Anatomy of a Dinner Party: a day in the life of a hospitalityaholic
 

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Fun Find Friday-CSN – Cool, Super, New!

Friday, December 17th, 2010

Good Morning Darlings!

Well, I’m not sure what CSN stands for, but they have everything! From leather messenger bags to large appliances and everything in between. And, they have been so kind to offer one of my adorable readers a $65 gift card to use as you wish. Merry Christmas!! Just leave a comment and I will pick a winner on Monday, so you don’t have too wait long.

Lets take a look at some of the goodies (one for you, one for me! and maybe one as a gift…or not, your choice).

I know it’s cold outside, but how about pretending it’s spring inside with this gorgeous robin egg’s blue pasta bowl by iitala Teema?

iittala TT016255 - Teema 8.25

iitala's Teema Pasta Bowl - $17.00

And to feel uber chic while sipping soup, hot chocolate or a late afternoon latte, how about this fabulous set of 6 Venice Soup Cups by Ten Strawberry Street?

Ten Strawberry Street Venice Soup Cup - V-17

Pretend you are Sophia Loren and look super glam. Set of 6, $38.94

Oh, I know you will love this next one. Again, from Ten Strawberry Street, these black and white striped cereal bowls will have you clamoring to eat the most important meal of the day. Love love love!

Ten Strawberry Street Ring Black 6" Cereal Bowl - RING-7BLK

Set of 6, $38.74. Um, Santa, are you listening?

And for those of you throwing a little ‘do at the homestead for New Year’s Eve, how about an electric fondue set? You don’t have to worry about the little candle going out and gooping up all your cheese. Or chocolate. I don’t judge. This one is from Cuisinart, so you know it’s going to be swell.

Cuisinart Electric Fondue Pot - CFO-3SS

Cuisinart Electric Fondue Set $54.95

Did you know that tradition dictates that if you drop something into the fondue you must kiss every guest of the opposite sex at the party or buy them the next round of drinks? Isn’t that a fun fact?

Okay, my sweeties, comment away. I can’t believe I’m giving this away and not keeping it for myself, but that’s how much I love you.

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to Mariah Carey – Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

Posted in atlanta, Christmas, cooking, entertaining, Fun Find Friday, Gifts, Giveaway | 11 Responses »
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Christmas Party 2010

Monday, December 13th, 2010

Good Morning Darlings!

I’m sitting at the kitchen table in my red flannel pajamas, watching dreamily as snow flurries outside the window like sprinkles of white glitter, still basking in the glow of Saturday night’s party.

If you were not here, I wish you could have been. Because, if I do say so myself, it was astounding. Truly. But I cannot take credit for it all. First, I must thank Holland, our balloon designer for turning our house into a twinkling wonderland of lights and ribbons and balloons.

How about a peek?

Join the party!

Posted in Appetizers, atlanta, Christmas, entertaining, Events, party | 8 Responses »
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Guest Post – Feast of the Seven Fishes

Wednesday, December 8th, 2010

Good Morning Darlings!

Today’s post comes from my friend, Chip Ivie, who told me of a supper club he belongs to. They recently got together to create a Feast of the Seven Fishes, which fascinated me. Chip was very sweet to write up and send me all the details. This sounds like the perfect way to involve all your friends in a special dinner.

Come on in and meet Chip

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Celebrating With Richard

Tuesday, December 7th, 2010

Good Morning Darlings!

I hope your holiday party calendar is full this season. Mine certainly is. Party, Party, Party! Last week Eric and I went to a party here. Truly giggle inducing. It’s not everyday you get invited to a $10 million dollar house just to party. It is an evening we will not forget.

Another party I will hold dear in my Christmas memories this year is Richard’s Christmas party last Friday night. It was so much fun! Yummy appetizers, delightful beverages and some of the coolest people. It was a swell time.

The perfect time for my red hat!

We exchanged stories, sang and filled up on tasty fare that my sweet friend Richard slaved over all day long.  Marvelous bruschetta, mini quiches and all sorts of treats.  There were friends I already knew (Patricia, Jay, Barry and Kathy), along with brand new friends, Ricardo, Michael, Jamie, Kris, Sonny, Alexis and Bria – all super fabulous.

Sharing a hug with Kathy and Barry.

Not only is Richard an insanely talented photographer and stylist, but an incredible host as well.  We had so much fun and were so tickled to be invited.

And aren’t friends the best gift of all? Priceless.

A very happy and stylish group of friends!

xoxo, Patti

Today, blogging to Dionne Warwick and Friends – That’s What Friends Are For

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Fun Find Friday-Christmas at Callanwolde

Friday, December 3rd, 2010

Good Morning Darlings!

Whew, this week has been a whirlwind of parties – and we have not even started the weekend. Last night found Eric and me at a palatial mansion in Buckhead where every real estate fantasy was brought to life and Tuesday night I was lucky enough to be Kerry Howard’s date for the Callanwolde Christmas preview party. Incredible.

My dear friend Kerry was chosen to design the dining room and oh, what an amazing job he did! No detail was overlooked. The room was bathed in lush blue and champagne colors, accented by a gorgeous large print by Artaissance and framed by our friends at Larson-Juhl. Two huge trees flank the end of dining room (one of which fell over during the night and Kerry had to redecorate all over again, with unflappable grace, I might add). The fabulous furnishings were supplied by The Foundry (formerly World of Rugs and also our party hosts from last night’s shindig), with lots of Kerry details and beautiful orchids. It is the house show stopper and the first room you notice when you enter the mansion.

The preview party was all about fun. And boy, did we have fun. The food was incredible (catered by Affairs to Remember), lots of lovely libations, a live band and dancing, an organist playing Christmas tunes and just the most lovely setting imaginable.

Photos!
Come on in!

Posted in atlanta, Christmas, Dessert, entertaining, Events, Fun Find Friday, party | 2 Responses »
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Transported to Morocco

Wednesday, December 1st, 2010

Good Morning Darlings!

Last week my sweet friend, Patricia Tinsley, who knows everybody, invited me to a tasting at Atlanta’s own Imperial Fez. Of course I jumped at the chance to visit the emporium of low seated booths draped in silk and filled with exotic belly dancers. I picked out an appropriate outfit (no shoes necessary, you take them off when you get there so you could show up with flip flops on and no one would notice), realized I was the first from our party to get there and was led to our gorgeous seating area.

Just like being in the movie Casablanca, without the long flight.

Enjoy an exotic evening with me!

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Thanksgiving 2010

Tuesday, November 30th, 2010

Good Morning Darlings!

We are finally recovered from Thanksgiving (I think). It was a wonderful time with fabulous friends and I bet you want to hear all about it. Lets do it!

Just between you and me, I had no intention of hosting Thanksgiving Dinner, but when bestie Diane said she was coming home, I knew that called for something special. We bought the turkey, planned a few dishes, invited a few friends, bought a case of bubbly. Then our incredible friends from Black Tie Barbecue told me they were holding a smoked turkey with my name on it, I decided to go ahead and roast the turkey we had at home and freeze the meat for the Christmas party nibble ingredients.

Do you remember the photo of those smoking turkeys? Unbelievable.


More thankful fun inside!

Posted in atlanta, Autumn, baking, cocktails, cooking, Dessert, dinner, dinner parties, entertaining, Entree, Hospitalityaholic, potatoes, Thanksgiving | 7 Responses »
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When Are Dinner Parties Fun Affairs?

Monday, November 22nd, 2010

Good Morning Darlings!

I am thrilled to welcome today’s guest blogger, reader Cindy Cullen, who has some very sage advice for your upcoming dinner parties. Cindy writes on the topic of culinary arts colleges and may be reached for further advice at CindyCullen84@gmail.com

Dinner parties are a mixed bag – some are absolute bores, some are so-so, and some just blow you out of this world with their fun quotient. And if you had to host one, you’d definitely want to be in the last category and wow your guests. So how do you go about making a dinner party a fun affair, especially if you’ve never thrown one before or worse, if your last attempt was a damp squib? Dinner parties are fun when:

They’re tailored to the guest list: The party has to be about what your guests would enjoy, not about what you want it to be. Choose a theme and entertainment based on your guest list – something formal for colleagues and co-workers, especially if superiors are present, an all-out fun affair with no protocol whatsoever when it’s a bunch of close friends, all of who love to let their hair down, or a toned down yet informal dinner when there are family members with children in tow. There’s no one-size fits all when it comes to dinner parties, so customize them to suit your guest list.

They have backup plans to prevent disasters: So your main course just went down the drain because your caterer failed to understand your instructions or because you’re not such a great cook. Your dinner party is still sure to be a success if you have acontingency plan for such situations, like an arrangement with a restaurant where you can order some decent food at short notice. The key to backup plans is that they must be executable quickly and with the minimum chance of a mishap.

They don’t take themselves too seriously: It may be formal, but it’s still a party. So don’t stand on ceremony or expect your guests to do so as well. If you’re a stickler for rules and frown at accidental spills and the wrong use of cutlery, your future dinner parties are not going to have a very long guest list. Dinner parties that don’t take themselves too seriously are the ones that are most fun.

They include all the guests in the merriment: The best dinner parties are those where all your guests enjoy themselves; so as host, it’s up to you to get people to socialize through activities that allow them to do so. If your dinner party is themed, choose one that is amenable to all your guests so that they all have fun. And if you see people feeling left out or remaining wallflowers, entice them to join the fun by being a good host.

Thanks, Cindy! This is advice we can all learn from.

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to Beauty and The Beast Soundtrack – Be Our Guest

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How Chefs Cope With Turkey Day

Sunday, November 21st, 2010

Good Morning Darlings!

The Buckhead Life folks are responsible for some of our city’s most famed restaurants. Their Head Chefs give us a little advice for dealing with the year’s most fretted-over dinner. Don’t fret, Darlings. Grab a beverage and see what our chef buddies have to say.

Daryl Gassmann – Chops Lobster Bar
“The best advice I could give to anyone about cooking Thanksgiving dinner is to ask for help! Don’t try to be Martha Stewart unless going all out is what you’ve been waiting for all year. Most guests love to bring a pie or a side dish. They enjoy it and Thanksgiving is one of those dinners that feels more special when everyone chips in.”

Charles Schwab – Buckhead Diner
“My best tip for Thanksgiving is to brine your turkey in a salt water solution (1 cup of Kosher salt to 1 gallon of water) for 1 hour per pound of turkey two days before cooking. Pull your turkey out of the brine the night before cooking and place it on an oven rack over a baking sheet. Place the unwrapped bird in the fridge and allow it to air dry. On the day of your meal, rub your turkey with butter, sage, and lemon and roast until it reaches 155 degrees internal temperature. No more dry bird.”

Doug Turbush – Bluepointe
“Get creative with your aromatics. Stuff the bird with a split head of garlic, thyme, parsley stems, onion, celery, carrot, ancho chilies & orange zest. This will not only flavor the bird, but give your gravy a little zing too. And, I couldn’t do without the perfect wine to accompany me as I work and the bird when I’m done.”

Piero Premoli – Pricci
“My favorite ingredient for the Thanksgiving Dinner is pumpkin and my favorite kitchen tool is my roasting pan. When pumpkin meets a roasting pan, with the help of fresh chili, aged pecorino cheese and olive oil, it’s magic! You won’t believe how good a vegetable can taste.”

See? Easy! I will be back with all sorts of tips through the week. I wouldn’t dream of letting you go it alone!

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to Dido – Thank You

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All Skate!

Saturday, November 20th, 2010

Good Morning Darlings!

Our good friend Caren West sent me this marvy press release on the opening of an ice skating rink in Piedmont Park, our city’s best place to play.

Let’s get all the details from Caren:

THE RINK AT PARK TAVERN HOSTS BREAKFAST WITH SANTA ON OPENING DAY

The Rink at Park Tavern, a new covered ice skating rink located in the heart of Midtown in Piedmont Park, will open to the public on Monday, November 22, 2010. To celebrate its arrival, Park Tavern is hosting a special Breakfast with Santa at The Rink from8 to 10:30 a.m. that morning. For $10 kids can enjoy sweets from Santa’s bakery, cereal and fruit juices. Parents can bring a camera, but there will also be a professional photographer available to snap pictures with Santa. Park Tavern’s new homemade hot chocolate and new frozen hot chocolate will be available for purchase. Parents will also be able to purchase bagels, coffee and gourmet Danishes. Breakfast with Santa does not include the cost of skating or skate rental. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.xorbia.com/tickets/therink/.

The Rink at Park Tavern will also host a second Breakfast with Santa for kids on Friday, November 26 from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Kids can also enjoy Frozen Hot Chocolate and Cookies with Santa on Tuesday, November 30 from 4 to 7:30 p.m.

ABOUT THE RINK AT PARK TAVERN

Located in the spacious Garden Tent in Park Tavern, The Rink will feature modern amenities for day and night skating including a brand new rink created with harvested rainwater that is 85 feet long and 40 feet wide. Skaters will stay warm under a beautiful heated tent with a state-of-the-art sound system; while observers can enjoy rink-side dining, homemade hot chocolate, specialty cocktails, house-brews, ½ price wine bottles every Wednesday, 1/2 off sushi nightly from 10 p.m. to midnight, holiday decorations, and much more. With original woodwork, Stone Mountain-granite walls, stack-stone fireplaces, granite bars, new leather furniture and a natural slate floor, Park Tavern’s lodge-like feel will only enhance the overall experience.

Accommodating approximately 200 skaters, The Rink at Park Tavern will be open for evening skating experiences daily beginning at 5 p.m. on Monday November, 22, 2010 through Monday, February 14, 2011 and will offer four sessions on weekends and when kids are out of school on holiday breaks at 9 a.m., 1 p.m., 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Each skating session is 3 ½ hours with ½ hour breaks to resurface the ice with harvested rainwater. At 9 p.m. each night, The Rink at Park Tavern will only be open to ages 21 and up.  The Rink is also available for private skating lessons, parties and even marriage proposals. Park Tavern will also host number of specialty events throughout the season. For the most up to date event calendar, specialty packages, and venue rental information, please visit www.parktavern.com.

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to Perry Como – It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

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