As the heat of summer hits, I start dreaming about the delicious fare served at Hamptons gatherings—dishes that are inspired by an abundance of fresh, local produce. Foods that are nourishing, perfectly ripe and crave-worthy. Even cocktails are influenced by what is fresh and fragrant in the nearby farms, and when watermelon is in season, it takes center stage in a variety of lemonades and cocktails. One of my favorites is a crisp, cold Watermelon-Cucumber blend I discovered at Sebonic Golf Club. It is summer in a glass.
A martini is a pure cocktail that consists of two main ingredients (gin or vodka and vermouth—with the option of two supporting acts, bitters, and your garnish), and there are endless variations on the theme. Sebonic served a Watermelon-Cucumber Martini that honored the classic recipe and included vermouth. It was delicious, but I enjoy simple, super clean cocktails, and I do my best to stay well hydrated in the summer, so I asked the bartender to pass on the vermouth and add more watermelon juice. She indulged me and after a few attempts we created this Martini-inspired drink. It is fresh, cold, light and so rejuvenating—one of my favorite Saturday night summer sippers.
When hosting gatherings at my home in the Hamptons this is my welcome drink. There, I have access to wonderful produce, and gladly purée and strain a fresh watermelon, then chill it before adding to this blend. Any leftover juice goes into my watermelon lemonade for Sunday’s BBQ. For this cocktail, a store-bought, cold pressed organic watermelon juice is just as delicious.
My little herb garden is filled with fragrant parsley, and I have an abundance of celery and farm-fresh leeks on hand. Last week my family loved my potato leek soup, so I thought I’d make a refreshing take on it by adding parsley. This is a terrifically bright and light soup; a great starter to whet the appetite before a savory main course or enjoyed as a light lunch with a slice of warm, homemade bread.
A throng of guests swirled up the stairs with flutes of champagne in hand, alighting on the balcony atop the tower where violin music played. The world seemed to be floating in the blue skies above the Mediterranean Sea as kisses were exchanged—one cheek, two cheeks and three kisses, as each guests’ custom required—friends had arrived from Italy, Spain, Argentina, Austria and America to celebrate. Hors d’oeuvres included bite-sized olive macarons with artisanal Majorcan sobrasada, and diminutive bowls of cherry gazpacho, all expertly prepared by Fosh Catering.
As the sun disappeared behind the dramatic cliffs of the Mallorca coast, the full moon illuminated the darkening sky, and guest Fede Dorcaz joined violinist Jitka Lackova to serenade me and our guest of honor, Ludovica Purini Rossi. The final chord played on the violin invited guests to round the spiral staircase and make their way down three levels to the grand balcony of Villa Kerida. They arrived at an exquisite panorama set on the La Mola peninsula; round tables perched poolside, just above the sea, covered with local wildflowers, tablecloths billowing in the gentle breeze as the reflection of the moon bounced off the crystalline waters and danced around the balcony. As guests were seated there was a moment of silence and awe, punctuated by the gently breaking waves of the Mediterranean Sea echoing through the secluded cove. It even gave pause to the birthday girl, Ludo, who threw her arms in the air and exclaimed “Wow! Wow,” as her smile broadened and warmed our hearts.
This Celestial birthday celebration included many special guests, and the scene was the essence of entertaining in Mallorca, which shares the same relaxed and effortlessly glamorous esthetic as our beloved Hamptons. Truly a celebration in the embrace of nature as the evening marked several celestial events—a rare ‘supermoon,’ powerful, full, and glowing blood red; the longest lunar eclipse of the century, that lasted nearly two hours; and Mars in opposition to earth. Some astrologists believe the energy of an eclipse symbolizes important women and foreshadows change, including a shift in consciousness causing one to mix with people who operate on a similar frequency—making this the perfect evening to celebrate a special friend. Ludo’s spirit of generosity and ability to live life fully touches and teaches all who know her, so I was delighted when a guest told me this was also the day of Guru Purinima a divine day to offer gratitude to all we learn from.
Life in Mallorca centers around family, friends and nature. The powerful presence of the mountains and sea cannot go unnoticed, creating a sense of peace and connection. That sensibility informed much of our lifestyle from swimming, cycling and hiking to entertaining. The flowers, created by Anna, a combination of clippings from the property and the island, and the food—local, inspired by the bounty of Mallorca with a nod to history and respect for its vulnerability. All these concepts came to life, where the menu echoed our philosophy of eating organic, seasonal, sustainable, and locally procured fare. From the Fresh Boquerones to the Grilled vegetables marinated with Soller oranges and lemons, and the Salt-Baked Seabass, everything was as fresh as nature intended.
After a magical dinner under the most breathtaking lunar eclipse, guests were invited to the dance floor for one last toast and the presentation of the birthday cake—a delightful tower of chocolate sponge cake, filled with vanilla mousse and crunchy chocolate crumble that I designed just for Ludo, and created with Kathi’s Cakes. The blue ribbons echoed the color of the sea, and the miniature tennis balls dotting the towers were a nod to Ludo’s favorite sport. The dancing was in full swing when Ludo jumped in the pool, fully clothed. There was tremendous laughter and a wave of happiness—this is Ludo! I ran for towels and smiled with gratitude for these perfect summer memories.
The blood red moon, just before the eclipse Getting the flowers ready Preparing the tables The Cake Each napkin is adorned with flowers from the garden Every powder room is filled with flowers and eucalyptus to naturally scent the room
One of the very talented cooks I have the pleasure of working with created this recipe. She follows other cooks from her homeland on social media and became fascinated by the “powders” that are quite popular with Polish cooks at the moment. When I was developing a recipe for Strawberry Soup, she excitedly told me her idea for a mint powder and immediately we began to explore.
The mint powder recipes I am familiar with are usually used in Indian cooking and don’t include sugar. There also are lots of recipes on the internet for Mint Sugar, which is great for sprinkling on top of fresh fruit or to rim cocktail glasses. This method creates something in between the two, and is perfect for my Strawberry Soup. It’s also great for salads and, of course, over chocolate ice cream.
In Hamptons Entertaining there is a fantastic recipe for Seared Scallops with Watermelon and Papaya that was given to me by Kara Ross (you’ll find it on page 35). Adding this Mint Powder is a great way to update the recipe for the coming summer. If you love to cook, you know that one of the best parts of summer is having a bounty of fresh herbs at your fingertips. Mint is an absolute favorite of mine and it grows like a weed in my garden during summer. I’m so excited to have a new, creative way to add it to my summer menu.
On Valentine’s Day I am chairing the American Heart Association’s Palm Beach Heart Ball, the longest, continuous Heart Ball in the nation. Last year, the Heart Ball campaign raised just over $71 million nation-wide, providing funding for life-saving research and prevention programs in our community and across the country. I’m particularly passionate about their Teaching Gardens initiative, which is the reason I agreed to chair this year’s gala.
American Heart Association Teaching Gardens have now been planted in more than 200 elementary schools across the country. These gardens become real-life learning laboratories for students. The Teaching Garden program recently started in Palm Beach County and, since it is an initiative focused on reversing the current childhood obesity trends that our nation is facing, I took a look at the program to see if it was a fit for the Michael and Annie Falk Foundation, one focus of which is improving the lives of children.
Garden-based nutrition intervention programs can promote increased fruit and vegetable intake among children, which is absolutely critical when you consider that French fries make up one-fourth of their vegetable intake. As I explored the gardens, I heard so many inspiring stories; they taught me that the gardens do far more than just address dietary issues. At one school I observed a little girl being led out of a classroom by what appeared to be her state-appointed companion, and they headed straight for the gardens. I saw the companion later in the day and asked what she thought about the gardens and she explained that her charge used to get agitated in class and they would have to leave so as not to disturb the other children. This, of course, would only frustrate the girl even more and throw her into a full-blown episode, one that would end her day at school. Now, when she has to leave a classroom she heads to the garden, takes a few deep breaths, rocks back and forth, and then goes right back to class.
Because I want more people to learn about the positive impact these gardens have on young children and our environment, I—along with my sister Dawn Scibilia—produced a 15-minute film called Teaching Gardens. We want people to see and hear first hand what a difference the gardens make and the positive effect the gardens are having, not only on the children, their families, the school, and the community, but also on the environment. The children realize they must attract pollinators to their gardens, and now they are bee and butterfly keepers and bird watchers—stewards of the environment, keeping our planet clean and nourished for future generations.
The American Heart Associations Teaching Gardens are funded by donations from individuals, corporations, foundations and other community-based organizations. To learn more about fundraising or school requirements for an American Heart Association Teaching Garden, please contact teachinggardens@heart.org.
When I first moved to Florida from New York City, I really missed the changing of the seasons. The Northeast moves from a burst of fall color to blankets of winter-white snow and drifts of spring daffodils that promise long, lazy days of summer. It took a long time before I realized that the South has four seasons, too, but they present themselves in subtle ways, unfolding slowly.
In Palm Beach, “season” is a word used primarily to refer to a pocket of time (Thanksgiving to Easter) when the population swells and parties, fundraisers, trunk shows and volunteer opportunities are plentiful. If you partake in all “season” has to offer it can be exhaustingly fun and, as with all good things, seems to pass in the blink of an eye.
After years of living here I began to notice there were signs of spring occurring all around me. It usually begins with the first blooming of my jade vine—a rare flowering climber that puts on a stunning display of blue-green blooms that dangle from my pergola as if floating in midair. Its first bloom seems to arrive each year right around the time the social season is winding down. The majestic yellow-flowering tabebuia tree is next to make its presence known, its vibrant, yellow blooms stealing a bit of thunder from the jade vine. It waits to be noticed, relishing in your admiration, and then rains golden petals that blanket the driveway from the front door to the street, as if to say “it’s time for your exit, here’s your golden carpet,” a flower-covered carpet inviting you to walk into summer.
It’s these signs from Mother Nature that remind me to host those last few dinner parties to be sure to see the friends who will disappear from my life until next fall. And, of course, that it’s time to begin spring-cleaning and prepare for my transition to the Hamptons.
There are so many ways to get it all done, and here I share with you eight organizations that motivate me to clean a little deeper and shed a little more.
1. Food
For the past five years, the Palm Beach Daily News has partnered with the Palm Beach Fire-Rescue and the Town of Palm Beach United Way for the annual Empty Your Pantry Food Drive. Known to locals as the Shiny Sheet food drive, it benefits the Feeding South Florida and The Glades Initiative by collecting non-perishable foods from all the snow birds before they fly up north. It’s a great incentive to empty the pantry after that final round of dinner parties.
2. Kitchen appliances and gadgets, dishware and drinkware:
It seems at the end of season I fall out of love with one appliance or another. This year, I broke up with my blender when I discovered the Nutribullet. I also always end up with an odd number of glasses, dishware, and even cutlery. The Church Mouse, a local resale shop benefitting local charities, is my go-to place to drop off these items.
3. Children’s clothing:
Schoola is a wonderful way to clean out your children’s closet while supporting schools in need. It’s easy to sign up and a portion of the sales go to the school of your choice.
4. Adult clothing:
ThredUP is another quick and easy way to clean out your closet. Through this fashion resale site you can take your earnings as a store credit, donate to a cause, or cash out through PayPal. They don’t accept everything, so you can opt to have them donate the items for your or return them to you.
5. Gowns and cocktail dresses:
My hard-to-part-with cocktail dresses and gowns, the ones my daughters are not interested in, find a home in one of the dozens of consignment shops on the island. Consignment shops are Palm Beach’s Starbucks—there’s one on every corner. Some shops specialize in particular designers or styles and by choosing carefully things sell quickly and at good prices.
6. Blankets, towels, and socks:
Blankets get torn, towels fray and socks seem to lose their mates over time. My go-to places for these types of items are the ASPCA and Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League. Oftentimes they’ll have a specific wish list posted on their sites, so you may also find a new home for all those random things you have no use for and are not sure what to do with.
7. Office supplies, crafts, carpets, and more:
Built to divert waste that is destined for landfills by collecting, processing, and distributing it for use in education, art, and recreation programs, Resource Depot is perhaps my favorite way to rid myself of things I no longer need.
8. Electronics:
All the outdated televisions, cell phones, old computers, e-readers, and tablets that fill your drawers and closets can be dropped off at any one of the seven Solid Waste Authority’s Home Chemical and Recycling Centers.
After a good clean out, I’m able to leave Palm Beach feeling a little lighter, with the knowledge that my cast-offs have been able to do some good for the community.
Sara Gore joins Annie Falk, author of “Hamptons Entertaining: Creating Occasions To Remember,” as she shares inspiring ideas for table settings, menus and more.
