. It was the quintessential Nor’easter celebration. Lobster rolls and crab cakes. A killer band under a tent with a remarkable view. A bride as stunningly beautiful and unpretentious as the local blooms artfully arranged
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Pulling a Friday night party together in a flash. With temps literally off the chart who wants to greet their guests with a blast from the kitchen? Not only is this dinner prepped entirely ahead of time; the grilling is done before the first guests arrive. This light, fresh and super fast meal is the perfect kick-off to the weekend. So beat the
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With power out for five days my frig and freezer were a complete loss. Needless to say it’s time to restock, and not just with milk and mayo. Entertaining with success means planning ahead. Easy to do with a well-stocked freezer. Nothing beats “bookends” you can pull out of the deep freeze. Time to replenish a couple of those canapés and desserts
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When entertaining a crowd it's best to get your “bookends” out of the way. Nothing beats an appetizer or dessert that can be safely stashed in the deep freeze. Because these pretty key lime tarts must be frozen, they are the perfect finish to my dinner for twenty. While impressive these little darlings take less than a half hour to make.
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Tonight I am having twenty over for dinner. And to raise the bar these guests are some of the leading horticulture, flower arranging and photography judges in our country. So not only do I need to have an expert meal for this esteemed group everything inside and outside needs to be looking it’s finest as well. Planning a fete such as this takes
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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 →