Fab find
Banded glassware set, $42.73 (set of four); West Elm.
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{ Posts Tagged ‘Entertaining’ }
Cuisine is one of the main focuses of this Europe trip. This new itinerary combines the most delectable foods and treats from Paris, Provence, and soon Rome and Tuscany.
Between Trafalgar‘s Be My Guest and Hidden Treasure experiences you not only get to see incredible insider locations off the beaten path, but you get to taste some of the most delicious food the country has to offer.
Enter: the macaron.
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Fab find
Pumpkin Salt & Pepper Set, $26.12, Pottery Barn.
Alessi has always been a wonderful resource for stunningly sleek designer kitchenware. Their Fall/Winter 2011 collection is no different. From beautiful stainless steel baskets, to small kitchen tools for everyday use, to vases and flatware, the collection is a real gem and has a wonderful timeless feel.
Here a few of my favourite items from Alessi’s 2011 product line.
Fab find
Glass pedestal stand & dome, $14 each; Pottery Barn.
Whether you bake or buy your decadent desserts, they will look absolutely delicious on these classic glass pedestals. You can ‘wow’ your dinner guests with a beautiful dessert display, have friends and family over for tea with scones and sweets, or simply use the stands and dome to keep your treats fresh. At only $14 each, these stands are an easy and elegant way to make any dessert look all the more appetizing!
As spring and warmer temperatures are settling in, an abundance of colourful flowers have made their way to most local markets. I like to gather a few different vases and fill them with a beautiful array of flowers that I then spread out on my dining table — simple and sweet centrepieces. This vase is from a quaint home décor store in Montreal called Buk & Nola — I like how the blue hue brings a hit of brightness to the table.
Jennifer Bartoli is a Toronto-based food writer, photographer and recipe developer who grew up in Paris. Her longstanding passion for food took her to New York City, where she studied at the French Culinary Institute. For delicious recipes and more, check out Jennifer’s blog, Chocolate Shavings.
Fab find
Lacquer nut bowl, $4 each; westelm.com
Guest post by Elaine Song
I usually gravitate towards shades more than colours. Most often you’ll see me dressed in black, white or grey. Needless to say, my home decor tends to run on the safe side with neutral tones, but this doesn’t mean I don’t love me some colour — I just tend to use it in punchy accents. I was instantly drawn to these lacquered wood bowls from West Elm. The high-gloss finish offers bright colours and shiny metallics that not only add that delicious pop to a room, but also allow you to customize these accents to your own style and decor. Use them for food, displays, jewelry, keys, or loose change — it’s up to you!
One of my favourite dessert recipes for last-minute entertaining is making your own ice cream sundaes. For a casual get-together, it’s really a fun way to have every guest build their own sweet treat, ready in minutes. There are a few very easy steps to this recipe. The real key is toasting slivered almonds (toasting them releases the nutty flavour). Almonds are one of the items I always have on hand in my pantry. I use them in salads and cakes, and they add that perfect crunch atop a velvety bowl of ice cream. I lay them out in an even layer on a baking sheet and toast them at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until golden.
The other elements of this ice cream dessert are some good quality vanilla bean ice cream and some chocolate sauce made by simmering heavy cream and pouring it over some dark chocolate chips.
Chocolate Sauce
- 12 ounces of bittersweet chocolate chip (70%)
- 1-1/3 cup of heavy cream
Place the chocolate chips in a heat-proof bowl. In a small saucepan, bring the heavy cream to a light boil. As soon as it boils, pour it over the chocolate. Let it rest for 30 seconds and stir until the mixture is homogenous. If you want the sauce to have a thinner consistency, add another couple teaspoons of heavy cream. Serve immediately.
To build the dessert, place 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream in a bowl, top with a couple spoonfuls of the chocolate sauce, slivered almonds and a few sprinkles.
Jennifer Bartoli is a Montreal-based food writer, photographer and recipe developer who grew up in Paris. Her longstanding passion for food took her to New York City, where she studied at the French Culinary Institute. For more delicious recipes like this, check out Jennifer’s blog, Chocolate Shavings.
Fab find
Emma serving bowl, $26; potterybarn.com
Guest post by Elaine Song
You know the saying, “It looks so good I could eat it”? Well these bowls are so pretty, you’ll want to eat right out of them. Enhance the beauty of your food with these earthenware serving bowls. The beading detail along the outside is subtle, yet makes these bowls oh-so-charming. At 10” in diameter, they’re great for serving a hungry group of dinner guests or just displaying fruit.
Here are a few of my favourite entertaining items for Valentine’s Day that will have your family or Valentine feeling loved!
This heart-shaped Le Creuset pot will add a “touch of love” to your homemade meal.
Red paper straws from KikkerLand Shop
Garnish Valentine-themed cocktails and milkshakes with these adorable paper straws!
It’s not Valentine’s Day without some delicious treats! Display a Red Velvet cake on top of this fancy pink cake stand from Rosanna Inc.
Heart-shaped cutting board from Modern Tribe
This heart-shaped cutting board can be used to serve cheese and crackers on as well.
Eden Passante is the owner of Sugar and Charm, a boutique event design and planning company, focusing on creating the most charming, unique and sweet events.
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