first
Sometimes the table design comes first and sometimes – the menu. The chicken / egg question. In this case, I started with the feeling I wanted to create: Fun, fun, fun! I knew I wanted bright colors and playful flowers, nothing too dressy or even sophisticated. I started out rummaging around in my butler’s pantry […]
For the Sit-in-the-Kitchen Dinner with my friend Maria, I knew I would assemble an Antipasto Platter, but I wanted to make it extra special. I am fortunate to be able to buy gorgeous raw colossal wild shrimp at my neighborhood market. These shrimp are delicate with a slight sweetness. I could have just broiled them […]
Sometimes one or two pieces can inspire and set the tone for the entire party. In this case, the pieces were the table fabric and the vases. The vases were just something I fell in love with but had no idea when I would use them. I just had to have them. I found the […]
This is another one of my go-to appetizers for parties. The richness of a triple cream brie or a camembert combined with the sweet surprise of fig jam is always a hit. It’s perfect when you are having a large number of guests and want to have something already out while waiting for everyone’s arrival. […]
The inspiration for the table setting came from many different sources. The first piece I found was the beaded fuchsia sari. Saris are not completely beaded but I thought I could cut it apart and put it back together for the top of the table. It worked and you can see the result. For the […]
There is a lot to know about couscous. There are entire books written about couscous. Couscous plays such a major role in Moroccan cuisine that there is even a “couscoussier”, a two-tiered pot designated especially for this. Couscous is actually a tiny grain that is prepared by steaming several times. In between the steaming, the […]
If you’ve been following my blog and come to the parties, you’ve probably figured out that I like dishes. I’ve been acquiring them for years and I am always adding to my collection. One of my dear friends wanted help in building her dinnerware collection. I thought about where to begin and realized that I […]
I hope the photo of the table for the Mexican Fiesta inspires you to create your own unique table setting. I love to mix high and low — the same way I like to dress. So, the dinner plates were handmade by a little old man called Paci whom I met at his store in […]
I love the versatility of these tacos and the fact that I make the filling the morning of the party and keep it in a 200-degree oven or covered on the countertop until the party. Assembling the tacos is a great job to give to one of your guests. Be careful. I had a guest […]
I love the fresh taste and crunchy texture of this salad. It’s a great balance to the rest of the menu. It keeps several days, and since there is no oil it doesn’t get soggy. “Ras el hanout” translates into “head of the shop”. The idea is that this was a very special blend made […]
