perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Months ago we inquired if friends could come over for dinner. As we scrolled through our collective calendars weeks turned into months, we finally settled on Saturday May 5th. In February when I tapped the event into my iPhone who knew that our date harbored two minor holidays- Cinco de Mayo and the Kentucky Derby. When this potential conflict
continue reading →
perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Living in a smaller town has certain limitations; one is a wide selection of restaurants. Thankfully Dayton has a profusion of purveyors with top-notch butchers, fishmongers and an abundance of specialty food items. Making business entertaining at home a more than viable option. Such weeknight dinners need to have a minimum of muss and fuss.
continue reading →
perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Sometimes things just come together. The right people. The perfect meal. The planets. This past Saturday was one of those cosmically aligned nights. At twilight our guests arrived and with drinks in hand we ventured out to see the crescent moon forming a perfect triangle with Venus and Jupiter. Easy to enjoy this stellar company because all of the
continue reading →
perfecting the “done before they arrive” dinner party- a work in progress
Blue jeans, a roaring fire and just one other couple. Now that’s my kind of Friday night. After a flurry of business it’s great to be able to let down your hair and soak in your company. It’s also a perfect opportunity to do a test run on any key components for next week’s dinner for twelve.
continue reading →
perfecting the “done before they arrive” dinner party- a work in progress
Entertaining can be a bit like dating. One minute you’re happily adjusting to a short dry spell when suddenly you get hit with a deluge. The floodgates open here for the next eight days. Time to grab an umbrella and put the “done before they arrive” plan in high gear. This weekend we are invited to a dinner party at a bed and breakfast
continue reading →
what’s for dinner- cooking for two
The programmers for the Today show are a sly group. They purposely put a guilty pleasure hook to transfix their 7:30 AM viewers. Many a morning I’ve caught my cute hubby loitering in the kitchen catching the latest tidbit in the ongoing sagas of Charlie Sheen, Casey Anthony, Arnold Schwarzenegger…This morning the hook-du-jour was Michael Jackson’s
continue reading →
perfecting the “done before the arrive” dinner party- a work in progress
The other night we had some dear friends over for dinner that have some significant dietary restrictions. When I first surveyed the list Billy Preston’s “nothing from nothing” ran through my head. Then I spied this past Sunday’s New York Times Week in Review on the kitchen table. Mark Bittman’s lead article broke my abstraction
continue reading →
what’s for dinner- cooking for the fam
Maybe it’s because the Wolverines trounced the Fighting Irish in the last two minutes in the Big House or perhaps it’s the snap in the weather but lately I’ve had a hankering for chili. Nothing says fall (or winter) like a steamy, meaty bowl.
continue reading →
perfecting the done before they arrive dinner party- a work in progress
Many dinner guests ask if they can bring something. Don’t be shy- take them up on their kind offer. Consider your weak suit (or as I say to my consulting clients your “growth edge”). Personally I love when a guest brings dessert or an appetizer. With those bookends out of the way
continue reading →
perfecting the done before they arrive dinner party- a work in progress
Tomorrow night is essentially a soup and salad supper with a few embellishments. One of the best things about serving gazpacho is that it really should be made in advance. It needs about a day in the frig for all the flavors to properly meld. Thank goodness for Trader Joe’s. They have so many components that allow you to compose a beautiful dish
continue reading →
Page 5 of 6 pages ‹ First < 3 4 5 6 >
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!