the hostess with the mostest hotel
The afternoon’s conversations drift from children to jobs and table to lounge chairs. Minted Arnold Palmers give way to Pete’s 22 Ice Cube Margaritas. And if you know my dad, as these girls most certainly do, when he says twenty-two ice cubes he means it. Guac and my food detective’s rendition of Salsa Attack Salsa are the evening’s preamble.
continue reading →
the hostess with the mostest hotel
Today marks the arrival of my college roommates. Not a typical fan of girls’ night out, and certainly not of its extended version (women being best served with a generous dose of men) this trio is an exceptional exception. My hubby was supposed to be away for business but changed his plans when he heard who was coming, and why not these are
continue reading →
the hostess with the mostest hotel
One of our house guests observes a gluten free diet. Being out of the gluten loop I decided to go to the source. The Mayo Clinic defines a gluten-free diet as one that excludes the protein gluten found in grains such as wheat, barley and rye. The prohibited list went on for three pages. I was pretty sure I didn’t have any Triticale or bulgar
continue reading →
the hostess with the mostest hotel
One of the wonderful things about having a vacation spot is that people you love want to come stay with you. The challenge is how to enjoy yourself with a houseful of house guests. Almost anyone can act like a short order cook and housekeeper but who wants to visit that. I’ve never played football but I like football movies. In every one
continue reading →
perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Time to sing the Italian praises of Marcella Hazan once again. Not only does she hold your hand though each intricate step of Italian prep, she walks you through the entire menu offering suitable sides for each dish. When you have lovingly basted and braised for half a day (as with ossobuco) the last thing you want are complicated accompaniments.
continue reading →
perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
With a momentary chill in the air and foodies on the calendar this might be the last possible weekend to serve up ossobuco. Big note- the following is not for the faint of heart. These braised veal shanks take most of the day to prepare. But while you will spend more hours in the kitchen then out the beauty of these tender cuts is that they can
continue reading →
ripped from the ... making it work for you
Dining in one of Suzanne Goin’s restaurants in LA is truly a treat. Her recipes on the other hand should come with a disclaimer. Pay close attention to the timeline. I adore her cookbook, Sunday Suppers at Lucques, and was excited to see one of her recipes in Bon Appetit’s RSVP section. When I see recipe from a place I’ve actually been a patron
continue reading →
the hostess with the mostest hotel
Just because your weekend is busy doesn’t mean you can’t serve up a delicious and healthy lunch at home. Flank steak salad is the prefect fast and fresh pick. Because the meat marinates hours before grilling and the sliced steak can be served chilled or at room temp the entire prep can be done entirely before hand. All you need to do is toss and
continue reading →
the hostess with the mostest hotel
My mom is quite the baker. Not sure how her grandmother nickname, Yum, originated but it must have had a thing or two to do with all the incredible sweets that came out of her kitchen. I on the other hand would never be confused with a baker. They are a different breed. Perhaps it’s because they are meticulous measurers where I am more of a
continue reading →
perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Nothing beats having a top chef on speed dial. Lucky for me mine is a die-hard Italian with a prowess for texting. When I’m in a Tuscan pinch I can always count on Paul Minnillo to lend me a virtual hand. For a small dinner party it can be fun to reach out of your comfort zone and take a culinary excursion to a different time zone. Tonight we’re
continue reading →
Page 36 of 42 pages ‹ First < 34 35 36 37 38 > Last ›
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!