Good Morning, Darlings!
For our anniversary in early March, Eric and I elected to celebrate at Chef Liu’s – the same place we stopped before we sang karaoke for my birthday. For some reason that night, I didn’t snap any photos. But I remembered this time.
Chef Liu’s is on Buford Highway and oh so yummy. The space is pretty, but sparse, there is no alcohol, but I promise, you barely miss it. The food is that good.
Come on in to Chef Liu!
Good Morning, Darlings!
Miss Diane’s beau is a camera man for CNN. And to our surprise and delight, after he returned from covering the Haitian earthquake, he brought us some French MREs (Meals Ready To Eat). How he held on to those while traversing that tragedy is a mystery to me, but I am tickled that he did.
Last night Eric and I decided to break them out and give you all a report.
Here’s what our care package looked like when we received it from Jonathan:
Looks Like We Got the Kosher Meal. Sweet!
Good Morning, Darlings!
A little while back, sweet Tami from Running With Tweezers invited me to a p.r. luncheon given by Bakeshop, a fabulous little spot in midtown that you simply must try.
Upon entering, we saw tables laden with pastries for our enjoyment.
Luscious Fruit Tarts
Good Morning, Darlings!
Now, of course the above never happens at my parties, as I am such a sparkling hostess, but I have heard of it happening. Golly, the two sets of in-laws don’t have a thing in common, the people you wanted to set up to meet are both suddenly super shy or, God forbid, there is that one guest that just will not shut up.
Do I have the solution? You know I do! One day recently while posting the blog to Twitter (if you would like to follow me, I’m DinnerPartyP), I noticed a new follower, TableTopics. The name intrigued me and so I followed their links and found their uber-cool website with their even cooler product. Topics – for the dinner table! I love it! And, dang it, why didn’t I think of this first?
After perusing the website (party menus! music suggestions! my favorite things!), I emailed them to ask a few questions and order some TableTopics for myself. Their lovely representative, Marisa, was so very kind to respond to my questions.
Good Morning, Darlings!
Diving backwards a bit, this post is about last Friday night, when Eric and I met Crystal and Teague out at Young Augustine’s, a new pub in town.
Replacing The Standard is a new, fun bar with some really creative food. My only issue with the space is that there seems to be less seating. But it’s cool. Check out the pirate chandelier!
I Expect To See Johnny Depp Swing From This!
Good Morning, Darlings!
Today is my sweet Crystal’s birthday. And in honor of my adorable friend, I am going to post some of my favorite pics of her.
Crystal and I met in 2002, when Eric was working with Teague. The first day I met her I spied her vegetable bible and knew we were destined to be besties. When she married Teague, Eric became ordained so he could perform the ceremony. When we moved to our neighborhood, we were thrilled that they bought a house on the next street.
They have been our friends through thick and thin and it is such a pleasure to call you my little sister, Crystal. I love you!
The prettiest bride ever!
I cried when they said “I do” all the way through the Krispy Kreme wedding cake!
Good Morning, Darlings!
This past Saturday night was the last stop in my birthday celebration tour. And what a night it was! My darling bff, John, took to the kitchen and whipped up the most amazing meal ever. I’m serious. If we could have had some judges there, he would have won a James Beard Award. And there was also a fabulous gift for yours truly!
The Maestro at Work
Good Morning, Darlings!
I hope you all had a fabulous weekend, I know we did. And I will be back in a few with lots of pictures and foodie stories for you.
But in the meantime, I’d like to discuss how to use items in your house for a purpose other than originally intended. For instance, I bought this killer planter this fall at the Grant Park Yard Sale with Crystal for $5.00 and I just love, love, love it. But how can I use it for something other than plants? You know, I bet it would make a wonderful and exotic ice bucket. And it did. Take a look:
Isn't This Cool? The Bubbly Thinks So!
I just love how gothic and exotic it looks. For FIVE DOLLARS y’all!
The weather is finally getting nice – get out to those neighborhood yard sales and take a gander!
See you in a bit.
xoxo, Patti
Good Morning, Darlings!
Still celebrating my birthday, even though we are going into March. Yesterday Holly treated me to lunch and let me pick the spot. I picked Las Arepas de Julia on Lawrenceville Highway. On a trip to NYC long ago, Eric and I sampled some arepas from a street cart during a neighborhood festival. They were just some of the most delicious things we had ever eaten, so when I learned that someone was making them here in Atlanta, I figured it would absolutely worth the trip OTP (that’s Outside The Perimeter for those of you outside Atlanta, and thus, OTP).
We knew we had arrived when we spotted the bright, colorful sign outside:
We Have Arrived At Our Arepas Destination
Good Morning, Darlings!
My dear friend, John Channell, whom I have known forever, sent me this recipe from Miss Yoder of Inverness, Florida, our hometown.
Miss Yoder lived across the street from the little red school house I went to in the third grade. It was everything you would hope a school to be. Big, red brick, wooden floors, huge windows you could sit in.
But that little schoolhouse is gone now. But Miss Yoder’s Buttermilk Pie recipe remains. And I am going to share it with you.
And it’s crazy easy and so delicious you might be tempted to eat it all by yourself. But go ahead and share it with someone you love. They will feel so pampered.
Miss Yoder's Buttermilk Pie