Al Fresco Dining

Somehow the 80 degree temperature has arrived. Al fresco entertaining brings thoughts of ikats, stripes, checks + novelty patterns in all the shades of the season. With new technologies readily available, many vendors offer collections in materials that dry fast, hold their color in the sun, look fabulously upscale + offer maintenance free style for years to come.

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Top of the Table: Market Review

All is well when we see buyers from all over the map, globe-trotting around the city, still with their corporate buying jobs. All doing what we love to do: spot trends + shop, shop, shop.

Our ultimate goal is to create an individual "Home" that is  a pleasing, peaceful place to be. After all... living well is ultimately the best revenge.

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THE POWER OF THE FLOWER

It's a lovely gesture to have  fresh flowers in your home - let's say every Friday?

Basic rules of thumb:

-One type of flower in one color, per container
-No color mixing unless you are a pro
-Cut down the stems to fit nicely in your vessel (not pretty to see too much stem popping out)
-A little fussing is appropriate

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THE PLATE MAKES THE DISH

With so much talk about New Year's Diets, 

my plan is to use fancier plates.

The only tip I have gained from watching countless  hours of  Top Chef, other than the realization that it wouldn't be a good idea for me to enroll at  The French Culinary Institute,  is that the plating of the food - makes the dish.  I admit I can't  pronounce the techniques the chefs use to prepare the food I can't recognize, but I did figure out that the final creations  presented to the judges are either stacked on a nice plate, or in a cool bowl.   It makes sense because one of the many criteria the judges use to pick a winner, is the presentation.

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