An Austrian Dinner Party in New York for WITS

It’s not entirely a myth that many New Yorkers use their ovens to store shoes! In a city with so many fabulous restaurants and gourmet shops, our tiny kitchens are hardly ever used for actual cooking—and entertaining in small spaces can be just as challenging.  Upon winning an Austrian Dinner Party in NYC at a charity auction, I panicked! “Keep your event plans in line with the space available,” is advice I’ve often whispered to many a nervous hostess, and it became my mantra for planning this dinner. 

Heritage cook and Austrian wine guru, Monika Caha, donated the dinner to benefit Wellness in the Schools. We met at my NY Pied-à-terre and immediately bonded over our shared interests.  Monika smiled widely as I recited a long list of my favorite Austrian dishes, from Liver Dumpling Soup to Germknödel—a dessert typically served in a warm bath of vanilla sauce.  It’s a fluffy yeast dough dumpling, filled with warm plum jam, finished with melted butter, poppy seeds, and dusted with powdered sugar. Together, we could talk Bavarian food, recipes and wine all day long.

We agreed upon a few menu ideas for our dinner, then we finally stepped into the kitchen and Monika could barely conceal her surprise at its size, and asked “how can I make this menu here?” She checked out my cookware, and as she peeked into the oven I was filled with pride—no shoes in there, just some well-worn pots and pans.

In my mind, I repeated my mantra several times, took a deep breath and suggested we simplify the menu and develop a plan that would allow Monika to prep in her kitchen. She was determined to cook a spectacular Austrian feast with little compromise. She did suggest a delicious flourless poppyseed cake in place of the labor-intensive Germknödel. The cake recipe was one she learned from her mother and it sounded delightful! This flourless cake could be made ahead of time, and would certainly be lighter than the Germknödel, and its gluten free!  

Here’s a peek at the menu we created, along with the wine pairings Monika chose:

Inspired by the theme of the evening, I invited guests to dress up. Costumes are an amusing way to create a festive atmosphere. Inviting guests to dress up and express their own creativity takes a lot of pressure off the hostess.  When friends and family arrive in Lederhosen and Dirndl’s it’s hard to be caught up with ideas of perfection. As guests arrive, they are immediately at ease, laughing and snapping photos. 

Setting the table is always an exercise in artistry. Pulling out old favorites and combining them in new ways to match a theme sets the tone for the evening.  Adding found treasures from travel and flowers give a finishing touch that creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere.  For this dinner, I envisioned Alpine Wildflowers running down the center of the table to evoke memories of springtime walks along the scenic trails in the Alps. Their mild aromas would not compete with the wonderful dinner Monika was making, nor with her beautiful wines.

Perhaps the most satisfying part of planning the evening was creating the right balance of entertainment and mission.  This dinner benefitted WITS, and it seemed fitting that we celebrated the wonderful bounty before us as we supported the bounty of healthful meals WITS offers children every day in five states. Guests would be delighted to hear about Monika’s passion for Austrian food and wine, and our shared enthusiasm for child advocacy, especially when it comes to healthful food. 

In the words of poet Clarissa Pinkola Estés: 

“Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach.”

Playing favorites!

Florist: Very Special Flowers in the West Village created my Alpine Wildflower centerpiece 

Cook: Monika Caha describes herself as a heritage cook, all she learned about Austrian cooking was taught to her by her mother and grandmother.  Her namesake company, Monika Caha Selections, specializes in Austrian wine.

Dinnerware brand (or source): For this tablescape the napkins, napkin rings, and cutlery are all by Kim Seybert.  The dishware was a combination of vintages finds from Chairish, and serving pieces from Pottery Barn.

Glassware/stemware brand (or source): I tend to favor vintage glassware from 1^st dibs, Dixie Highway, and Etsy which worked perfectly for cocktails.  For the table I opted for stemware from one of my favorite tabletop designers, Michael Wainwright

Powder room Scent: Fresh wildflowers from VSP.

Powder room soap: Pre de Provence’s Verbena pure vegetable soap.

Entertainment: A traditional Austrian accordion player, dressed in Lederhosen, booked through Astarte Creative

Party Favor:  At the end of the evening, while guests were enjoying digestifs, the floral arrangement was broken up into small bouquets, wrapped with twine and left in a basket at the front door so guests could help themselves.

Video: Created by Gino Orlandini, video producer and video director of holllywoodlife.com