So, before jumping into new house stuff, I thought I’d tell you a little about the process of packing up to leave. While this is equally important it’s not quite as fun. At this point Xan and I have done 2 cross-country moves and a total of 10 moves in the time we’ve been together.
Read moreSupper Club Idea: Pasta Night
I’ve talked about pasta night before, but that was actually one of our later dinners. I wanted to share these snaps from an earlier evening where we made a dish that still may be the most talked about of them all. The ricotta raviolo. For those who don’t know (count me in that camp before this dinner) raviolo is a large ravioli that has the insanely delicious addition of a runny egg yolk in the middle. If you think too hard about it it’ll make your brain hurt. But, with eight people in one room who enjoying taking on new kitchen adventures (one being a culinary student) you have just the right combination of ambition, skill, and ignorance to give it a try.
Read more5 Steps to a Perfect Dinner Party Every Time
For Xan’s birthday my parents got him the brand new cookbook from our favorite chef in Raleigh, Ashley Christensen. It’s called Poole’s Diner, named after her original restaurant (she now has 5 restaurants, a speakeasy style liquor bar, and an event space). Her food is amazing and Poole’s Diner was one of our very favorite restaurants when we lived in Raleigh. We loved going and sitting at the bar, eating delicious food, and just being together. So, this one was extra special. When I found out that she was doing a book signing in San Francisco I was so excited! I’d been seeing posts all over social media of people at her signings in the southeast and feeling pretty jealous, so this was the best news ever!
Read morePasta Night
Once a quarter we have a dinner party with the same group of people. There are a core of 8 of us and sometimes a few others float in and out.
Read moreThanksgiving Round-up
Thanksgiving has come and gone and it was really, really wonderful. Our friends from LA were here Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday and left Saturday morning. It was the prefect trip because we got to spend a lot of time together, but when they left we still had the whole weekend ahead of us. The air cooled off significantly and the chill felt refreshing and reminded us all of home.
Read moreThanksgiving: Tabletop Inspiration
I like the dramatic statement of these purple candles. I think it could be paired with fewer flowers and still make a beautiful table.
I’m currently knee-deep in Thanksgiving planning. I love scouring magazines and researching online to decide on the perfect menu and decorations. The menu is a team effort between Xan and I (more on that later). But, when it comes to the decorations, that’s all me. I’m trying to slowly build my dinner party decoration stockpile by buying a few things each year that can translate well to many different tables and occasions. Hoping to eventually have a closet full of items I love and can pull out and mix and match together to make a great space for entertaining.
Read more