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

Eric

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Creole Tomatoes

Thursday, August 5th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

When we travel, our souvenirs naturally include something regional to eat or drink. Our last trip to New Orleans, we picked up Cat Daddy Moonshine, Ryals Goat Roast and Creole Tomatoes. Lucky for us we drove, so it was much easier to carry these treasures home.

Now, I know what to do with the Moonshine, not sure how to fix the goat (any ideas out there?), and the Creole tomatoes just epitomize the essence of summer. Eric and I brought home about 6 of these Louisiana beauties, akin to heirloom tomatoes, and have been enjoying them in the yummiest BLT sandwiches you can possibly make.

Those Gorgeous Creoles - Photo Courtesy of Jason Perlow

Can you grow them where you are? Well, it’s a little late in the season, but you (and I) can always plan for next year. Here’s some info about them from Gary Ibsen’s Tomatofest website:
 

The Creole was developed by LSU around 1956. An heirloom developed in Louisiana for hot, humid climates. This variety has a very loyal following. Yields 3-inch, round, firm, red fruit with a lots of juice and delicious tomatoey flavors with good acidity.

 
All I know is that sounds like we could grow those here in the hot Georgia summers. I’ll be purchasing the seeds for next year and hope mine grow as big as they do in Bayou country.

So, if you are anywhere near Louisiana soon, pick up some Creoles. You will be tasting summer!

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to Justin Timberlake – Summer Love

Cochon – New Orleans

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

New Orleans is one of my all time favorite cities in the world. It’s French, it’s American, it’s wild, it’s beautiful.

Also, the food is some of the best you will ever taste.

Although I was there writing an article about The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans, and the article won’t run until October in Design Is Magazine, I still wanted to share some of our weekend there with you.

Friday night found us at Cochon, the city’s palace of pork. And what pork they have! Eric and I ordered most of the appetizers and set out to have ourselves a taste treat.

Let me share with you!

Cochon Is Open and Ready For You!

You Have Got To Join Us Inside!

The Kiki and DeeDee Supper Club

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

We go to a lot of events. Dinner parties we throw, cocktail parties feting fab friends, cookouts and birthday celebrations.

But last night was a first. Eric and I were hosted by not one, but four hostesses, at a dinner party in Decatur.

Let me explain.

Invited by my friend, Elizabeth, who I met through bestie Clint (you all know Clint, right?), to the home of her good friends, Allison and Joel. Oh, their home was dandy – a grand piano, fantastic art created by Joel himself, it was a very elegant setting. Allison even set their lovely table with collected silver and beautiful southern china. Add Victor, a most dapper Image Consultant (I have got to call him) and you have got yourself the recipe for a perfect night.

A Genteel Table Dressing

What Was The Evening’s Twist?

I’m On Television, Y’all!

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

A week or so ago, I received an email from friend Laura Scholz of Scholz Communications, with the news that Fox News Channel was looking for people who had been laid off but were making the best of it. I am the poster child for FunEmployment! So after exchanging emails with Elizabeth Prann of Fox News, a time and date was set for she and her camera man to come by for an interview.

Um, I’ve never been on tv before. What to do? Why, call up my sweetie Eddie Ross and ask for pointers, of course! Eddie had just enough words of wisdom to get me through the willies. Pile on the make up, be yourself. Can anyone really be themselves with a camera in their face? I could certainly try.

The big day came and I whipped up some blueberry cobbler for our guests first thing in the morning. Elizabeth and camera man Tom were right on time.

The Charming Elizabeth Prann and Me

Was There A Close Up? Come On In To See

John’s Special Birthday

Monday, July 12th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

This past weekend we were so happy to host a dinner party for my bestie, John. Conjured up by his sweetie, Danny, we planned and plotted to have 10 of his favorite friends gathered to fete our darling birthday boy.

For this occasion I decided to leave the table bare (I tend to forget how pretty it is…) and set it with silver chargers, white plates, white napkins nestled into silver napkin rings and a small arrangement of white and red roses. It was elegant without being fussy.

Simple Is Sometimes Best

Come On In For More Birthday Fun

July 4th Weekend-Part Two

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

On day one, after spending the afternoon on the Crush Pad with Doug, Sharon and Chef Dairen, we drove home to Atlanta where Eric had made dinner reservations at Abbatoir. It was a splendid affair, although no pictures. A couple needs to have some private time, after all.

But on Sunday, we made our favorite baked potato salad and headed over to Jay and Valerie’s house for their fabulous fried chicken, and Curtis’ world famous pulled pork and lots of other goodies. And of course, I brought my camera!

She's A Grand Old Flag, She's A High Flying Flag....

Join Me Inside For Some Tasty Treats!

Blogger’s Brunch at Park 75

Monday, May 24th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

This weekend I had the distinct honor of being invited to the first ever Blogger’s Brunch at Park 75, inside the incredibly glamorous Four Seasons Hotel, hosted by Marsha Middleton and Abby Moreland of M-Squared Public Relations.

Atlanta's Four Seasons Hotel

It has been quite awhile since I had last visited this famous hotel and I wasn’t sure what to expect. But what I found inside far surpassed my wildest expectations.

Come On In To Experience The Wonder

Fun Find Friday – St-Germain

Friday, May 21st, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

This week has been a flurry of parties and with the weekend approaching there seems to be no end in sight. Two dinners with Jeff at our house, Shameeka’s fabulous reception at the Mansion on Peachtree, dinner with my Love at WASABi after the reception, tapas at Clint’s followed by dinner at Carrie and Steven’s loft (more on that next week), tonight a dinner party at the home of neighbor and pastry chef Dave and his wife, Sue, tomorrow the exciting Blogger’s Brunch at The Four Season’s Park 75, then a graduation celebration with my favorite former boss and his precious family and on to Leila’s birthday party on Saturday night.

Whew. Sometimes, a girl is in need of a swanky cocktail just to slow down and reflect a bit.

Is that girl (or guy) you? Do you need a break, my Sweetie? Have I got the cocktail for you. Made with St-Germain.


The Rare and Beautiful Elderflower

But enough with the history, let’s talk cocktails.  You can surely sip St-Germain over a few slivers of ice as an aperitif, but most of the times I have had it in a cocktail, it has been paired with gin.  So yesterday I drove to Green’s and picked up a bottle of St-Germain and a bottle of Bombay Sapphire Gin and got ready to mix.

Oops! I left the house without any recipes for cocktails, so how was I expected to mix up a drink with no ingredients?  See? I have been busy this week!

But the distinguished crafters of St-Germain are kind enough to include a few recipes in the tiny book that comes attached to the sexy, belle epoque, bottle. Funny, the original St-Germain Cocktail doesn’t even mention gin.

The St-Germain Cocktail

2 shots Champagne or Dry White Wine (preferably Sauvignon Blanc)
1.5 shots St-Germain
2 shots Sparkling Water or Club Soda

Stir ingredients in a tall ice-filled Collins glass, mixing completely. Garnish with lemon twist. Feel fancy-schmancy like the French.

For those of you wanting to try a gin based cocktail made with St-Germain, here’s a doozy from Robert Hess at the Chanticleer Society (this is especially for you, Chioke!)

Clipper Ship

2 ounce gin
1 ounce St-Germain
1/2 ounce lime juice
1 dash absinthe
Garnish: Lime twist
Shake with ice, strain into an ice-filled Old Fashioned glass. Feel tipsy. Smile a lot. Have Jeeves drive you home.

Happy Friday! Enjoy your weekend!
xoxo, Patti

Remembering Citrus High School

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

You know what warms my heart?  By now, I’m sure you know that it’s Eric and my crazy dogs. But my friends come right after that. And tantamount to that is getting to see old friends after a long absence. I always consider this a precious gift.  One of those precious gifts recently came in the form of seeing childhood friend, Maureen. Bestie John, Eric and I met up with Maureen at Park Tavern in Atlanta while she was visiting our city with Carly, the daughter of another of our classmates (honestly, where has the time gone?)

I picked Park Tavern for their view of Piedmont Park and the city. There really is no better view in town.

Our Beautiful Atlanta

Reminiscing Inside!

Fun Find Friday-Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker

Friday, May 14th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

What could be more fun to eat than ice cream? Nothing, that’s what! If you read me regularly, you know that ice cream has been a recurring theme of late. It’s getting hot here and naturally ice cream is a fun choice for guests.

But I had never made my own ice cream.  I had some homemade strawberry ice cream at Debbie Hood’s granny’s house after floating down Rainbow Springs when I was a kid and it changed my life. I never forgot how it tasted.

So why has it taken me so long to make my own?  Chalk it up to a busy lifestyle or just plain laziness, plus I don’t eat a lot of ice cream as an adult. Until now.

Say hello to my little friend:

Hello, Gorgeous!

More Ice Creamy Goodness Inside