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Category: Guests

Irish Mule Cocktails & Green Tables in Celebration of St. Patrick

Posted on by Admin General

The annual celebration of Ireland and its patron saint arrives each year on March 17th. For me, this brings back fond memories of attending the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City with my family, wearing green bows in my hair and having brunch at the Metropolitan Club, where we would later climb out onto the window sills to catch the last few moments of the parade. It was the one day of the year that we feasted on corned beef and cabbage, potatoes in a dizzying array of presentations and lots of dessert. The buffet was endless and the food coloring would turn our lips and tongues green, transforming us all into magical leprechauns. 

Since living in Palm Beach I haven’t gotten back to see the parade in many years, and the Metropolitan Club, sadly, no longer offers brunch in its beautiful west lounge, a ballroom out of the Gilded Age. Instead, I’ve hosted many gatherings—in school and at our home—for my daughters and their friends. Now that the girls are both away at college, I’m thinking of hosting a small dinner—not because I love green clover–covered crafts or recipes with green dye; those things don’t inspire me much. My motivation is that some dear friends, who happen to be Irish, have just moved quite close to us and this will be their first St. Patrick’s Day in Florida. For me, that’s a great reason to go green.

As Carolyn Roehm says, inspiration comes from anywhere and everywhere. In addition to wanting to host our friends, I recently found these wonderful plates at a local Tuesday Morning shop, and they encouraged me to revisit an old post on Carolyn’s blog, where she features a table set in various shades of green on a striped tablecloth. It’s as lovely as I recall. I adore the tablecloth and will certainly go to my local remnant shop for a similar (and less expensive) version. I’m dreaming of the perfect floral arrangement: white calla lilies, long stalks of bells of Ireland, and hydrangeas—a combination that will be a beautiful ode to Ireland with a little Hamptons Entertaining thrown in.

There will be no shamrocks or leprechauns on this table: the effect will be something festive yet sophisticated. I’ll welcome guests with an Irish mule recipe I discovered at the Hard Rock Cafe, have some Celtic music playing in the background, and serve a creative, healthful take on few popular Irish dishes—I’m all set! To add a touch of whimsy to the evening, I pulled out some boas and beads left over from a Mardi Gras party I hosted, and I willbutton my guest as they arrive with a “Kiss Me I’m Irish” pin—it’s like mistletoe at Christmas and all in good fun.

Valentine’s Ideas

Posted on by Admin General

Valentine’s Day comes in varying hues of red—from the pinkish blush of rosé Champagne to the lush burgundy of chocolate, and of course the vermillion-red of the official flower of romance, the rose. It’s a holiday that conjures dreams of an enchanting and leisurely candle-lit dinner that leads to the clinking of glasses, slow dances, and long kisses. There are actually seven shades of red, and at least as many ways to celebrate your love.

On this special day, I take a pass on the expected. No restaurants for me on this holiday—ever! Reservations at the best restaurants are booked within the hour they become available, and then tables are added for loyal customers and super VIP guests that call last minute. (Yes, I’ve been that person, too, begging for a last-minute reservation). It’s a recipe for stress: a crowded restaurant with staff that will certainly be overwhelmed. More times than not, I’ve been disappointed with the meal and service, as well as the premium holiday prices, on Valentine’s Day. Of course, they do their best to make you happy but it still pays to be smart and know when to go—and when to stay away. Leave the three-star dining experience for your anniversary.

Here are just a few ways I’ve celebrated in the past—perhaps you’ll find some inspiration and feel less guilty about not having made reservations or cancelling the ones you have.

  1. Plan a Candle-Lit Dinner at Home.
    There’s nothing more romantic than a home-cooked meal. It’s the ultimate declaration of love. I’ve done dinner for two and as many as eight. Add a beautiful table setting, candles, and a lush soundtrack for a memorable evening. On the table, include a photo for every year you’ve been together (or every month if it’s a new romance), and do the same for any couples that may be joining you. It’s a great way to reminisce.
  2. Schedule a Couple’s Massage
    Such a wonderful treat for you both! Many spas are happy to arrange little bubbly, light bites, and chocolates post massage. It’s such a decadent feeling to be lounging in your robes, totally relaxed. Make your appointment late in the day so you can enjoy the sunset together, cuddle up, make a toast and share some chocolate-covered strawberries.
  3. Create a Picnic by the Fire.
    Lay out a cozy blanket by the fire to create an indoor picnic. A lovely platter of cheese, fruit, nuts and chocolates paired with the right wine, a few candles and great music is all you need. The Wine Enthusiast has a fun wine and cheese pairings guide.
  4. Set Up a Romantic Movie Night.
    There’s a great gourmet popcorn recipe in Hamptons Entertaining and I love to serve it with a crisp white wine and chocolate-covered raisins. A cozy blanket and a romantic movie complete the night. Love is best expressed without an audience.
  5. Have a Game Night.
    Choose games that are fun rather than competitive. I love Twister, especially after a glass of champagne! If your romance is new, choose get-to-know you trivia games like “Would You Rather.
  6. Be Spontaneous.
    It’s always memorable when you experience something for the first time and when that memory is shared with someone you love it only brings you closer. Have you ever wanted to go to the dog track? How about roller blading? Taking a dance class together is always good for a few laughs. Choose something you’ve always thought about doing, but never had the time for.
  7. Support a Great Cause.
    This year my family and I will be celebrating Valentine’s Day at the American Heart Association’s annual gala in Palm Beach. Held in the Versailles ballroom at the iconic Breakers Hotel, where the staff is accustomed to serving 500 guests, I know it will be a beautiful evening. A romantic setting, a lovely dinner that will certainly close with a gorgeous and descendant chocolate dessert, lots of dancing, and I get to wear an evening gown. The best part? The price of a ticket or a table helps spread the love on this special day.

Happy Valentine’s Day! And, remember Oscar Wild’s words of wisdom; “Never love someone who treats you like you’re ordinary.” 

Polish Pickle Soup (Zupa Ogórkowa)

Posted on by Admin General

A home-cooked meal is a labor of love: The seemingly effortless transformation of simple, honest food presented with a personal touch. A good home cook is a fount of culinary knowledge and many seem to be naturally gracious hosts as well. We sometimes need to be reminded that the best chefs aren’t always found in Michelin-starred restaurants. In fact, some of the most delicious and authentic meals I’ve had have been prepared by home cooks who make everything from scratch from family recipes handed down from generation to generation.

One of the best ways to learn someone’s native cuisine is to actually step into their kitchen or invite them into yours to create a dish working side by side. It’s rare that we have the opportunity to cook at a grandmother’s elbow while sharing a worn recipe card or peering into a cookbook with food-stained pages. Ingredients, instructions, or maybe a tip or two scribbled in the margin, and comments spoken quietly in the kitchen can be invaluable. Oftentimes, the most critical ingredient is not flour, liquid or fat, but nostalgia, which is easily evoked by the right aroma, flavor or presentation. Personal stories and authentic, unguarded memories are offered spontaneously when cooking elbow to elbow.

I was taking an online recipe-writing course with Gotham Writers when one of my classmates submitted a recipe for pickle soup. I knew immediately it was a dish my family and I would enjoy. My youngest daughter loves sour flavors and I grew up in New York City at a time when sandwiches were always served with a sour dill pickle on the side (the best part!). The recipe looked amazing and I couldn’t believe I had never encountered a pickle soup before.

When I showed the recipe to our Polish cook, she said she had a better one from her grandmother. I asked her to collect all the right ingredients from her favorite shops and together we made her family recipe for pickle soup—and now it’s one of my family’s favorites!

I was fascinated by the memories she shared of making pickles with her family. Cucumbers and other vegetables were preserved in brine to be enjoyed throughout the winter. Oftentimes, dozens of jars were stored in the basement, buried in the dirt floor. In the winter her grandmother would create new and imaginative recipes to make use of the pickled vegetables and that’s how this soup was born. I learned that most recipes for pickle soup call for dill pickles, and too often cooks reach for cucumbers pickled in vinegar. For just the right flavors, the way her grandma intended them, be sure to use cucumbers in brine (a salt-water solution with no vinegar), and be sure to strain and grate them.

If you ever have the opportunity to learn ethnic cuisine from an experienced immigrant cook, don’t miss it! I will be posting more ethnic recipes in the future, but the next time you are in New York and craving something different, check out the the League of Kitchens workshop series. In the meantime, let me know how you like this pickle soup.

I have found the ingredients for this recipe in the international section of most grocery stores, but there’s also a great Polish store in the Palm Beaches called A Taste of Europe Delicatessen and in the Hamptons look for Wisla Polish Deli in Riverhead.

Yield: Makes 6 quarts

10 Tips for Surviving—and Enjoying—the Holiday Season

Posted on by Admin General

The holiday season is meant to inspire us and remind of what really matters: quality time with family and friends and sharing love and laughter through gift giving and celebrations. Too often, though, we find ourselves exhausted as moments of joy turn into seeming obligations. Here are 10 tips I use to help keep me grounded throughout the season.

1. During the holidays we are all time-starved. If you have your heart set on hosting friends but the idea of a sit-down dinner has you stressed, consider a cocktail party. It is much easier to plan and execute, shorter in duration, and—with a help-yourself bar and stationary hors d’oeuvres buffet—you can maximum time with guests, which is the whole point of the party. In this case, less really is more!

2. Waited too long to get your holiday cards ready? Consider sending out a New Year’s greeting instead, or create a digital greeting. Either way, you’ll achieve the goal of letting loved ones and cherished friends know you are thinking about them this holiday season.

3. There are always a few last minute invitations to great holiday parties you don’t want miss, but who has time to run out for a hostess gift? Buy or make multiples of one hostess gift and keep them on hand. I make and freeze a few pecan pies from Palm Beach Entertaining and a few of my Chocolate Chip Apple Cakes—both freeze well, make great hostess gifts, and they’re perfect for pot lucks, too. I also keep several of my favorite soy candles from ThePureCandle on hand: Merry, Cheers, and Peace, which is exactly what I’m seeking this time of year. It’s great to have a supply of cocktail napkins for guests, but sets of the whimsical designs created by August Morgan make terrific hostess gifts!

4. The tree is up but the thought of decorating it seems daunting. One of my friends hosts a tree-trimming party here in Palm Beach and it’s one of my favorite gatherings of the season. She designates a color scheme and guests are asked to bring an ornament in the chosen color and dress in accordance with the theme. One year it was ice blue, another silver, and this year was gold. Everyone places their ornament on the tree and it’s completely decorated before cocktails are over. As a guest, I love it because I know I’ve given my friend exactly what she wanted for the holidays.

5. If the imposed calendar of the season doesn’t work for you, create your own. My family and I move our Christmas celebration to a day in December that is mutually convenient for everyone and it’s the best thing we’ve ever done. We get our shopping, decorating, and feasting done early and it leaves more time for friends and extended family as the 25th draws near. It is such a treat to have a day of down time, family time, and a celebratory dinner all to ourselves. We started this tradition because we often travel during the holidays and hauling gifts around became more burden than joy.

6. Research shows that experience rather than objects have a strong link to happiness, so why not create some new traditions? Host an ugly sweater party, go ice-skating, organize a cookie swap, or deliver toys in a Santa suit to a local orphanage. For several years my family and I volunteered on Christmas Day. Our most memorable Christmas was spent in Vietnam where we organized a holiday dinner for the staff and residents of an orphanage. We took everyone to a terrific restaurant and presented the children with new coats and computers after the dinner. It is one of the fondest and most joyful Christmas memories we share.

7. If you are hosting several parties, it can be a chore to replenish fresh flowers. Rather than a traditional floral centerpiece on the dining table, create a holiday scene with ornaments, gingerbread houses, or a collection of seasonal trinkets you’ve gathered from your travels.

8. Give your chandelier a holiday update by wrapping the arms in evergreen garland or, if it’s in an entryway, hang mistletoe from the center to encourage a little holiday romance.

9. If your dining table is extra-long once you’ve added the leaves, drape it with a fabric remnant instead of a tablecloth. It is one of my favorite ways to add color, texture, and a special touch to any table.

10. Last but not least, give yourself the gift of mindfulness. It’s easy to rush through the simple pleasures of the season without stopping to appreciate them. When putting up the tree, take a moment to enjoy its fragrance. Turn on some festive music when trimming the tree or wrapping gifts and enjoy a glass of hot cider or spiced wine. It will put you in a holiday mood and serve as a reminder that these are not mindless tasks, but joyful celebrations. There are so many traditions we all feel obligated to uphold, just say no to the non-essential and truly embrace and enjoy those that are important to you. Take a deep breath and remember to cherish every moment, they only happen once. 

A holiday breakfast buffet.

Turkey Pot Pie

Posted on by Admin General

Welcoming family and friends to the table is joyful by nature and an occasion that takes place often in my home, no matter the season.  Thanksgiving weekend I’ve been known to host as many as 40 guests for a holiday break brimming with bingo, movies, bowling, yoga, and a table bursting with nourishing foods that honor our families’ combined traditions and backgrounds. 

This Thanksgiving is the first in many years that my husband and I decided to go away with our daughters – and have a holiday with just the four of us. As I write this we are headed to the Amangiri resort in Utah, a bucket-list destination for many, including my husband.  We are all looking forward to a vacation filled with hiking adventures, down-time, pampering, shutting down the devices (for a little while), and quite frankly just being a guest.

Last night I whipped up a turkey pot pie –  adapted from The Wild Turkey Pot Pie recipe in first book, Palm Beach Entertaining. It was my way of kicking off the week and sharing a comforting meal at home before our adventure.  I won’t be roasting an entire turkey (or two) this year, and I will miss every joyful moment — both making it and sharing it — of hosting this traditional meal at my home. Certainly, I’ll miss the simple and satisfying meals of reinvented leftovers. 

As we enjoyed our pot pie I was inspired to post this recipe.  It’s a great way to serve left-over turkey.

Wishing you all a delicious Thanksgiving and a holiday season filled with occasions to remember.

Yield: Serves 4 to 6

Hamptons Poached Pears

Posted on by Admin General

The leaves are ablaze in hues of red, yellow, and orange and there’s a nip in the air that calls for our favorite, coziest sweater. It’s fall, perhaps my favorite time of the year. Yet as I celebrate all the delightful bounty this gorgeous season has to offer, I can’t help but feel slightly melancholy. Fresh berries and the abundant variety of produce that summer offers are now just sweet memories. The only fruits in my garden that appear to be ripefully happy and truly inspiring are pears and apples. Thankfully, I adore both. 

What better way to celebrate fall’s splendor than to reach for tried and true recipes? The Chocolate Apple Cake recipe I shared in my last post is my family’s favorite. Hamptons Poached Pears are an easy but elegant approach to the other star of the season, and one that I’ve made for years.

The first time I tasted a poached pear was at the Moulin de Mougins, the famous restaurant in the south of France founded by Roger Vergé. I was lucky enough to enjoy the experience when Chef Vergé was still in the kitchen. 

Cooked fruits and compotes are among the simplest of French family treats to prepare. To poach any fruit, you simply cook it slowly, usually on the stovetop, covered in a hot liquid. Most times the liquid is simple sugar syrup infused with herbs and spices or vanilla beans. Equally popular, especially for pears, is to use a lovely red wine for the poaching liquid, as I’ve done here. 

Poaching is a great way to showcase flavorful fruits that don’t need elaborate preparation, so you want to start with excellent quality fruit for the best results. Bosc pears, with their spicy flavor and crisp flesh, are the best variety to use. As for the wine, I’ve seen both light bodied and full bodied red wines recommended for poaching; I used a Francis Coppola Merlot. You don’t have to choose an expensive wine, but do use one that you would be happy to drink—it is, after all, half the recipe. (Do not use cooking wine.)

In the Vergé kitchen I was taught to core the fruit from the bottom so that the stems stay intact and the pear looks whole on the plate. I sometimes choose this method—it makes a beautiful presentation that celebrates the natural beauty of the fruit’s shape. But I’ve also seen many guests splash red wine onto themselves as they tuck into their dessert and so I choose a different preparation for most of my dinner parties: the pears are poached whole, then cored and sliced with an apple cutter before serving.

At the Moulin de Mougins, poached pears were presented with small dollops of the freshest, sweetest crème fraîche I had ever tasted. In typical Vergé style, the flavors of the ripe pear and red wine took center stage and married perfectly with just the right amount of cool, sweet cream. Light, fresh, and truly elegant! 

For more formal dinners I make a homemade whipped cream and pipe it onto the plate. You could also use crème fraîche or Greek yogurt. Today, since I’m celebrating the sweet, natural flavor of tree-ripened pears from my garden, I’ve chosen a simple mint garnish. Mint is still growing wildly in my kitchen garden. Its fresh, sweet flavor complements the pears perfectly and it adds a fresh, dark-green contrast to the flower-shaped dessert plates I’m using. (The tartufo ice cream dessert was available for the children too young for the wine-infused pears.)

Yield: Serves 6 to 8

Chocolate Chip Apple Cake

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A Palm Beach neighbor often served a version of this cake, and generously passed her recipe along to a cook who assisted me when I was testing recipes for Hamptons Entertaining.   She made it in a variety of ways – changing up the nuts, and the type and size of the chocolates — and presented it to my family on many special occasions.  We enjoyed it so much we had to ask her to stop making it!  This is truly one of those devilish and delicous desserts that ‘s irresistible at any time of day or  night, be it breakfast with a cup of coffee, for dessert after a casual dinner, or in the evening alongside a cup of tea.

It’s also a cake that freezes surprisingly well, so I just couldn’t resist reviving it this time of year.  It’s the perfect recipe for using up the the incredible, delicious heap of apples in my garden and the bushels we’ve picked locally, and I can stack a few in the freezer for the upcoming holiday season.  It’s a treat that’s readyto serve to unexpected guests or to bring to any party as a hostess gift.  

Yield: Serves 10 to 12

Moscow Mule

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When a dear friend of mine announced he would celebrate his 55th birthday, his gorgeous wife immediately arranged to mark the occasion in a most memorable way, inspired by F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel The Great Gatsby. She created an unforgettable party just as Jay Gatsby would have: with music made for dancing, decadent food, and champagne that flowed all night long.  While the bubbly is essential for any Gatsby party, it was the vintage cocktails and guests’ costumes that really set the scene.

Gorgeous flappers in strappy sandals and synchronized swimmers entertained the guests and, as the Jazz Age dance music played in the background, it was easy to think you had stepped back in time. Ever since the most recent film adaptation was released, the Roaring Twenties have made a comeback in everything from fashion to design to event planning. After this birthday bash I was motivated to create a small vintage-inspired cocktail party of my own.

For more inspiration I turned to Palm Beach Entertaining, where the design team known as Badgley Mischka invited us in to a vintage Hollywood-themed party they were hosting.  Mark Badgley and James Mischka don’t need an excuse to celebrate; sometimes they host parties “just because.” Their affairs are as glittering and elaborate as the dresses they design. Their recipes were perfect for my cocktail party and included a cold tomato soup, gravlax, raw oysters with cocktail sauce and steak tartare.  My absolute favorite recipes are the vintage cocktails: the Side Car and Moscow Mule.  

I decided to serve the Moscow Mule at my gathering, poured into silver mugs. It was an unseasonably warm evening and the silver added a nice chill in the hand. Copper is the more traditional presentation for this drink, and will impart warmth and richness to any autumnal celebration.

My guests of honor loved the Moscow Mule! It is glamorous, easy to make, and all about the presentation.  Using high-quality vodka and a spicy ginger beer makes this classic taste as good as it looks.  

Raw Oysters served with chilled Vodka.
Steak Tartar
Fred Tanne, the birthday boy who inspired my gathering
Michael Lawrence presents the birthday cake
Laura Moore and Fred Tanne greeting guests
JoAnna Myers, Annie Falk, Michael Falk & Stephen E. Myers
The birthday boy with his synchronized swimmers

Yield: Makes 1 cocktail

Watermelon Lemonade

Posted on by Admin General

Over the winter, on an especially hot and steamy Florida morning, I visited one of my favorite farmer’s markets in Fort Lauderdale in search of the perfect watermelon; big, ripe and juicy.  My daughter’s lacrosse practice had ended early, it was just too hot to be on the field, and the thought of refreshing watermelon was enough to entice her to join me.  The plan was to spend the day indoors, where it was much cooler, testing no-cook recipes for my book, Hamptons Entertaining.

The air was thick with the fragrance of ripe fruit and tart lemons and luscious strawberries were piled high. Inspired, we decided it would be great fun to make lemonade – the perfect refreshment for a party she would be hosting the next day.  As we gathered our ingredients I shared memories of picking watermelons with my father.  It was a time of dreamy innocence, when his stories evoked images of plump cherubs feasting on hunks of juicy watermelon as they lounged on puffy pink-stained clouds. 

Soon we found two large, round melons, no flat sides or blemishes and superbly ripe with the promise of sweetness.  Under the weight of our bounty, we staggered out of the market, giggling and bumping into one another with our prize picks. The moment we bit into the first chuck of fleshy melon we knew we had chosen well.

At the party, the watermelon lemonade went fast!  As guests enjoyed themselves, I took my first sip.  It was so wonderful; this divinely plump, refreshing fruit grounded me in the present moment – A most delicious place where memories are made. 

Yield: Makes 25 to 30 servings 

Bring Your Dinner Party to the Next Level

Posted on by Admin General

It’s the little things that count; the smallest details can make a world of difference. Presentation can truly elevate the everyday. My friend Noreen Roth added handmade, crochet doilies to her place settings. The doilies were unique treasures brought back from a visit to Hungry, which prompted delightful conversation.

Taking your party up a notch – five quick tips:

  1. Plan your guest list carefully. Focus on seating arrangements. Aim for a crowd that will get along and interject new friends others may not know.
  2. Greet your guests with a signature cocktail.
  3. Serve a healthful dinner, with the exception of a decadent dessert. Guests are more likely to indulge and guiltlessly enjoy the sweet ending.
  4. Use recipes you trust and know are crowd pleasers. Good quality, simple foods are best. Try to avoid recipes that are overly complicated.
  5. Make it original. When designing your table add a personal touch by using items around your house or, as Noreen did, treasures from a recent trip. Objects that have stories behind them are great conversation starters.

It’s easy to get caught up in the magnitude of some parties so try not to over think it!  Everyone is there to have a good time. You should too!