Dinner Parties

My adorable nephew Ev turned three the weekend before last. He’s such a big kid already! My sister hosted a genius low-key morning party that was just right for what pre-schoolers want in their social engagements. The party started at 10:00 am on a Sunday, so gourmet bagels and coffee were provided for parents. For…

This is my new favorite pasta salad! So bright, flavorful and healthy. The recipe idea came to me as a mash-up of classic Morrocan preserved lemon and olive chicken tagine and Turkish kisir (tabbouleh salad).  Those delicious complex flavors of Mediterranean and North African cuisine – mint, preserved lemon, turmeric, olives, spieces and parsley –…

Spring is here and with it San Francisco’s moody, roll-the-dice weather patterns. One day is foggy, windy and cold. The next is bright, sunny and warm. This weekend brought temperatures in the 80’s and the entire city ventured out of our un-air-conditioned apartments for picnics in the park. My friend Lauren and I planned a…

There is something so lovely about creating your own traditions. Rob and I have been hosting this annual dinner party since we first moved to the city. It was the centennial of San Francisco’s 1906 earthquake and cause for many celebrations across town. The menu, the activities, the decorations, the candles-only setting…everything has stayed the…

Fresh herbs are my secret to always having something delightful to cook. Thanks to the farmer’s market here in the city, I can keep the fridge stocked with a rotating mix of mint, cilantro, oregano, green onions, parsley, dill, basil and more exotic bouquets most of the year for about fifty cents each. If you…

Easter at my parent’s home in San Luis Obispo is our annual spring tradition. It’s always great to see Rob’s sister and his four nephews and to spend time with my sister and her kids too. This year, I smuggled in some chocolate kiwis from our trip to New Zealand: My new ASOS maternity dress…

A group of professional #bosslady women came over for dinner last week. I put together a simple, gluten-free menu with the flavors of early spring for our meal.  This kind of food is so simple to prepare, you only need about an hour to set the table and cook once the groceries are purchased. Everything…

This was my first real dinner party of the year and the first with this loud-and-proud baby bump in tow! While Rob was away on business in London, I invited a favorite graphic designer of mine who had just moved here from Barcelona along with her boyfriend Gustavo and three other terrific friends: Lauren, Maryam…

On the final weekend before Christmas, I arranged to have two of my favorite girls come for a tea party before venturing out to The Fairmont Hotel and Mark Hopkins Hotel downtown to see the holiday decorations. Rowan (5) and her sister Tierney (3) arrived in their finest party dresses and fur coats at 1:00…

A cold Northern California morning. A warm house that smells like spiced ham. Friends with kids dressed up in red velvet dresses. A three hour brunch with our nearest and dearest.  Babies on fruitless but never-ending quests to chew on Christmas tree ornaments. Hostess gift of homemade fudge. I love so many things about our…