It seems that this weekend all my favorite food bloggers concentrated on desserts. Or maybe I noticed them more because I love desserts. Three particular recipes caught my eyes:

+ Jaden of Steamy Kitchen talked about the best Blueberry Scones with Lemon Curd she ever had. She renamed the curd Lemon Glaze. This recipe will create a scone that seems different from the scones we are used to. It is moist, rich, delicate. It sounds like an improvement of the dry scones that coffee shops too often served.

+ Lili of Pickelet and Pie proposes an Chocolate orange cake with orange blossom cream. She was looking to make a dessert for 30 persons. She adapted David Lebovitz’s Chocolate Idiot cake recipe to make her chocolate and orange cake that she topped with an orange blossom cream. As a chocolate lover, I would have a hard time resisting if you present me this plate.

+ We ate tonight for dessert a warm piece of green apple and blueberry pie. I feel less guilty when I eat a fruit pie. I would feel even less guilty with this open, single crust Nectarine Galette that I spotted on Smitten Kitchen. To save time, make two bathes of the dough and freeze half in a plastic bag. You can leave unbaked dough in the freezer for a few weeks before baking.

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Yellow is the hot color of summer 2009. Inviting this cheerful color to your party puts everyone in a festive mood. If you are planning to devise a yellow party theme, take a look at these:

+ serve lemon mint granita from the smittenkitchen.com

+ Big sunflowers make a bold statement. As you can see, they can look stylish. I like how they transformed vintage suitcases in a green garden where you plant seating cards – via Snippet & Ink

+ go green and wrap your gift in a Mustard Yellow “GIVE LUCK” reusable Fabric Gift Wrap from chewingthecud available on etsy. It is $10 each. She explained on her blog how to wrap a single box and more wrapping techniques with fabric.

+ Release your thirst with the Citrus Thyme Water by Sunday Suppers

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I am huge fan of Bea from La Tartine Gourmande. She always inspired me to cook. Plus, looking at her pictures is always a delight.

I wish to cook something tasty, healthy (meaning with vegetables) and fast to prepare tonight. I found what I will be making when I saw the appetizing Spaghetti with arugula and cherry tomatoes she did for the Boston Globe. If I was hosting an alfresco dinner with friends on the terrace, what do I would serve to complement the pasta main course? I would serve:

+ Spring green vegetables and whole soft-cooked eggs with a vanilla-flavored vinaigrette for appetizer
+ Orange-flavored Strawberry and Rhubarb Clafoutis for dessert

Add a little of wine and icea tea to conclude the meal.

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Seeing this old Coca-Cola cooler last week at Finnegan’s market brought back childhood memories.  My parents owned a lot on a small lake 45 minutes from my home. Every nice Sunday during the summer, my parents, friends and family members used to meet there. We crossed the lake by swimming, played games of horseshoe and sat at night at the fire pit. It was fun!

A visit at the flea market can be the occasion to design a party decor. Think about ho you can integrate old items in an unexpected way. Here, the stylist at Pottery Barn decorate a pole with vintage buoys. I remembered seeing a few vintage wood soda crates stacked in a corner of my father’s business when I was young. I wish he had kept them. These crates can be used to bring the dishes in and out of the house or to gather bottles and glasses next to your buffet. This look calls for dishtowel napkins.

Other items to look for our farm stand signs and seeds storage. Transform seed metal boxes into the vase for a centerpieces or to distribute the cutlery wrapped in cotton napkins.

SOURCING:
+ Found Soda Crate $15 USD
+ Dishtowel Stripe Napkins, Set of 6 on sale at $27 USD
+ Amish Farm Produce Roadside Stand Signs $65 USD
+ Seeds Metal Boxes – available at Comme on Aime in France

The vintage buoys are not anymore available online; maybe you may get lucky at a store near you but I would not count on it.

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Banner flags are a great way to add a festive touch. As I browsing Etsy, I could not resist and I bought two banners. Both patterns will look great on my terrace. I cannot wait to hang them over and host a party.

If you are curious, here is a view at my latest purchase. These items are made by Tricia of nestables on etsy:

+ Enchanted Forest Bunting Banner Flags (see top picture)

+ Aviary Banner Bunting Flags with Joel Dewberry Fabric

+ Reversible Tablerunner Flights of Fancy, which I think would look amazing for breakfast.

SOURCING:
+ Nestables on etsy

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Let’s revisit my favorite cocktails for summer besides the mojitos. I love Campari on a summer day. I often served Campari to my first friends because it is unexpected and simple to make.

I typically go for tall drink recipes. You save time this way and the alcohol level is typically lower.

A simple way to greet your friends before a BBQ is to prepare a pitcher Campari Orange.

• In a tall glass (juice glass) filled with ice cubes, pour 1 part Campari
• 3 parts of orange juice
• Garnish with an orange slice.

Campari Grapefruit is done the same way. The recipe is 1 part Campari for 3 parts of grapefruit juice. Also garnish with an orange slice.

Negroni Recipe Adaptations

When I do not mind something stronger, I sip a Negroni in an old-fashioned glass.

• Pour on the rocks,
• 1 part of gin, you can use Bombay Sapphire or Plymouth gin
• 1 part of Campari
• 1 part of sweet vermouth (red vermouth)
• Garnish with an orange slice.

If you opt for the Negroni as your signature drink, make sure you get some soda water next by to please everyone. In fact, I usually pour a tiny bit of soda water on my Negroni (not to be mistaken with an Americano, which has no gin). The tall Negroni is less bitter and more refreshing.

Even that may be too much bitter from some people. For them, you could substitute the Campari by a Punt e Mes, an Italian vermouth made by Fratelli Branca with a less bitter component. Use 1/3 gin, 1/3 Punt e Mess and 1/3 red vermouth.

Negroni Sbagliato is another more delicate Negroni version that is supposed to be popular in Italy. You make it with

• 1 part Campari
• 1 part red vermouth
• 1 part Spumante brut (or Pinot Chardonnay sparkling wine)
• Garnish with a slice of orange.

If you wish to create a more bitter version, replace the red vermouth by the Punt e Mes (1 part gin, 1 part Campari, 1 part Punt e Mess). Personally, I would not try that more intensely bitter version.

MORE:
+ 24 cocktail recipes made with Campari

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I saw that trick yesterday at the Fairmont San Francisco. I had to share it with you. It looks great on the cucumber water and the lemon water as shown here. But it would be even better for sangria, punch and any other summery cocktails.

The idea is that instead of putting the ice cubes directly in the drink, which will water down your drink on a hot day, you insert a tall square vase into a jar to separate the ice cubes from your beverage. A tall square vase is easy to find at your local florist shops.

Depending on the beverage, it may be appropriate to place an ice bucket with tongs next to the jar to fill the glasses with ice cubes before serving.

If you wish to make your own flavored water, check out my recipes:

+ Cucumber and Rosemary Water + Citrus and Apple Water
+ Spa cucumber water

Take a tasty cucumber, the fresher the better. Cucumber with smaller seeds delivers a more refined look.

September 26th, 2009 Update: Since this post, I learned that the manufacturer of these square canisters is Cal-Mil. Click here for more details.

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I am responding to my interior designer friend Jennifer Mitchell of Design Hole who spotlighted these French-made tabletop accessories having me in mind. She was looking for an excuse to throw a party.

This concept was developed by L’Atelier Modele. Every product from Lajolitable series would add a festive touch to your table on any occasions this summer. The hand made items are made of polypropylene, which means that they could be reused. After usage, you simply need to carefully clean them with a damp cloth. You select the color you want from 16 colors.

If you are into birds, here are some items you may enjoy:

+ Lejolinom, a cute birdy place card holder  €1.20
+ Ballotin de chocolat, a party favor box with a ribbon flower that can hold 5 chocolates – starts at €4.50
+ Placemat €6.00
+ Birds Coaster, to match with the placemat (bottom right) €3.00
+ Brindille, a flat flower used as a decorative element on a table or hanging from a branch €0.50
+ Oiseau, a decorative element for a glass or a plate. Remove when you are ready to serve. €0.80

MORE:
+ Via Design Hole

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I was interviewed last Friday by a Montreal-based journalist about the art of making menu when you hosting a party at home. My best advice has always been to cook dishes that you are familiar with. This way, you will not stress out. Your meal must taste great. It is not the time to experiment. To make your dinner special, simply be original with the food presentation.

The home cooking approach is invading formal events like weddings. The New York Times published Readers’ Wedding Food to illustrate this trend. You will see that it crossed over a wide range of wedding budgets, from high to low.

Easy Inspiring Food Presentation

It is not complicated to serve french fries in paper cones. But it makes it more special. You can use parchment paper, newspapers like they do in Belgium or gingham waxed paper. Opt for professional grade grease proof waxed paper to keep your food.

I gathered from the NY Times article the best pictures that you could use for your parties this summer. My photo collage at the top would be perfect for Canada Day or the Fourth of July. As you can see this home cooking trend mixes with eating seasonal food.

+ Lobster bake on the beach in Massachusetts – photo by Paul McEvoy
+ Decorate a cheese platter or for a grand event, your cheese and charcuterie table with seasonal berries and figs
+ Be creative when preparing skewers of vegetables and fruits. An old-time favorite appetizer is a Caprese salad assembled on skewers. Drizzle some balsamic vinegar or put a small bowl of balsamic vinegar for dipping.

2009 Trends in Weddings

Going back to the article on the New York Times, it talks about the current trend in weddings, even upscale weddings, to serve home cook style meals. People do not do it for saving money. It costs the same and sometimes more to elevate comfort food. This trend started out of a desire to feel less opulent. It also conveys authenticity to their celebrations. Is it representative to what you have seen in weddings this year?

One thing I would say it that guests should dress up even for a simple country weddings. It is a special occasion for the bride and groom. Tell them you know how special this day is by NOT wearing casual clothes. It is one element of etiquette that I strongly believe in.

SOURCING:
+ Waxed Paper Red Gingham $5 USD for 50 sheets
+ Down-Home Celebrations by the New York Times

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Two years ago, I told you about Domaine des Ormes, an hotel in Brittany, France where you can rent a perched cabin for your family vacation.

Now, I am presenting you a hut concept developed by a French company called BubbleTree. A wooden platform is build around a big tree. The idea is to get the feeling to live in nature. The spherical canopy (bubble) is meant to be deployed only to shelter you for rain and wind. The rest of the time, you live without walls.

This hut can be very sophisticated. BubbleTree sells hammocks, nets, long chair convertible, lighting system, solar shower, picnic basket and a lifting system to fit their construction. By adding hammocks or sleeping bags, you can transform, at will, the space into a summer guest house for 2 people.

As far as I can tell, BubbleTree’s products are only available in France. This is not inexpensive either. According to the article I read on Born Rich, you must budget EUR 11,000 (approx. $15,300) for the platform alone with the ladder. If you wish to add the bubble (canopy), the price starts at EUR 18,000 (approx. $25,000).

Still, you can still build your little oasis at your cottage. After you adapted and designed your own version, invite a few friends to build it this summer. It does not have to be perched into a tree. It can be a simple platform on a raised piece of land with a canopy system.

MORE:
+ BubbleTree – Web site has an english version
+ Via Born Rich

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If there is a place in your house where you can infuse an array of colors is your backyard. You use mostly in sunny days and at night under candle lights.

Most manufacturer of outdoor tableware and accessories produce their products in 3 to 5 colors. Take advantage of that fact and mix colors. The key is to create a sense of repetitions. You can accomplish that through different methods.

Here is a technique that produces a sophisticated look. Select a pattern with four or five distinctive main colors as the starting point and select the rest of the accessories or furniture in solid colors of the main colors in the pattern. This is what happen with the sun loungers and the paper lanterns.

Getting the items in all colors will create a sense of continuity as long as there is always the same number of items per color. To make it easy for you if you are unsure of what goes with what, look at color packs.

I found all these affordable products that could transform your backyard in a festive oasis at UK-retailer Next Home. I wish they have a store in North America because I would visit them often.

SOURCING:
+ Small wood parasol, director’s chairs and Panama dining table parasol £30, chairs and table £50 each
+ Mesh lounger and Floral Lounger £25 each
+ Patterned Paper Lanterns £10 for set of 3 – two floral and one green
+ Plain Paper Lanterns £10 for set of 3, orange, pink, green
+ Bright Mini Lanterns £12 for 4 color pack
+ Plastic tableware
+ Glass Votive Tealight Set £12 for 4 color pack

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Whenever possible, I reuse and recycle tableware and decorations for designing my parties. By interchanging some table accessories and the menu, your party will look and feel different. Here changing the table cloth plus a few decorative allows you to create a look for Father’s Day and another for the Fourth of July.

This theme plays with red and blue. You could bring the star at the fourth of July through food presentation. Serve slices of carambola as a side dessert for example.

I selected picnic accessories from Crate and Barrel to illustrate the principles of this concept.

+ Preserve Flatware $5.95 USD for 8 place settings, 24-piece set
+ Bamboo Picks $2.95 USD
+ Alethia Stripe Napkin on sale $1.95 USD, reg. $3.95
+ Star Candleholders on sale $1.50 each, reg. $2.95 in red and blue
+ Carnavale Picnic Blanket $39.95 USD

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