Good Morning, Darlings!
We are doing a little housekeeping here at Anatomy of a Dinner Party and it might take a couple of days.
Please bear with me as I make room for more adventures and lots more parties!
xoxo, Patti
Today blogging to Eminem – Cleanin’ Out My Closet
Good Morning, Darlings!
I hope you will allow me a hooky today to play with besties Vickie and Holly. We had our paella party last night and I will be back this week with all the details.
Here’s a photo to tide you over until tomorrow.
Eric, the paella chef.
Have a marvelous holiday!
xoxo, Patti
Today blogging to Madonna – Holiday
Good Morning, Darlings!
Last month, when Eric and I were in New Orleans, fabulous Chef Matt Murphy hosted us at the Chef’s Table at The Ritz-Carlton’s M Bistro. Oh, it was divine.
I can’t spill all the details yet, because the story is being picked up by a national online magazine, but I can tell you about one dish he spoiled us with. And how we tried to replicate it at home.
You know how it goes – you have something that drives you wild at a restaurant and you are sure you can make it at home. But it never quite seems the same, does it? That’s because they are trained chefs. They went to school for years to drive you wild at the restaurant.
But you can come close.
Come see what we did with this.
What the what?
Good Morning, Darlings!
I didn’t want you to think I had abandoned you, but I was up at 4 a.m. to appear on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta. Here’s a link to the page. The video is called “Start A Lemonade Stand, Part II”.
For some reason, I can’t get the video to load, but it could be my mac. Not sure.
But I have to be at a podcast at 1:30pm, so I think I need a nap.
I love you all and there are a ton of fun things to report this week. If you will just allow me this one hooky day….
xoxo, Patti
Good Morning, Darlings!
Happy Birthday to my little blog! She is one today! So exciting.
I bet you are dying to know what number one is. The most read post this year comes from the weekend I spent getting to know Eddie + Jaithan, and meeting the divine team from Larson-Juhl. I have to mention my friend Arlynn, first, as she is so sweet to always follow the blog and leave the nicest comments, there are also big hugs for Lynn and of course, Larson-Juhl’s wonderful CEO, the charming Steve McKenzie.
Before I link you to the number one post of the year, I hope you will indulge me by letting me thank some very special people who have been amazingly generous to me over the past year.
1. As always, is the love of my life, Eric, without whom there would be no blog. He planted the idea. I love you, Honey!
2. Erika Rich, who swept in like a fairy godmother and so generously offered to host the blog and tutored me on the fine points of blogging. You are my mentor.
3. Brooke McLay, the adorable, darling author of Conversations With A Cupcake/Cheeky Kitchen, who came up with a banner so beautiful that I just sat at the computer and wept when I saw it. And then just gifted me with it.
All the amazing folks I have been so blessed to meet this year – Laura Scholz, who is determined to make me famous; Tami Hardeman, who invited me to some of the most fun events ever and introduced me to Sandra Ryder, who, in turn opened the door for my column about The Ritz-Carlton hotels for Design Is. Walt Ray, the Editor-In-Chief of Design Is, who told everyone I was the new Lifestyle Editor before I even knew. Shameeka Shy Ayers, Queen of All Media, for just being fabulous and for introducing me to Eddie + Jaithan, who I love so dearly. Spencer, Allison, LaToyin and Neil from Black Tie BBQ, who have become dear friends to us!
Then there are the besties – Bless their hearts for allowing me to photograph every morsel of food before it went into their mouths. Clint, Matt, Lisa, Crystal & Teague, Holly, John, Danny, Vickie, Diane, Chioke, Taruan, Curtis, Jay, Valerie, Denise & Rick. There would be no blog without you. You are the stars here and I love you!!! Thank you for putting up with me and my incessant picture taking!
I leave you with the number one post of the year – The Larson-Juhl Experience. And because it’s my blog and I can do what I want, some of my favorite photos from the last 12 months.
Clint & Me. Christmas 2009
Crystal & Teague. Christmas 2009
Danny, Taruan, Chioke, John and Me. Christmas Party 2009.
Popeyes Chicken and Wine Tasting. 2009.
Halloween 2009. End of the night....lol
Gay Pride 2009
Tina, Allison and Me. Cinco De Mayo 2010
Tami and Me. Bloggers Bake Sale 2010
Holly and Me. Thanksgiving 2009
Miss Sylvia, Clint, Eric and Me. St. Patty's Day 2010
Eric, Me. Taruan, Chioke and Holly. Sugar Coma 2010
Vickie. Easter 2010
Taruan, Jay, Valerie & Jill. Wine Tasting/Val's Birthday 2010
Jay and Valerie. Val's Graduation 2010
xoxo, Patti
Today blogging to Andrew Gold – Thank You For Being A Friend
Good Morning, Darlings!
Most read post, number two is The Ritz-Carlton Hotels of The Southeast. To be perfectly honest, this might be my personal favorite. It opened the door for me to write travel articles on the world’s premiere hotels and it has been a thrill so far. Last year, when Tami Hardeman took me to Lumen at The Ritz-Carlton Atlanta and introduced me to Sandra Ryder, I had no idea I would be reporting on some of the planet’s most fabled resort properties. It’s like winning the golden ticket.
And I will never grow tired of entering any lobby at The Ritz-Carlton. Here’s where it all began for me.
As a special treat, I am going to attach a few behind the scenes photos from my first three Ritz-Carlton visits. The full articles will appear each month in Design Is, starting on August 27th.
My Sweetie Enjoying An Afternoon At The Lodge
In The Courtyard at The Ritz-Carlton New Orleans
One Gorgeous Table Setting In New Orleans
It's Me! Sampling the wines during the chef's tasting menu at Salt - Amelia Island.
Me, with new friends Isabelle and Adrienne, in Amelia Island
Thanks to Tami and Sandra. And now to Valerie and Lisa at the Lodge, Char and Kris in New Orleans, and my friend Joe in Amelia Island. You all are stupendous. Meeting each of you has been a total delight. And next month it’s off to Palm Beach to cavort with my friends Christine and Donald. Can’t wait!
xoxo, Patti
Today blogging to Taco – Putting on The Ritz
Good Morning, Darlings!
This week’s Fun Find Friday comes to you via my sweet husband, Eric, who is always on the lookout for the cool stuff.
The Gamerator is pretty swell if you are a lover of video games. And beer. I have to admit, it would be loads of fun after everyone is finished with dinner. And since it has a keg built in – it’s interactive fun!
Here are the deets, peeps!
About Gamerator
A creation of The Custom Bar Guys, Inc. THE GAMERATOR strives to be the ultimate fixture in the world of home entertainment.
Each unit is pre-loaded with over 85 licensed classic arcade games. NOTE: Unit includes the original, licensed PC copies of all games listed. These are not emulators or knock-offs, they are the original games.
In addition, because of our commitment to making your Gamerator experience as enjoyable as possible, we will purchase a FREE one year subscription to GameTap’s Gold membership on your behalf, providing you with online access to over 1,000 more games! (Visit GameTap for a full list)
Other Gamerator features include …
* A refrigerated interior capable of holding a standard keg of domestic beer, as well as a 5lb. aluminum CO2 tank. (International keg taps are also available, please see our ordering page for pricing information.)* A 26 inch flat-panel HDTV
* Two conveniently-placed cup holders to house your beverage while playing
* All Gamerators now come standard with a trackball system in addition to the dual joystick setup. The trackball is currently not pictured, but it will now be included on ALL units.
In addition, the Gamerator can be fully customized to your particular needs. Virtually any video game system on the market (past or present) can be hooked up to the Gamerator … XBox 360, Wii, PS3, PS2, NES, Genesis, etc. NOTE: Most gaming systems require an adaptor (not included) to use the dual joystick system, though all can be played with original system controllers. (Adaptors can be purchased via a third-party such as www.x-arcade.com)
Also, the Gamerator runs Windows XP, so you’re free to add virtually any other PC game you’d like!
Gamerator Specs: 75″tall X 38″wide X 38″deep
Approximate Weight: 400 lbs
System: Refurbished desktop PC, Windows XP
Good Morning, Darlings!
Salvadore Dali. Just the mention of his name invokes images of melting clocks, mind bending artwork and that iconic mustache.
Being able to see that fabulous artwork in person is staggering.
Being able to experience it with 4,000 other art lovers, a DJ, models resembling something from a Guillermo del Toro film, was beyond staggering.
What a night.
The multimedia exhibit at Atlanta’s High Museum of Art opened to a capacity crowd this past Saturday night and the people watching was part of the show.
Media Banners
Good Morning, Darlings!
I have never wanted this blog to be anything more than my diaries of good times, great food and tipsy parties. I always felt if I tried to sell something, you might run the other way.
But I’m taking a leap of faith. I am partnering with Opensky to bring you the coolest things for your lifestyle. Your kitchen, your table, your parties. I promise never to preach or to push anything on you. Heck, I won’t even post about stuff I would never use myself.
Pinky swear.
In 10 days, I will open my very own Anatomy of a Dinner Party Store in conjunction with my buddies at Opensky. I have to tell you, a skeptic like me was terribly hard to convince. But after a swell phone conversation (who calls anyone anymore?) with the lovely Jonathan, my fears were allayed and I look forward to dishing on some cool stuff that will make your food a little more yummy, a little easier to cook and a lot lovelier to look at.
Jonathan, by the way, went to school in Atlanta. I like that. And he loves Fat Matt’s BBQ.
Dang, Now I'm Hungry For Ribs!
Stayed tuned, Darlings!
xoxo, Patti
Today blogging to Willie Nelson – Blue Skies
Good Morning, Darlings!
You would call Eddie Ross a designer on Bravo’s Top Design, the former Senior Style Editor for Martha Stewart Living, Decorating Editor for House Beautiful, Contributing Editor to Woman’s Day and wildly popular blogger.
I am lucky enough to call him my friend.
When I learned that Eddie and his ultra fabulous beau, Jaithan, were going to be in town in July, they were so kind to set aside some time in their incredibly busy schedules to join us for dinner.
Okay, now that they have agreed to dinner – where do I go from here? This was not to be a wienie cookout with s’mores (though there is nothing wrong with that!), but needed to be warm, inviting and sophisticated – like the two of them.
Warm – check
Inviting – check
Sophisticated – let me work on that