Happy Monday to you all. I hope you had a fabulous weekend. On Saturday night we gave a dinner to thank some very special folks for being so good to us. Joining us were Spencer, Allison, LaToyin and Neil of Black Tie Barbecue, Laura Scholz, her husband, Tim and our new friends Teresa & Nicholas.

Menu

Grilled Shrimp w/cocktail sauce

Chips w/cheese dip

Grilled Ribeyes wrapped in bacon

Twice-baked stuffed Potatoes

Salad w/raisins, almonds and red onion

Garlic Bread

Pound Cake soaked in Lemoncello

Apple Pie

Sesame and Chocolate Cookies

Vanilla Ice Cream

Malbec, Chardonnay, Cava

Pellegrino

But first, you have to start with a pretty table. I dressed the table in all metalics to give it sparkle. Gold runners, candlesticks and napkins rings paired with silver chargers.

Before guests arrive. I ended up moving the candelabra because it was in the way of the a/c and blowing madly everywhere.

Candles lit and ready for guests

Teresa and Nicholas were the first to arrive. And bless them for taking a chance on two chatty folks they had met at Shaun’s just a week before. They are total delights and I knew everyone would love them. It’s always fun to invite a couple of people no one knows to mix it up a bit. Plus, Teresa had previously worked at The Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island so we had some friends in common and Nicholas is from England with that cool accent and hilarious sense of humor. They totally fit in.

LaToyin and Neil arrived with their bundle of joy, Nevada, who was passed around and cuddled by everyone before she decided she had had enough of the adults and fell fast asleep.

Laura and Tim were next, with Spencer and Allison close behind. Time to party.

The cava was popped, grilled shrimp was passed around and everyone dug into the cheese dip and chips.

Patti, Laura, Allison & LaToyin

Neil and Teresa Visit

Nicholas and Spencer get to know one another.

Oscar makes Laura feel at home.

Allison and LaToyin share a laugh.

Where’s the bubbly? Why, it’s on the bar.

Steaks rest while the cava continues to flow. Eric bartends.

Time to sit down to these:

Eric's special twice-baked stuffed potatoes. They were so good.

I’m starving. All I’ve had today is a plain, gluten-free waffle and a glass of pomegranite juice. I just forget to eat when getting ready for a party. Oh, if only everyday could be party day!

Five pounds of shrimp were grilled. Yum.

Um…I didn’t take any photos of us eating. Sometimes that just seems so intrusive. But take my word for it, it was one of the most lively groups we have ever had at our table. Tons of fun.

We ate and ate and then had dessert. It was all so delicious. And the food was good, too.

And on a nice Atlanta night, inevitably we end up on the front porch for after dinner drinks.

See all the phantom horseshoes? I'm sure that's good luck circling us all....

Teresa, Laura and Tim

The guys find something very funny....

You know, it always ends so quickly. I plan and plan, Eric and I spend the afternoon puttering around the kitchen together, in our little kitchen rhythm, our friends show up and illuminate our home and then you are left with the most fabulous memories.

Thanks for always allowing me to share them with you.

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to The White Stripes – We’re Going To Be Friends (if you have never heard this, I promise you will love it)

Have you ever met folks and just knew you all would be great friends? My new friend Victor is one of those folks. Victor is an image consultant and just the loveliest person. Our mutual friend Elizabeth introduced us and on Sunday we all met at Victor’s house for brunch. His house is one of those wonderful places you immediately feel at ease and could stay for hours.

And the food was delish, too!

Victor and me

I loved how Victor arranged the brunch. To start, there was coffee and a tray of luscious fruit set out on an ottoman in the living room so everyone could help themselves. So smart!

Coffee...and daisies!

Everything looked so pretty. We all grabbed a cup of java and hung about and visited.

Eric and Elizabeth share a laugh

And I scoped out this cozy corner of the room.

Couldn't you see yourself snuggling in with a good book?

All the furnishings have been reimagined by Victor. His home is filled with mid century antiques that he has had recovered in the most beautiful ways. His eye for a find is impeccable. My best friend as a child, Parri, had the same type of house. It was shabby chic, before anyone branded the name shabby chic. All the seating was impossibly comfy and old trunks were used as coffee tables. It was as close to a fairy tale house as I could picture as a child.

Victor’s house is a fairy tale house, too.

Welcome to Victor's fairy tale porch.

The food was just as glamorous. Salmon croquettes, fresh griddled corn cakes, spinach salad with strawberries & pecans and the yummiest peppered bacon were laid out before us along with mimosas. It was just glorious.

Love this tablecloth!

Our group - Allison, Joel, Elizabeth, Victor & Eric

And we ate. And ate. And ate some more. It was all so scrumptious and the conversation so scintillating. Victor is participating a fantastic event on October 3, called Get it Out of The Closet, which will benefit men who are trying to re-enter the workforce. There will be a fashion show and you can gain entrance by donating a suit (still in style, please) for a man or a woman. You can find all the details here. I will definitely be there, so come out and party with me!

After brunch, we couldn’t bring ourselves to leave. So we didn’t. And good thing, because Victor made dessert! Brownies topped with raspberries and raspberry sorbet. So tasty.

Can I make room for dessert? Maybe just a little one...

We all scarfed down the brownies as if we had not just eaten enough for a football team. But then we sat.

I claimed that fab chair in the corner...

and Elizabeth?

she took a nap on the Ostrich chaise....

Victor, you are the perfect host and we had the most divine time. Thank you!

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to Spin Doctors – Two Princes

Saturday night we attended our third(!!) Secret Supper with Black Tie Barbecue. I am of the opinion that what they do is unlike any secret supper operation in town. The suppers are always at a fresh, fabulous, fun location and the food is incredible. Just when I think they cannot top themselves, they do.

The morning of the supper I received a call from Spencer with the location. This time to be held at Theatrical Outfit, a small, professional theatre downtown. A theatre! Eric and I were both theatre geeks in high school and college, so this was a special treat.

The Ultra Chic Venue

As I entered the lobby to the theatre, I saw my friend Lynn, from Mama Says, and her fab friends, Betsy, Susan, Donna, Jay and her husband, Ken. It was so nice to see a familiar face and to get a chance to meet her fantastic friends. When Eric arrived (he was so sweet to drop me off before parking the car), we spotted our buddy Elizabeth (you met her here) and we all went in. The stage was our dining area! Isn’t that the best?

What We Saw When We Entered

Our Table - 12

I loved the playbills made especially for the night.

Black Tie Playbill

A luscious salad with peach slices and pecans started the meal. It was so yummy.

One Of The Tastiest Salads Ever

The courses are served family style, encouraging interaction between diners. You sit down with total strangers and leave with brand new friends.

Some Of Our New Friends

First course – shrimp and grits with andouille sausage. Incredible.

Shrimp And Grits

Spencer And LaToyin Consult Between Courses

I always love the part where all four owners come out and discuss the menu.

The Fab Four - Spencer, Allison, LaToyin and Neil

These four friends are making amazing strides in the secret supper formulas. Not only is their food awesome, each of them are awesome people as well. I feel so fortunate to call them my friends.

Between courses, we were treated to a reading from Theatrical Outfit’s upcoming season of Pulitzer prize winning plays. This particular reading was from A Confederacy of Dunces, the season opener and adapted by Tom Key. Tom has been a cornerstone of Atlanta theatre for as long as I can remember, so seeing him in this intimate setting was very special indeed.

A Special Reading From The Cast

Now on to the main course. Oh my goodness, it’s smothered chicken, collard greens, macaroni and cheese (the best!), succotash and Asian inspired pork chops. It was fantastic.

This Was So Good...

Make Room For Pork Chops!

Am I ever full. Wonderful wines provided by Two Friends Import Company, fabulous food. Wait…what…there’s dessert? Peach cobbler? Hmmm, okay, I can make room!

The recipe for peach cobbler was provided by LaToyin’s grandmother. Boy howdy, LaToyin’s grandmother sure can cook. It was cool, warm, spicy, delectable.

That Swoony Peach Cobbler

It was a perfect evening. I saw my friends Tim Long and Laura Scholz, Elizabeth Beasley, Mark and Leah Rox, the beautiful Claire Sands (you met Claire here) and had a chance to visit a bit with Allison before the house lights came up and it was time to mosey home.

Allison and Me

A million thanks to Spencer, Allison, Neil and LaToyin, as well as Theatrical Outfit for a wonderful evening.

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to Ethel Merman – There’s No Business Like Show Business

We go to a lot of events. Dinner parties we throw, cocktail parties feting fab friends, cookouts and birthday celebrations.

But last night was a first. Eric and I were hosted by not one, but four hostesses, at a dinner party in Decatur.

Let me explain.

Invited by my friend, Elizabeth, who I met through bestie Clint (you all know Clint, right?), to the home of her good friends, Allison and Joel. Oh, their home was dandy – a grand piano, fantastic art created by Joel himself, it was a very elegant setting. Allison even set their lovely table with collected silver and beautiful southern china. Add Victor, a most dapper Image Consultant (I have got to call him) and you have got yourself the recipe for a perfect night.

A Genteel Table Dressing

I especially loved that Allison labeled all her platters and serving dishes as to what was being served in which dish (take note!)

Shrimp Goes Here

A round of blueberry mojitos began the evening. So luscious. And as the ladies put the finishing touches on dinner, the rest of us sat on the back porch, getting to know one another and enjoying the fireflies flitting about.

Elizabeth Pops Out Of The Kitchen For Some Time With Victor

We discussed our first jobs, paper routes as children and the idyllic small towns Victor and I both grew up in.

And then, it was time to eat!

Elizabeth With The Main Course

And let me tell you, it was quite the feast. Granny Emma’s shrimp – full of butter & pepper (as all good southern grannies cook), butter beans, collards, grits, artichoke chow chow and fresh french bread to sop up all that butter from the shrimp. Delicious.

Allison's Got The Butter Beans

Joel Totes The Shrimp To The Table

A Close Up Of That Platter Of Scrumptious Shrimp

And we feasted. And feasted. And, okay, maybe one more serving of shrimp. Yum, yum, yum!

Allison and Elizabeth got up to clear the table and with all the lively conversation, we didn’t realize until some time that they had been gone a while.

But not to worry, they had gone out for more wine, and Kiki & DeeDee popped in to fill the hostessing duties. Kiki, a stewardess for Kudzu Air (they’re everywhere) and her equally blond compatriot, DeeDee, swept in and kept us entertained.

That's Kiki On The Left, DeeDee On The Right

Looking so 1975  with their matching Farrah Fawcett hairdos and polyester outfits, they kept us giggling. DeeDee even did a reading from the 1965 classic “Glamour’s Party Guide,” which states that “every good hostess should have at least one ashtray per party guest.” Don Draper would approve.

DeeDee Reads From The Hostess Bible, Circa 1965

DeeDee took time from her reading to serve us all a tasty blueberry cobbler with ice cream for dessert.

Nothing Artificial About Dessert!

And then, it was over. Poof.

How did you spend your Wednesday evening?

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to Elton John and Kiki Dee – Don’t Go Breaking My Heart