chez you
November 13, 2007
Entertaining can be a very intimidating and daunting task for many people. My enjoyment of inviting people over was born partially out of necessity, as most things are. Endless nights of bar-hopping, fine dining at not-so-fine establishments, and empty vintage pocketbooks doesn’t sound that appealing when you reach the age where the expression “house rich, cash poor” actually makes sense.
The first thing to go is the group dinners and nights out when an easy $100 can be spent on dinner and wine and a couple of cocktails. Maybe not even the cocktails. Ok-$150 if you are being extra smart and taking a cab too since you just threw back a recipe for heartburn and became a hazard to anyone else on the road. Minding my retirement funds and paying a mortgage have limited this particular aspect of my social life.
Whether you can commiserate with this or not, WF would like to reinvent the concept of entertaining from an impossible task to something, simple and executable and most importantly, affordable and fun. Our motto is to start small and build from there. If opening up a few nice cheeses and uncorking some decent wine is not in your vocabulary, then we can’t really help, but we can attempt to present some ideas that will inspire even the most kitchen-challenged.
i cannot tell you how many times i have read in a magazine about a holiday party for 10 that totaled a cool $1500 onward. (rolling my eyes) Who has that kind of money, let alone at the holidays? oh that’s right, only rich people can have friends and throw parties and enjoy life. Let us poor schmucks get our buckets of chicken and call it a night. Believe me, i absolutely love the idea of letter press stationery and formal invites, but unless it’s for your wedding or a milestone birthday party, that money could be spent on some cute, festive napkins or some delicious ingredients. Of course party favors, invites, and caviar are some of my favorite things in life, but not necessary. If you can swing it without breaking the bank, go for it.
Our idea of entertaining is to include everything from the smallest event- dinner for two, the second awkward date; the impromptu event- i-roasted-a-pork shoulder-so-come-over-with-some-beer-night; to the most traditional events- thanksgiving dinner- yes, we will cover this and alternate ways of showing thanks. Martha can’t have them all.
Welcoming people into your home is a very intimate gesture. Cooking for them is a generous one. Entertaining doesn’t have to be lavish and complicated though. It’s about having quality time with friends in a relaxed, comfortable environment.
In every group of friends there’s that one person that has taken on the role of “host/hostess”. If you are that person, here’s some inspiration: a twist on the norm, some tips on making entertaining easier, upping your game a notch. We will cover the basics and the frills. Present you with options and ideas. And if you are that person that enjoys lovely evening after lovely evening chez someone else, maybe it’s time you tried.
Entertaining can be a very intimidating and daunting task for many people. My enjoyment of inviting people over was born partially out of necessity, as most things are. Endless nights of bar-hopping, fine dining at not-so-fine establishments, and empty vintage pocketbooks doesn’t sound that appealing when you reach the age where the expression “house rich, cash poor” actually makes sense.
The first thing to go is the group dinners and nights out when an easy $100 can be spent on dinner and wine and a couple of cocktails. Maybe not even the cocktails. Ok-$150 if you are being extra smart and taking a cab too since you just threw back a recipe for heartburn and became a hazard to anyone else on the road. Minding my retirement funds and paying a mortgage have limited this particular aspect of my social life.
Whether you can commiserate with this or not, WF would like to reinvent the concept of entertaining from an impossible task to something, simple and executable and most importantly, affordable and fun. Our motto is to start small and build from there. If opening up a few nice cheeses and uncorking some decent wine is not in your vocabulary, then we can’t really help, but we can attempt to present some ideas that will inspire even the most kitchen-challenged.
i cannot tell you how many times i have read in a magazine about a holiday party for 10 that totaled a cool $1500 onward. (rolling my eyes) Who has that kind of money, let alone at the holidays? oh that’s right, only rich people can have friends and throw parties and enjoy life. Let us poor schmucks get our buckets of chicken and call it a night. Believe me, i absolutely love the idea of letter press stationery and formal invites, but unless it’s for your wedding or a milestone birthday party, that money could be spent on some cute, festive napkins or some delicious ingredients. Of course party favors, invites, and caviar are some of my favorite things in life, but not necessary. If you can swing it without breaking the bank, go for it.
Our idea of entertaining is to include everything from the smallest event- dinner for two, the second awkward date; the impromptu event- i-roasted-a-pork shoulder-so-come-over-with-some-beer-night; to the most traditional events- thanksgiving dinner- yes, we will cover this and alternate ways of showing thanks. Martha can’t have them all.
Welcoming people into your home is a very intimate gesture. Cooking for them is a generous one. Entertaining doesn’t have to be lavish and complicated though. It’s about having quality time with friends in a relaxed, comfortable environment.
In every group of friends there’s that one person that has taken on the role of “host/hostess”. If you are that person, here’s some inspiration: a twist on the norm, some tips on making entertaining easier, upping your game a notch. We will cover the basics and the frills. Present you with options and ideas. And if you are that person that enjoys lovely evening after lovely evening chez someone else, maybe it’s time you tried.
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