Eat Your Heart Out: Go Family-Style at Your Next Event

                                                                                                                                     Photo & Recipe: Buttermilk Mac 'N Cheese, Six-Course Dinner

                                                                                              Photo & Recipe: Rosemary Lamb Chop Popsicles & Mint Gremolata, KissMySpatula.com

                                                                                                                                                                          Photo: GreenWeddingShoes.com

                                                                                               Photo & Recipe: Homemade Blueberry Tart With Lemon Zest, CreatureComfortsBlog.com

Good food brings people together.

One of my favorite ways to break the ice at a party (for myself or a client) is to give guests the experience of "breaking bread" at the table--together. I find that infusing this more casual service (even at the most formal event) often erupts into full-fledged feasting and toasting at the tables.

Whether you choose to go full-on "family style" (at your next affair, or holiday meal)--or, you opt to combine traditional service with "family style" elements, give your nearest and dearest a chance to "pass the potatoes"--trust me, it's always an instant-conversation starter.

Prior to your guests' arrival, create a warm welcome by setting tables with bread baskets, multiple salads, charcuterie and artisanal cheese boards, and creme-topped shots of soup. Follow with either family-style proteins (loving these Rosemary Lamb Chop Popsicles with Mint Gremolata served on wood carving boards) or go with traditional entree service where guests order their protein, and then, when the plates arrive, have the servers place sides-to-share (think: Steakhouse). Bubbling cauldrens of Buttermilk Mac 'n Cheese, roasted root vegetables and steamed haricots verts, roasted brussel sprouts and chive-and-garlic smashed potatoes all scream "pass me"--don't they?!

If you're afraid to stray too far from the traditional, you can add the family-style touch with desserts: cookies, tarts, cakes, pies, pots du creme--and pots of coffee, to boot.

Ready for that midnight snack?

Modern Seder: A Fresh Take on Your Passover Table

In Thursday night's installment of  Chandelier's Facebook-Fans-On-Demand Planning Advice series,we are taking on Passover 2011. This traditional dinner celebrates one of the holiest days of the year for Jewish families--and is a wonderful time to come together and enjoy a meal. While the traditions and prayers should remain the same, there's no reason not to spice things up a bit with the presentation--so long as matzoh is on the menu! Here are some items I think would make great additions to any seder table:


MOD YOUR MANISCHEWITZ
Kosher wine is a mainstay, but I suggest picking up some stemless glassware like this set $24.99 at Macy's. Traditionally, there are four glasses of wine (and a fifth for Elijah!)...so these will not only add a touch of Calvin Klein to your table, but will prevent inevitable spillage on your beautiful linens from reaching over to pass the brisket. 


SPEAKING OF WINE, THINK BEYOND THE BASICS
While Manischewitz will always make an appearance at my holiday table, I urge to to check out the incredible selection of kosher wines out there. Moscato, Chardonnay, Reisling, Shiraz, Merlot--even Pomengranate wine is now available for your choosing. Check out sites like OnlineKosherWine.com (here are their best-sellers), and if you're a real Jewish oenophile join the Kosher Wine Society (yes, there is one) who hosts regular events at NYC's City Winery.


SUGARED ALMOND SALAD

SALAD

• 12 cups washed and dried salad greens of your choice (spinach, mixed spring greens, arugula, whatever you desire)
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup slivered almonds
• 3 11-oz. cans mandarin oranges, drained (strawberries, grapes, and dried cherries also work)
• 1 purple onion, sliced

DRESSING

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 Tbsp. parsley, snipped
• 1/2 tsp. salt

Preparation:

1. Shake all dressing ingredients in a tightly covered jar. Refrigerate for at least one hour.
2. Cook and stir almonds and sugar in a skillet over low heat until sugar is melted and nuts are coated. Cool on wax paper. Break apart. Set aside.
3. Toss dressing with salad greens and arrange on plates. Top with orange sections, onion slices and sugared almonds. 

From: Our Customers Favorites by Paula Levine Weinstein and Julie Komerofshy Remmer (Columbus, OH)

SERVE A DIVINE (FLOURLESS) DESSERT BUFFET

For those of us who celebrate Passover, we've gotten used to "Kosher-for-Passover" desserts which generally consist of macaroons and flourless chocolate cake. But GOOGLE is a beautiful thing! There are so many kosher sweets and recipes out there to choose from! So, get busy whipping these yummy haystack macaroons and chocolate-covered matzoh crunch, and order some kosher candy like chocolate marshmallow twists, Barton's chocolate lollycones, and decadent fudge brownies (yes! brownies). Then, set your kitchen island up as a dessert buffet to rival any Bat Mitzvah---use cake plates, platters, candy dishes and martini glasses to create your spread. Your guests will surely leave in a sugar coma!

This post is dedicated to my mom, who hosts Passover with aplomb every year!