A Botanical Baby Shower

It was a real treat to collaborate with so many talented women who make so many beautiful thing and to combine our strengths to make an extra special Baby Shower for the lovely Stephanie Schur, owner of the incredible flower shop Botany.  Tastemaker Jenni Kayne shot the party for her blog and gathered all of the details, from florals to tabletop to recipes and more, and you should def check them all out on Rip Plus Tan!  It's such a joke that I think I know so many people when really I just admire their work and charming lives via Instagram (follow me!!).  Pathetic!  This party was a great chance to put voices to the faces and see their work up close.   Stephanie has a really pretty, soft and natural sense of style, which set the tone for the day.  The florals from Botany were beyond, lush with dahlias and queen anne's lace (a personal favorite).  My menu was inspired by the end of summer and the fact that Stephanie's a vegetarian.  Plus we both shared the fantasy of an over the top dessert display. Task accomplished.  I'm always excited when I get the chance to work with the amazing team at Casa de Perrin because their array of pretty table top things really makes the table soar - they have that perfect eye.  And photographs of Simone Le Blanc's custom gift giving business are always intriguing but the thoughtful quilting activity she created for Stephanie's shower truly blew me away (details on Rip Plus Tan!!).  So luxurious.  Yet so authentic.  I love celebrations and this was the perfect occasion for a good one - an especially pretty one.

The Menu

Sips

farmers market bellini bar

peach, pluot, blackberry, strawberry & fig

pimm's cup

pimm's no. 1, cucumber, strawberry, ginger, lemon

moroccan mint iced tea

cherry lemonade

Snacks

fresh corn shortcakes with creme fraiche & chives

wild mushroom, ricotta & thyme flatbread

To Start

chilled corn soup with avocado creme

pesto, artichoke & burrata tartine

curried egg salad with roast tomato tartine

To Share

stone fruit, arugula & marcona almond salad with sherry vinaigrette

nicoise sale with haricots verts, cherry tomatoes, fingerling potatoes, capers & olives

farro salad with toasted hazelnuts, kale, pecorino & lemon

grilled vegetable platter with eggplant, zucchini, summer squash & red peppers

Sweet

raspberry pistachio eton mess

strawberry shortcakes with buttermilk biscuits & sweetened cream

lavender shortbread

cherry almond crumb bars

chocolate chip cookies with sea salt

meyer lemon olive oil cake

old fashioned chocolate cake

naked layer cake with almond buttercream, cherries & toasted almonds

A Floral Birthday Dinner

A great party has a high impact moment.  For this intimate birthday dinner, the amazing Maurice of Bloom and Plume created said moment with a colorful hanging garden.  A true artist, Maurice is so fun to work with because he always brings a creative, unique perspective to the visual story of the party.  Since the flowers and bistro lights created such a festive atmosphere, I aimed to match that energy with a playful dinner menu.  Guests started with Greg's delicious cocktails (the grilled peach old-fashioned is a new favorite) and yummy snacks such as b.l.t. filled cherry tomatoes.  After a summery salad, we served some crowd favorites: buttermilk fried chicken with creamed corn, wilted greens, tomatoes and french fries (the best!).  A great night, made special by a series of thoughtful toasts to the birthday girl, was one I was happy to be a part of.

The Menu

Sips

cucumber mint gimlet

ginger margarita

summer old-fashioned

Snacks

b.l.t. stuffed cherry tomatoes

dungeness crab with stoneground mustard on little gems

To Start

market lettuces, speck, grilled peaches, burrata, marcona almonds & basil vinaigrette

To Share

buttermilk fried chicken 

creamed corn

wilted kale with chili & garlic

heirloom tomatoes with sea salt

french fries

Sweet

dark chocolate pots de creme

confetti birthday cake

B.L.T.'s & Games

I love a game.  If you've seen the movie Anniversary Party you are familiar with the type of person who has a tendency to get a little too intense during a game.  A bit overly competitive.  I may be that type of person.  But I'm working on it (otherwise Greg would refuse to ever play with me!).  So, I love games and I also love B.L.T.'s (a perfect food): hence, a B.L.T. & Games dinner party.  My friend Jenni Kayne, who is doing an entertaining series featuring fellow entertainers, shot the dinner for her blog Rip Plus Tan; all of the recipe & details can be found there.   It was a really simple night inspired by tomatoes and the guests (namely my friend Molly who is an enthusiast, like myself, and her enthusiasm for things like homemade pickles and vinegary drinks makes me happy to make them!).  I love the shrub based cocktails at Baco Mercat and have been meaning to make them at home.  It turns out that if one mixes blackberries with sugar, lets them macerate for a couple of days and adds vinegar, they have a very delicious base for a cocktail (recipe on Rip Plus Tan!).  Cocktails led to a family style dinner which led to the main event: the game.  On this particular night we played the latest crowd favorite Cards Against Humanity.  While controversial to some, it is def designed as a social game, perfect for a dinner party.  I was on my best behavior, if anything, it was Cass who owes everyone an apology.  For dessert, I highly recommend a bourbon spiked root beer float (I've been enjoying them all week!).  So as not to waste, guests took home the tomatoes from the centerpiece along with jars of homemade basil pesto in canvas farmers market totes.  Goodbye Summer - I'm so, so ready for Fall.

The Menu

Sips

blackberry thyme shrub cocktail

belgian beers

Snacks

homemade pickles

charred padron peppers & cherry tomatoes with aioli

To Share

b.l.t.'s with heirloom tomatoes, black forest bacon & basil mayonnaise 

arugula salad with grilled corn & shallot viniagrette

roast potato salad with celery & dill

honeydew & cantaloupe melon with macron almonds & mint

Sweet

bourbon spiked root beer floats

To Take

basil pesto, farmers market bags & tomatoes