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

Luxury

...now browsing by category

 

Salad Nicoise

Thursday, January 6th, 2011

Good Morning Darlings!

Survey says – more recipes. And more budget conscious parties.

Let’s tackle more recipes today. And you know, it would be great for a light luncheon for the ladies, too. Two birds, one tuna.

Eric and I learned this at The Ritz-Carlton Cancun a couple of weeks ago when we traveled to Mexico for Christmas. Chef Rory Dunaway shared it with us and it was so good and the perfect foil for all that rich food you consumed over the holidays.

The tuna portion with vinaigrette and eggs

The veggie component

Nicoise Salad

Serves 4

4 Hardboiled Eggs, Quartered

1 Red Bell Pepper, Finely Julienned

3 Artichoke Hearts, Quartered

2 Tomatoes, Cut Into Eighths

1 Cucumber, Peeled and Sliced Into Rounds

12 Long Green Beans, Blanched & Sliced Thin

2 Ounces Black Olives

2 Stalks Celery, Sliced Thin

10 Fingerling Potatoes, Blanched and Cut in Half

Vinaigrette

3 Anchovies, Minced (note: don’t skip this, it makes the salad. I promise)

1/4 Cup of White Balsamic (note: substitute red, if necessary)

1 Large Garlic Clove, Minced

1 Tablespoon Parsley, Chopped

2 Tablespoons Basil, Chiffonade

1 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Salt & Pepper to taste

Seared Tuna

12 Ounces Yellow Fin Tuna

(note: unless you just caught it, all tuna will be found in the store frozen)

Arrange Veggies and Eggs prettily on a serving tray.

For vinaigrette: In a medium bowl combine anchovies and garlic and smash to a paste using the back of a spoon. Add the balsamic, parsley and basil and mix well to combine. Slowly drizzle oil stirring constantly until mixture is thick. Add salt and pepper to taste. Pour vinaigrette into serving boat so guests made add their own.

For Tuna: Pat tuna dry with paper towel, season well with salt and pepper. In a hot pan, pour a small amount of oil, carefully place tuna in pan and sear on all sides. It should be very rare. When cooled slightly, slice into 1/4 inch slices. Fan tuna slices along salad plate and serve.

Super easy! And super delish. This salad will make your guests think you are very swanky and the amount of veggies and small amount of tuna makes it very economical.

Chef Rory Dunaway of The Ritz-Carlton Cancun

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to The Little Mermaid Soundtrack – Under The Sea

Still Plenty of Time to Plan A Party!

Thursday, December 30th, 2010

Good Morning Darlings!

Sweet Stephanie from Deutsch Inc. clued me into some great tips from her friends over at Pat Glenn Productions on giving your best New Year’s Eve party ever. Trust me, even after years of giving my own parties, I can always learn something new and these handsome fellows from NYC have a few new tricks up their sleeves! Look at this gorgeous event they created – wouldn’t you just love to be a guest at this party?

Here’s some great tips from Event Gurus Pat James & Glenn Jacinto:

1. Know Your Space. Don’t over invite. There is nothing worse than having a space where your guests are crowded and can’t get a drink. (note: oops – I always overcrowd….)

2. Don’t Sweat It. You don’t want your house to feel stuffy and overheated. Turn down your heat well in advance of your guests’ arrival to ensure the temperature will be comfortable. It will also cut down on cost for your heating bill!

3. BYOB – Build Your Own Bar: You can create a bar by simply covering a six-foot table with a crisp, white floor length table cloth. Make sure to situate your bar in an accessible location so you don’t create a “traffic jam” in the corner of your living room.

4. Get Festive with Ice Cubes! Give your guests’ drinks a festive touch by freezing cherries or cranberries in your ice cubes! Any leaf from the mint family also freezes nicely.

5. Custom Cocktails: Don’t waste money on high-end champagnes. Instead create a signature cocktail for your event. It’s not only festive but will help monitor how much alcohol you’re serving.

6. Create a Coat Check: Clear out a hall closet or consider renting a coat rack, which are easy to assemble and can be placed in a spare room or hallway. It’s much nicer than having guests throw their coats on a bed with a sea of other jackets.

7. Kitschy Cocktail Napkins. Buy cocktail napkins with fun/seasonal sayings – they will becoming conversation pieces at your party.

8. Candle Couture. Instead of a large centerpiece at your dining table, decorate with pillar and votive candles. Votives come in virtually every color, so you can buy colors to match your other décor and line them down the center of the table to create a simple, clean warm ambiance.

9. Hello Espresso! Coffee, Espresso and Cappuccino Bar with whipped cream and shaved chocolate toppings are a special sweet treat for your guests. It’s also a great way to keep your guests awake until the New Years Eve countdown!

10. Forget Flowers: Save money by incorporating a common theme throughout your party and sprinkle the room with different objects that connect to the theme to tie it all together. Some great holiday touches are using pine cones, holly, mistle toe and wreaths to create an inexpensive yet elegant decor. Small personal touches really help make your guests feel the warmth of the season.

Or, you could just hire these two and they could turn your party into a once-in-a-lifetime event!

Party on, Dudes!

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to Shop Boyz – Party Like A Rock Star

Last Minute Gifts

Friday, December 24th, 2010

Good Morning Darlings!

Oops! One more day til Santa comes. Are you ready? How about a few tips?

Here’s a little stocking stuffer from my sweet friend Char Thian at The Ritz-Carlton New Orleans. A little giggle inducing, but wow – what a gift!

o Behind the Velvet Rope: Velvet Massage, Behind the Velvet Rope Shopping Experience at New Orleans’ oldest men’s clothier and Club Level Accommodations. $549 USD


o Crescent City Comeback: Voluntourism Activity or Donation, Spa Day and Club Level Accommodations. $1,100 USD


o Lundi Gras Ride of a Lifetime: Unforgettable ride of a lifetime for two couples in Harry Connick, Jr.’s annual Krewe of Orpheus parade the day before Mardi Gras. $59,500 USD


o Sportsman’s Paradise: Two guests will enjoy a limo ride to a helicopter and then enjoy a charter fishing excursion in the Gulf of Mexico. Chef Murphy will prepare your catch of the day (Louisiana seafood) at the Chef’s Table in the kitchen of M bistro. $21,000 USD

Okay, that might be a bit much, so how about a gift certificate to Lunacy Black Market, where Chef Paul Luna is treating everyone to $10 Pasta Sunday?

Chef Paul Luna has been hankering to offer risotto and/or pasta in an all-you-care-to-eat environment. The catch? It’s totally at his pace and his pleasure, and you lend yourselves to being our guests for the afternoon/evening. With Risotto and/or Pasta priced under $10 and select menu items at their “criminally low” levels you can leave Lunacy feeling like a stuffed goose without busting the bank!

For the foodies on your list – I would suggest a gift certificate from Cook’s Warehouse. They have everything, including classes.

And my favorite of the year – a subscription to Book Swim. I’m telling you, this will get you some serious love.

If you are just reading this and all done with your shopping, well, goodie for you. You have some time to read this hilarious article from Gawker.com

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to James Taylor – Mexico

The Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach

Wednesday, December 15th, 2010

Good Morning Darlings!

Arriving from Atlanta on flight 46, Air Tran’s 717 touched down in West Palm Beach in what seemed like minutes from take off to landing.

We stepped out of the airport and were greeted by a warm, steamy breeze, indicative of Florida summers.

As we exited the taxi at The Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach, we were greeted by even more warmth, this time of the human variety. Dustin and crew handled our bags and Lexi at the front desk checked us in and made us feel very welcome.

Steve, our tourist guide/bellman, gave us the low down on every aspect of the property before we ever reached our room. And the room – although standard, was anything but as we gazed at the Atlantic Ocean from our ample balcony. This private spot would continue to be our own respite from the world during our stay.

The exquisite lobby

Take a stroll on the beach with me?