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.
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
Good Morning Darlings!
I love when I can match my friends up for any particular reason – professional, personal or whatever. And a couple of weeks ago I was able to do just that with John and Clint. John called me with a request for Cartoon Network goodies for a child he had adopted for Christmas. Clint is a bigwig at the Cartoon Network. Voila!
For the hand off of treats, I thought I would put together a little pasta for everyone. After all, John & Danny were just returning from Florida after Thanksgiving and Clint had just made the trek back from their mountain cabin. The fact that they were both willing to stop by our place after all that driving warmed my heart. So, I in turn, thought I would warm their bellies.
Fab friend Tami H. and her wildly popular blog, Running With Tweezers, came to my rescue. She had just posted about a whole wheat past dish with poppy seeds. And the nice folks from Jovial Pasta had just sent me some of their fabulous Einkorn whole wheat pasta to sample, so this was kismet.
I made a few adjustments to Tami’s recipe (I didn’t have proscuitto, so I subbed bacon and I didn’t have green onions, so I sauteed some regular onion with the bacon to sweeten it) but the end result was insanely tasty. At first you are thinking, “hmmm, that’s unusual.” But by the end of the bowl, everyone is so happy they are ready to do it all again.
Thanks, Miss Tami. I now know what that jar of poppy seeds in my spice drawer is for. Yum.
Here’s the recipe straight from the Running With Tweezers blog. You have got to check it out.
Whole Wheat Spaghetti with Prosciutto, Poppy Seeds & Green Onions
serves 4 as a small main course
recipe adapted from a dish at SPQR in San Francisco
1 lb. whole wheat spaghetti or bucatini (I used Jovial Einkorn Whole Wheat Pasta)
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 pound good quality prosciutto
4 – 5 green onions, chopped on the bias
4 tablespoons poppy seeds
kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste
– Start a large pot of salted water on to bring to a boil. While water is coming up to temperature, roughly chop the prosciutto into bite-sized pieces and set aside. Have your green onions and poppy seeds measured out and close at hand, as well, to assemble the dish. When the pasta is cooked al dente, reserve about 1/3 cup of the cooking liquid and drain the pasta.
– In a large saute pan, add your chopped prosciutto and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add the butter and allow to melt. Once melted, add in the pasta and reserved cooking liquid. Toss thoroughly together and then add in the green onions and poppy seeds. Continue to toss together on medium-low heat for a minute or two to heat it all through together. At this point, grab a bite and taste for salt & pepper then adjust accordingly. Serve immediately.
This is the photo from Tami’s site. Mine was not as pretty. But it sure was good!
Photo Credit: Tami Hardeman
If you would like to learn more about Tami and how she makes everything look so gorgeous, you can check her out at this weekend’s Lavish! Unconference in Atlanta. Tami and all the other panelists have a plethora of fabulous things to share with you.
xoxo, Patti
Today blogging to Poppy Mercury – Badai Asmara
Good Morning Darlings!
You know I just love our friend Caren West of Caren West PR. She is into everything! This weekend’s fun tip is actually something you can plan for Monday, Dec. 6th, with your sweetie or a group of your besties. Just to step back from all the holiday madness. With Atlanta’s own Francine Reed and the fabulous Cafe Circa.
Lets get the scoop from Caren, shall we?
CAFÉ CIRCA PRESENTS ‘DINNER AND THE BLUES’ WITH SINGER FRANCINE REED
$20 Two-Course Dinner Special Paired with Live Performance
Monday Evenings from 7 to 10 p.m. on November 8, 22 & December 6, 20 and 27, 2010
Atlanta, Georgia (November 8, 2010) – Café Circa presents Dinner and the Blues, a series of unforgettable Monday evening performances in November and December featuring celebrated Atlanta vocalist Francine Reed. To make the experience even more delicious, Café Circa is offering a two-course dinner special – choice of an appetizer or a dessert and an entrée – on the nights Reed performs created by new executive chef Hopeton S. Hibbert for $20. Music lovers are also invited to relax at the bar and explore Café Circa’s innovative cocktail menu of seasonal signature offerings and timeless classics. Legendary blues singer Francine Reed is slated to perform on Monday evenings from 7 to 10 p.m. on November 8 and 22 and December 6, 20 and 27, 2010. For more information or to make a reservation, please visit www.cafecircaatl.com or call 404.477.0008.
WHAT: Dinner and the Blues
WITH: Legendary Blues Singer Francine Reed
WHERE: Café Circa
464 Edgewood Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30312
WHEN: Mondays November 8 and 22 & December 6, 20 and 27, 2010
7 to 10 p.m.
CONTACT: For more information or to make a reservation, please visit www.cafecircaatl.com or call 404.477.0008.
About Café Circa
Located in the Old Fourth Ward of Atlanta, Café Circa offers a casually sophisticated atmosphere that merges classic style and modern elements with scrumptious signature menu items and a premium bar offering classic and innovative cocktails, select spirits, and a full wine list for every taste. The culinary team led by executive chef Hopeton S. Hibbert prepares fresh, deliciously seasoned food with a Caribbean Latin twist including creative small plates, inspired entreés, and tempting desserts. Café Circa is open Monday through Sunday beginning at 5 p.m. Call (404) 477-0008 or visit www.cafecircaatl.com.
Go, have some incredible food (try the salted cod – really!), lovely libations and the sultry voice of Francine Reed. You can’t miss with this combination.
xoxo, Patti
Today blogging to Francine Reed – Wild Women Don’t Get The Blues
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!
Good Morning Darlings!
I am so excited to share what my friends at The Ritz-Carlton Atlanta are up to. It is so special and fabulous!
In fact, it’s two surprises in one – at Lumen, their fantasy lobby bar.
One – for all your football fans, Lumen has created two cocktails made specifically for the Auburn/South Carolina match up this weekend. So come on by Lumen (it’s right on Peachtree Street, of course…) and sample each of these libations and decide on a winner! Both cocktails are being offered for $12 each. After the recipes, I will show you the dazzling decor you will be enjoying as you sip your beverage.
WAR EAGLE WHAMMY
2 oz Crown Royal
Splash of Triple Sec
Pineapple Juice, Sour mix, Crushed Blue Berries
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into glass filled with crushed ice.
GAMECOCK GOTCHA
2 oz Southern Comfort
1 oz Amaretto Liqueur
Splash of pomegranate juice
Splash of orange juice
Shake all ingredients with ice and pour into a highball glass.
Yum, yum, yummy! And now, when you think it could not get any cooler, may I present to you, The Ice Bar at Lumen? Oh yes, my friends, a bar made entirely of ice, with an ice luge that the vodka is poured into and ends up in your martini glass! There are also special cocktails that are being whipped up just for you. Drinks like the Cranberry Martini and the Winter Solstice.
You have got to see this, so I am offering a sneak peak right here! Right now!
All of these gorgeous photos are straight from my friends at The Ritz-Carlton. You will find me getting chilly tonight there after I attend the Pop Up Shops in Midtown.
I hope to see you there, too.
xoxo, Patti
Today blogging to Foreigner – Cold As Ice
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!
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.
Good Morning Darlings!
Christmas is all about wishes. Sometimes fantastic wishes. So today, I thought I would bring you some fantasy items and offset them with similar, but less outrageous, alternatives.
For Him:
Luxury
Not quite sure what justifies this price tag....
Is the man in your life a shutterbug? How about the Neiman Marcus Limited Edition Leica M9 Camera for a mere $17,500.00? Neiman Marcus lets us press our nose to the glass to wish for these luxury gifts via their luxe website, but those with the Black Amex are able to have this piece of history delivered personally by a Leica photography expert with private instruction. But you must hurry – only 50 have been crafted.
Budget
You have got to see the last item inside…
Good Morning Darlings!
Now that Thanksgiving is over (full report next week..), thoughts turn to shopping for Christmas. Wouldn’t it be great if you could get all your shopping done in one spot and support local artists and craftsmen? Well, now you can. Next week, my great friends Randall and Patrick from the AFFPS will be participating in the Midtown Pop Up Shops Dec. 2-5, 2010. Their shop will be at 805 Peachtree Street. Take a look at the details.
Midtown “Pop Up Shops”
Indoor Artist Market
Dec. 2 – 5, 2010
Greetings!
The Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces and the Decatur Gallery have teamed up with the Midtown Alliance, Atlanta History Center, SCAD and others to host Atlanta’s first “pop up” shopping experience on Dec. 2 – 5, 2010.
30 local artists will “set up shop” at 805 Peachtree Street for a four day artist market and holiday shopping experience. The Artist Market is part of the first “Pop Up” shopping experience in Atlanta. Artists will occupy space in the 805 Peachtree building with original works for sale including paintings, pottery, photography, jewelry, woodworking and fiber art. The “Pop Up Shops” will include six blocks along the Midtown Mile of Peachtree Street from 10th to 6th Streets.
“Artists have a lot to offer for the holidays. We know that what we have are non-essentials, but finding a gift that’s directly from an artist has greater meaning,” says Patrick Dennis, owner of the Decatur Gallery and president of the Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces.
30 local artists and artisans will bring unique wares to 805 Peachtree for a four day artist market. Visitors will be treated to demonstrations by artists, live acoustic music and a complimentary beverage. Painters, potters, fiber artists, woodworkers, jewelers, even candle makers will show their holiday finest during the event.
WHEN
Dec. 2 – 5, 2010
HOURS
Thurs. – Sat.
10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sun.
11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
WHERE
805 Peachtree Street
COST
free
Music and complimentary beverages will be offered each evening from 6-8 p.m. Artist demonstrations daily.
Start a new holiday shopping tradition with ART.
Doesn’t that sound much better than the mall? Of course it does. See you there.
xoxo, Patti
Today blogging to Soulja Boy – Shopping Spree
