Credit: William Starkey Since this is a lifestyle blog with “entertain” in its name, I guess I’d better invite you to a party every so often, right? Truth in advertising, and all that.
Well, the Supper Club dinners are definitely a party and you’ve had a front row seat for those – fondue, French cooking techniques, and most recently Puerto Rican cuisine – so now let’s expand our party horizons in a new direction. The big national holiday kind of direction.
The 4th of July is right around the corner so Ilise and I are planning to host an old-fashioned BBQ with a low-key vibe and an haute-cuisine twist. Not all that haute, really, just trying to say that all of our guests are good cooks so we are taking a potluck approach (quite wisely if I do say so) which makes the prep easier while offering a great mix of flavors and a few surprises for everyone.
There will be about a dozen of us celebrating independence -- and the recent Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage, cheers-clink-clink! -- on the patio next Saturday, weather willing. The theme is more ‘easy summertime hangout’ than ‘stars and stripes’ although who’s going to say No to a couple of flags and sparklers?
There’s an illegal fireworks show in the schoolyard down the block which has become an annual neighborhood tradition – very well done, always safely executed under the watchful yet unofficial eye of the many firefighters and other first responders who live in the area. In addition to the delightful company of our guests, this will provide the evening’s entertainment.
Well, the Supper Club dinners are definitely a party and you’ve had a front row seat for those – fondue, French cooking techniques, and most recently Puerto Rican cuisine – so now let’s expand our party horizons in a new direction. The big national holiday kind of direction.
The 4th of July is right around the corner so Ilise and I are planning to host an old-fashioned BBQ with a low-key vibe and an haute-cuisine twist. Not all that haute, really, just trying to say that all of our guests are good cooks so we are taking a potluck approach (quite wisely if I do say so) which makes the prep easier while offering a great mix of flavors and a few surprises for everyone.
There will be about a dozen of us celebrating independence -- and the recent Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage, cheers-clink-clink! -- on the patio next Saturday, weather willing. The theme is more ‘easy summertime hangout’ than ‘stars and stripes’ although who’s going to say No to a couple of flags and sparklers?
There’s an illegal fireworks show in the schoolyard down the block which has become an annual neighborhood tradition – very well done, always safely executed under the watchful yet unofficial eye of the many firefighters and other first responders who live in the area. In addition to the delightful company of our guests, this will provide the evening’s entertainment.
Credit: Laurel and Wolf I love the party-planning phase -- researching décor ideas and recipes. I could (and do) easily spend hours down the Internet rabbit hole looking at pictures and seeking inspiration for my own gatherings. If you’ve spent much time on the Entertain the Possibilities website, I suspect that you too might be familiar with that particular rabbit hole. It’s easy to get sucked in to posts and websites of like-minded people who enjoy bringing people together for a delicious meal, refreshing drinks and good times. Here are a few of my favorite sites for “research” and daydreaming and oh yes, party-planning:
Smitten Kitchen – Fantastic recipes, great photos and a smart, sassy writing style. This is one of my favorite summer salads (even though the title says Spring) and would be perfect on your July 4th picnic table: Spring Salad with New Potatoes
Shutterbean – A fun mix of excellent photography, interesting links and tasty recipes. This blogger’s personality really comes through. Sample post: Boozy Popsicles – hello, you have my full attention!
Real Simple – I like the tips on organizing and the healthy/fast recipes, and especially enjoy their ideas for easy entertaining. I’m not a big crafter, but these are some cute ideas for the 4th.
Apartment Therapy – Great design/home site in general and I especially enjoy their Entertaining section.
Martha Stewart’s website is the mothership for design, entertaining and kitchen wizardry.
And of course Pinterest is just made for this kind of stuff.
Smitten Kitchen – Fantastic recipes, great photos and a smart, sassy writing style. This is one of my favorite summer salads (even though the title says Spring) and would be perfect on your July 4th picnic table: Spring Salad with New Potatoes
Shutterbean – A fun mix of excellent photography, interesting links and tasty recipes. This blogger’s personality really comes through. Sample post: Boozy Popsicles – hello, you have my full attention!
Real Simple – I like the tips on organizing and the healthy/fast recipes, and especially enjoy their ideas for easy entertaining. I’m not a big crafter, but these are some cute ideas for the 4th.
Apartment Therapy – Great design/home site in general and I especially enjoy their Entertaining section.
Martha Stewart’s website is the mothership for design, entertaining and kitchen wizardry.
And of course Pinterest is just made for this kind of stuff.
| And now I need YOUR advice. The menu includes:
 * So here’s my question for you: What dips would you recommend to go with the grilled vegetables? They’ll be sitting outside for a while, so that’s a consideration. I’ll determine which vegetables once I visit the farmer’s market that morning – probably zucchini, peppers, maybe fennel. Share your ideas in the comments – please, I need the spark(ler) of inspiration! |
RSS Feed