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A Little Blog Mash-Up & Some Ceviche For You

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!  Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Tonight will find Eric and me at the Black Tie BBQ Secret Supper – more photos and details on that tomorrow. But for today, I would love to do a little cross promotion. It would do my heart good to see you following me over at Design Is Magazine, since that will be my “official” gig from now on.  Let me know what you think and what you would like to see me write about. And be honest. Brutally honest. I can take it. But don’t think I will be leaving here – this is my home and I would never abandon my darlings.

Ok, enough of that.   How about a recipe for your Cinco de Mayo table tonight?  Don’t feel like cooking?  Is it getting oppresively hot where you are already (like here in Georgia?)  You need ceviche!  No cooking required.  You just throw it all together, chill it and gobble it down with tortilla chips. And look at this cool site that features nothing but ceviche recipes, even vegetarian! Ole’!

Glamorous Ceviche

Here’s my go-to recipe (borrowed from the nice folks at Ceviche Recipe). And if you have never tried octopus, here’s your opportunity. Trust me, it is so yummy when it is prepared correctly. And this is the correct way!

Go on, make it – don’t be scared. It’s super easy. Pinky swear.

xoxo, Patti

Serves 4

Ingredients:

7 ounces octopus, cooked
shrimp, tails blanched
7 ounces scallops, cooked
1 red onion, sliced very fine
1/2 red aji limo chile, minced
1/2 yellow aji limo chile, minced
16 key limes, juiced
salt
2 sweet potatoes, boiled (of the camote variety, if you can find them)
1 large fresh ear corn on the cob, cooked and cut into rounds (choclo variety, if you can find them)

Preparation:

Cut the octopus into bite-size pieces. Leave whole if using baby octopus.

Cut scallops into small pieces.

Mix seafood with onion in large bowl. Wash and drain thoroughly.

Season mixture with salt and aji limo chiles.

Toss preparation quickly in lime juice. Refresh with ice cubes, mixing well. Remove ice immediately before it has a chance to melt.

Serve on bed of lettuce with sweet potato (camote, if you can find it) and boiled corn rounds (choclo, if available).

Eric Makes Paella

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

This past Saturday, my angel of a husband tackled making paella for 7 of us. Armed with a recipe given to us by our dear Chioke (who coaxed it out of a chef in Barcelona!), Eric took to the kitchen like a man on a mission. And it was a mission – feed 7 hungry friends.

First up, get the oil in the pan hot:

Caution - Super Hot Oil!

For A Mini Vacay In Barcelona, Come On In

Come On Down To Cabbagetown Market

Monday, May 3rd, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

This weekend was packed with tons of fun. Saturday morning my bestie Lisa, reopened her Cabbagetown Market after a brief vacation. Lisa has a new partner, Mike, who is the ice cream guy! Mike is there making gallons of ice cream for your eating pleasure.

Mike and Lisa, Proprietors, Cabbagetown Market

More Cabbagetown Fun Inside

Fun Find Friday-Eddie Ross Vintage on Etsy

Friday, April 30th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

The weather is getting warmer and although I have been a bit on party-giving hiatus, I am ready to get back in the swing of things. Last night, I broke out my pink seersucker jacket (Ralph Lauren, found for a steal at the Goodwill), and took my new Editor-in-Chief at Design Is Magazine, Walt, to a panel discussion at SCAD Atlanta. The panel topic was From Magazine to Monitor — The Rise of the Blog, and although that was an important topic to us, as a new online magazine (debuting in September, but blogging about it until then), more importantly, Eddie Ross and Jaithan Kochar were 50% of the guest speakers, along with Rita Konig from the New York Times and Nick Olsen, who were both hilariously funny.

If you have been reading since the beginning of the year, you would understand my delight in seeing Eddie + Jaithan, the darlingest darlings on the planet. Eddie, in the past, has been the senior style editor for Martha Stewart, blogger extraordinaire and now, a contributing editor to Woman’s Day magazine. It was the greatest treat catching up with them, however brief. Some pics from last night:

A Most Lively Panel

More Friday Fun Inside – You Don’t Want To Miss This!

Time For The Derby!

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

As you may (or may not) know, this weekend is the Kentucky Derby.  But you don’t have to hightail it to Churchill Downs to get in on the fun. Just grab yourself a fancy hat (for the ladies) and a seersucker suit (for the gents) and throw yourself a soiree.

And, although not everyone enjoys placing a bet, if you do, you can go to the official Kentucky Derby site and bet online.

Everyone knows you cannot celebrate Derby Day without a proper mint julep and appropriate nibbles. Let me tell you how to make your party authentic.

Photo Courtesy of Epicurious.com

More Derby Day Fun Inside, C’mon y’all!

Tablescapes

Wednesday, April 28th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

Eric informed me that we are now at blog post 201! So exciting.

I thought I would celebrate by posting some of my favorite tablescapes designed by others. Enjoy!

For More Glamour, Click Here

Lunacy Black Market

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

Last week, Eric and I visited Lunacy Black Market, the newest venture by Chef Paul Luna.  If you are familiar with restaurant lore in Atlanta, you would know that Chef Luna is legendary.  His past places have included Luna Si and Loco Luna, and he is back in town after a decade long absence with a cause. I once had a friend that worked for him and Chef Luna’s passion in the kitchen often translated to wild tantrums.  Has he changed?

Of course, he has. It’s been a decade. He has a gorgeous wife and partner in Cynthia, from D.C.  What’s that you say, Chef? You are running for Mayor?

Still, passionate. Okay, and still a bit wild.

Uninspired Cuisine? Explain, Please

More Lunacy After The Fold

Clint’s Happy Birthday Funtime Dance Party

Monday, April 26th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

Oh, this weekend was a hoot. Starting with everybody’s favorite bestie, Clint, and his funtime dance birthday party (and yes, you CAN call it a party! yay!)  To know Clint is to love him and anyone who has ever met him would agree. So when his partner Matt decided to throw him a dance party at his loft, our only response was – “which dancing shoes to wear?”  I mean, it was jam packed full of fabulous people wishing Clint the best birthday ever, with some of the best music ever and some of the yummiest cake ever.

You have got to see the photos!

Say Hello To My Favorite Birthday Boy, Clint

More Monkey Boy Fun Inside

Fun Find Friday – Morelli’s Ice Cream

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

This week I sat down with the charming Donald Sargent, Owner of Morelli’s Ice Cream.  Now, if you live in Atlanta, you probably already know about Morelli’s. They are simply the best ice cream in town.  With flavors like Ginger Lavender, Sweet Potato Pie, Chocolate Wasabi and their killer Salted Caramel, Morelli’s stands alone.

Morelli's Offers 15 New Flavors Weekly!!

More Ice Creamy Goodness Inside!

Simple Supper

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

I know how busy we all get, but you still want to eat healthy fare.  This is a quick little dish that never disappoints. It would be great for company, too.  Happy Thursday!

Super Quick and Delicious!

Stir-Fried Shrimp with Bacon, Mint and Chiles
Adapted from Food and Wine

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
  • 1/4 pound thickly sliced bacon, cut crosswise 1/4 inch thick
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 serrano chiles
  • 1 1/2 pounds shelled and deveined large shrimp
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped mint

Directions

  1. In a large skillet, heat the vegetable oil.
  2. Add the bacon and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until most of the fat has been rendered.
  3. Spoon off all but 1 tablespoon of the fat from the skillet.
  4. Stir in the garlic and whole chiles and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  5. Add the shrimp, season with salt and pepper and cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until they are pink and curled, about 3 minutes.
  6. Add the wine and cook until nearly evaporated, about 1 minute.
  7. Stir in the mint, transfer to plates, garnish with more mint, and serve.
This is so simple! Try it and let me know what you think. I usually serve this over cous cous – yummy!
xoxo, Patti