what to bring
Some nights are sure to sparkle and last weekend my husband and I were fortunate to be included in such an evening. Our host and hostess had coolers of oysters shipped in and as these pearly beauties lay open in their newly shucked half shells flights of champagne were passed in a myriad of flutes. A truly special time where the company rivaled the
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food detective
Good friends invited us over for “game night”. I squashed my inner reluctance, being a party game novice, and said we’d love to. When my husband asked what were doing Friday night he was thrilled with where we were going but baulked at the evening’s scheduled activities. I tried to sound optimistic when he put down his foot, literally. I was a bit
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food detective
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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food detective
After an overnight overseas flight we landed in Stockholm, dropped our bags at the Grand Hotel and set off for a tour of the city. Three hours in our energy sank at the Vasamuseet just as the 375 year old war ship had after it tried to set off from its Stockholm port. Thankfully our guide steered us to a charming lunch spot, Ulla Winbladh, where I
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food detective
Ever wonder how they made that? Here’s a game I often play with myself. Break down the essential components of a memorable bite. Piece. By. Piece. Recently I was invited to a progressive dinner party where we were transported from house to house in the back of an enormous pickup truck. The dinner (and drinks) were off the chart. I can’t recall when
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
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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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
There is no better way to give your guests a warm welcome than with a hot canapé. No one needs to know that your toasty little treats have been stowed in your freezer for weeks. What’s better than a cheese puff? Here’s an easy twist on this classic hors d’oeuvre. The secret- toss out the typical toast rounds for premade phyllo dough cups.
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Having some fun friends over for Sunday supper. Just happens to be the day we set the clocks ahead an hour. Thought it would be entertaining to look back at some of my oldies but goodies that I haven’t made in a while. One of the benefits of having foodies over is that they immediately recalled these more than a decade old recipes, proving that
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Weeknight business dinners call for quick thinking and definite pre-prepping. The key is finding something impressive that won’t wreak havoc on your kitchen or midweek schedule. Duck confit is one of my all time favorites. Before we moved it was my go-to comfort food at Fire, our standing Friday night dinner reservation in Cleveland.
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
How to tackle a dinner party? Break it down. No better way to impress than to present something made with love and care. Here’s a secret- pull something lovingly homemade out of the deep freeze allowing you to entertain with ease. A perfect example- cheddar cheese tartlets. If you think of ski slopes these little gems would be blue diamonds.
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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!