Life in New York moves at the speed of light; everyone is constantly on the go. Last night I was doing a bit of last minute shopping in Whole Foods Bowery. It was such fun to stop for a moment, look around and see everyone hustling around getting together the ingredients for their Thanksgiving meals. A few looked lost, some you could tell were pros, but everyone looked happy. It was such a great feeling to take a second and look at my fellow New Yorkers all running around collecting items to prepare feasts for who knows – their family, friends, co-workers? It really kicked my holiday spirit into high gear. It made me thankful to live New York. People say that New York is not friendly, or warm – but, last night I saw all of this and more in the faces of the New Yorkers at Whole Foods.
I am thankful for so much this year: a wonderful husband, a loving family and amazing friends that I can always count on. I am also thankful for all that I have been able to experience in this fabulous city.
Wishing all of you a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
xx
Categories: In New York
Tagged: Thanksgiving, Whole Foods
Need a quick an easy way to glam up your Thanksgiving table? Try these glitter leaves. I saw these made for a benefit at the Plaza and loved them. Pictures below are from my own version used at a family dinner.
They are easy to make (or buy) and a simple, tasteful way to add a little sparkle to your table. You can even make them into place cards!
Categories: Its All In The Details
Tagged: crafts, entertaining, glitter, table decor, Thanksgiving
November 11, 2009 · 1 Comment
Most people either love or hate oysters. I happen to love them!
This past weekend I was down in North Carolina and learned a lot about oysters. We went to pick them up near Washington, North Carolina. It was basically a road side stop (didn’t look like much at all). We Brought them home steamed them, shucked them (not an easy process) and ate them with friends and family. They were served with crackers, butter and cocktail sauce. Here in Manhattan we are used to paying through the roof for Oysters on the half shell.
Since none of us have the space to deal with oysters at home….
Here are my picks for the best oysters in New York:
In Midtown: Grand Centeral Oyster Bar (www.oysterbarny.com)
In Brookyln: Marlow & Sons (www.marlowandsons.com)
In Soho: Lure (www.lurefishbar.com)
Let me know your favorite spots to get oysters! xx
Categories: In New York · Uncategorized
Tagged: entertaining, new york restaurants, North Carolina, oyster bars, oysters
One of the fun things about being an event planner is you get to meet a lot of people. I love to find out when someone you know has a whole life outside of how you know them. I recently found out that a colleague has a chocolate truffle company Purple Cow Truffles LLC. and I wanted to share it with you.
Katharine started the company in 2008, several years after graduating from Williams College, home of the purple cow. It emerged from her love for dessert making, combined with entrepreneurial interests. She has a chocolatier and packager, and she manages all marketing, finance, distribution, production, website design, logo design and packaging design.
I asked Katherine a few questions…
HRH: How did you get started and what gave you the courage to start your own company?
Katharine: I got started by doing a lot of research on the logistics of starting a small business, the food industry, and the chocolate truffle industry particularly. This research of course involved a lot of tasting and communicating with chocolatiers around the country.
I’m not sure what gave me the courage , I guess there was very little risk. I put up a small amount of my own money and regarded the initial months of business operation as an experiment. If I made money, I would invest more and grow the business. If I did not, I accepted that my initial investment was spent on a learning experience and would not be recouped. I was very cheap at first. For example, I was very opposed to paying a few thousand dollars to have someone build my website. SO I bought a book similar to “HTML Coding for Dummies”, learned the codes, and built it myself. I loved my first website because I was so proud of myself for creating it. After a year though, it looked very elementary to me, and I invested money in building one that was more professional. (However, I did design it all!)
HRH: Do you use the truffles to entertain? Do your friends/clients?
Katharine: I do, and I give them as gifts, though I absolutely keep my business and personal expenses separate. Most of my customers buy the truffles for entertainment and/or gifts. They have been given as birthday gifts, hostess gifts, holiday gifts, baby gifts, and they have been served at weddings, reunions, fundraisers, holiday parties, baby showers, bridal showers and dinner parties. I also partner up with some wine companies in NYC to do tastings. These are a lot of fun. People can have wine and truffles to their heart’s content, and they seem to like meeting the business owner and learning about how the business started.
Purple Cow Truffles are all made with a high quality chocolate that makes them naturally lower in sugar. They have all natural flavorings and no hydrogenated oils. Additionally, all truffles are made with pure pressed natural cocoa butter that promotes healthy skin and high cocoa antioxidants that contribute to a healthy lifestyle.
To learn more and order them for yourself, visit: www.purplecowtruffles.com
Categories: In New York
Tagged: chocolate, dessert, entertaining, small business, truffles
BRAISED SHORT RIBS: One of my favorite fall/winter comfort food dishes and it is almost impossible to screw up! So easy, I promise. It is a perfect way to “wow” your dinner guests!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 1/2 pounds short ribs, cut into individual ribs
- 2 tablespoons Creole seasoning (or anything with a kick, Cajun seasoning works too!)
- 1 cup chopped onions
- 1/2 cup chopped celery
- 1/2 cup chopped carrot
- 1 cup peeled, seeded/chopped fresh or canned tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons chopped garlic
- 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
- 4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 3 bay leaves
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 2 quarts beef broth
Directions
Heat oil in a large, heavy covered pot over high heat. Season ribs with seasoning, patting in well with hands. When pot is nearly smoking add ribs without and sear on all sides until they form a brown crust. Do this in batches, if necessary. When all ribs have browned, add onions, celery and carrot. Sauté for 1 minute to brown lightly. Stir in tomatoes, garlic, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, pepper and enough broth to cover ribs. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to gently simmering, cover and simmer until very tender (meat should have fallen off the bone), about 2 1/2 hours. When you remove the ribs, you will need to boil down the sauce to thicken.
This is a great dish to make in advance!
Categories: Recipes
Tagged: braised short ribs, cooking, easy meals, entertaining, Recipes
October 16, 2009 · 1 Comment
On a rainy New York morning this past week, I was invited to a breakfast event for the launch of “The Muse Collection“ for Halcyon Days designed by Charlotte Moss. Of course I made the early morning event (despite being out late the evening before for an after party of a film premiere). I adore Charlotte Moss. For those of you who don’t know her, she is a fabulous interior designer with a show room on the upper east side. She describes her design philosophy as “comfortable sophistication.” If you enjoy entertaining at home, I strongly suggest you flip through her books for inspiration. Everything she does is lovely.
Just in time to start thinking about holiday gifts (ok, maybe it’s a little bit early) I wanted to share these with you. They would also make fabulous bridemaids gifts. Something elegant, special and not as expensive as enamel gifts from Hermès or Asprey.
“The Muse Collection” pays homage to the unique styles and personalities of Audrey Hepburn, Elsie de Wolfe, Coco Chanel and Jackie Kennedy Onassis. As Charlotte describe them, “Women who continue to inspire – myself and others.” The collection is based on Paris, Hollywood, New York and Nantucket (something for everyone!). The idea of these women and all of these fabulous locations has inspired me to entertain in each style in my home. How about you?
You can purchase these items at Scully & Scully.
Happy Shopping! xx
Categories: Gift Guide
Tagged: bridesmaid gift, entertaining, holiday gift, interior design
Right now in NYC is what we refer to as “event season.” Every night there are dozens of events taking place all over the city. It is exhausting! If you are an event planner like me, or if you simply live and work in Manhattan, sometimes you just need to get away. During October, there is no better escape than a day of fresh air and apple picking. This year we headed up to Bishop Orchards in Guilford, CT (about and an hour and a half outside the city and highly recommended by my friend Meghan). As we roamed the orchards and gathered our apples (there were five varieties to choose from) I thought about all the delicious recipes I was going to tackle, all of course inspired by my favorite NYC restaurants caterers and family recipes. Below are a few images from my day in the orchards as well as some tasty fall recipes (for breakfast, lunch, dinner & dessert!) I highly recommend you try – add some seasonal fun to your next dinner party!
Breakfast: Apple Skillet Pancake
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup milk
2 eggs, lightly beaten
Pinch of nutmeg
8 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons confectioners sugar
Half a lemon (juice)
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, milk, eggs and nutmeg. Beat lightly. Leave the batter a little lumpy. Melt butter in a 12 inch skillet with heat proof handle. When very hot, pour in batter. Bake in oven 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Sprinkle with sugar and lemon juice.
* (my Grandmother’s recipe)
Lunch: Apple & Brie Sandwich
Ham
Gruyre Cheese
Apples (sliced very thinly)
French bread
Grill sandwich until cheese melts
Dinner: Apple & Sweet Potato Casserole
3 sweet potatoes (peeled)
2 apples (peeled)
4 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon cyan pepper
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch salt & pepper
Slice sweet potatoes and apples and place in a baking dish . Spread apples in dish. Combine all dry ingredients. Drizzle with melted butter. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until apples and sweet potatoes are softened and crispy on top.
Dessert: Classic Apple Crisp (my Mother’s recipe)
5 cups peeled, sliced apples
3/4 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 stick cold butter
Preheat over to 30 degrees. Grease a 1 1/2 quart baking dish. Spread apples in dish. Combine dry ingredients. Rub in butter with your hands until it becomes coarse crumbs. Spread on apples and bake for 30 minutes until brown. Serve with ice cream.
* (my Mother’s recipe)
Categories: Recipes
Tagged: apple picking, apples, entertaining, Fall Entertaining, family recipes, recipe
September 29, 2009 · 2 Comments
Perhaps the easiest way to add something special to a breakfast, lunch or dinner party is to serve gourmet butter. It takes less than 10 minutes to make, but creates something special on any table.
Pictured here I have 3 flavored butters (shown with a mini french baguette).
Here’s how to make them:
-
Mixed Herbs (thyme, rosemary, chives, or whatever other herbs you fancy). Perfect for a baked potato at dinner.
-
Garlic & Chives. Wonderful on a sandwich at lunch.
-
Pecan & Date. Delicious on your morning croissant.
Finely chop your ingredients and mix with softened butter. To serve you can use small ceramic dishes as pictured above (if you are in NYC Sur La Table and Pearl River Mart are great sources for these, otherwise CB2 has a selection which you can order online) OR roll the butter out, freeze (so it is hard) and slice.
Easy! xx
Categories: Its All In The Details
Tagged: easy entertaining, entertaining tips, flavored butter
One detail that always adds something chic to a dinner party is a customized menu. I am constantly working with calligraphers and printers on creating menus for events. Whether the event is a large benefit dinner or a private client dinner, a customized menu is a great idea that 