Happy New Year's Brunch: Hair of the Dog

I've always wanted to throw a New Year's Day brunch, but sadly this year will not be my year (Greg has to work and I don't want to bartend without him!). However, I did throw a holiday brunch that featured an eggs benedict bar that would be a festive menu for the first day of 2012. Guests built their ideal egg sandwiches on either english muffins or potato pancakes, topped with honey baked ham, lox or spinach, and, of course, poached eggs. Hollandaise was the favored sauce though creme fraiche and chives are a nice option to pair with the lox! If poaching eggs seems intimidating, fry away or do a big batch of scrambled. I'm not a sweets for breakfast person but overnight baked french toast is easy and a perfect vehicle for warm maple syrup. If anyone asks if they can bring anything (bubbly, of course) get them to bring doughnuts...I can't think of a more delicious way to start 2012.

The Menu

sips. necessary

spicy bloody mary's

50/50 mimosas

splash of pomegranate, splash of orange, sparkling

brunch

eggs benedict bar

potato pancake or english muffin

honey baked ham, salmon gravlax or spinach florentine

poached eggs (or scrambled)

hollandaise or chive creme fraiche

spicy greens with winter's citrus & champagne vinaigrette

maple glazed bacon

persimmons, pomegranate seeds & mint

cranberry orange scones with jam & butter

sticky buns

chocolate doughnuts

(ideally, assorted doughnut holes!!)

Swedish Christmas

I may or may not have lost a year of my life this December, engaged fully and solely in the building and decorating of ginger bread houses. I'll admit it: I got obsessed. And it turns out, gingerbread houses can get pretty frustrating. They break often and despite how many glues I tried (8), frosting is always the best adhesive. I worried that my efforts would be deemed 'little kid'; why hadn't I waited for Amy to return from Chicago?!? But, when I laid the remaining five houses down the center of my table, and Courtney and I created rivers and paths between them with cinnamon bears and peppermint sticks, I felt redeemed. I couldn't imagine a more perfect backdrop for my Swedish Christmas dinner party. This menu was a fun one to create and delicious to eat. We started with individual fish and pickle plates and then enjoyed a family style feast of Swedish meatballs. And we played a game that people didn't seem annoyed to play!, guessing who wanted what from Santa. This is my very favorite time of year, and ginger bread houses will most certainly be a new tradition. Next year, I might just stick to one. Happy happy holidays & a merry merry Christmas to all...

The Menu

sips

the st. lucia

lingonberry, thyme simple syrup, house sour, guests' choice: bourbon, vodka or gin

snacks

martha stewart's cheese balls-three ways

hot spinach balls with spicy mustard dip

to start

fish & pickle plate

house pickled green beans, beets, carrots, onion & cauliflower

smoked trout, creme fraiche, caper berry

cold-smoked salmon, cornichon, lemon & dill

rye crisps & pumpernickel toast

to share

swedish meatballs with lingonberry jam

buttered egg noodles with dill

sweet & sour braised red cabbage

winter greens with pomegranate seeds & lemon vinaigrette

sweets

spiced egg nog

cookie platter: raspberry linzer, ginger snaps & gingerbread men sugar cookies

La Vie En Rose

My favorite gifts to receive are experiences: special dinners, trips or gift certificates for classes and spa treatments. They are also my favorite gifts to give (Greg just might be seeing Jay Z & Kanye @ Staples Center...). Instead of presents, I like to give my girlfriends a holiday dinner party. Why not go all-out girly with a French menu of decadent yet ladylike fare? It doesn't get more generous or festive than champagne and caviar. I also splurged on chocolates from three chocolatiers in Beverly Hills and we did a tasting...Madame Chocolate was the clear winner. I am grateful for all of my friends who helped make this past year the greatest and a festive meal is the perfect way to celebrate them. I mean, can anyone really top the gift of a champagne sorbet palate cleanser?

The Menu

sips

pink champagne

un

caviar with buckwheat blinis

acoutrements: chopped hard-boiled egg, capers, shallots, chives & creme fraiche

french pink radishes

pink peppercorn crusted goat cheese on endive spears

deux

fennel & kabocha squash with candied pepitas & creme fraiche

trois

slow-cooked salmon nicoise with blue lake green beans, roast beets, fingerling potatoes & mustard vinaigrette

quatre

triple creme brie, asian pear, cracker

cinq

champagne sorbet

the best for last

assorted truffles & chocolate covered strawberries