Bloody Mary of the Month - Rum House

I enjoy a good Bloody Mary, and occasionally like to sample new/different takes on this classic cocktail.

So, I thought I'd share my favorite variations of this tomato-y, salty goodness by adding a 'Bloody Mary of the Month' post to the blog.

The March Bloody Mary of the Month is from Rum House, a recently renovated, handsome, wood-paneled bar in the Theater District:
The Andrew Jackson Bloody Mary (on the left):White whiskey and smoked paprika, garnished with hot salami and olives. Just delicious.

Rum House.

Stay tuned for more Bloody Mary sipping...

Strawberry Sponge Pudding

I was feeling dessert-ish yesterday and decided to make this fruity, creamy, airy pudding.

It's easy enough to prepare, and it'll definitely satisfy all the sweet teeth in your household...

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, plus more for pie plate
2 cups strawberries, hulled and halved, plus 5 strawberries, hulled and halved, for garnish
1 cup milk
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs, room temperature, separated
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Hot water, for pan
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Butter a 9-inch pie plate; set aside.

Puree berries and milk in a blender; set aside.

Stir together butter, flour, salt, and 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar in a large bowl. Stir in egg yolks, berry mixture, lemon juice, and vanilla.

Beat egg whites until foamy in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. With mixer running, add remaining 2 tablespoons granulated sugar in a steady stream; beat until stiff peaks form. Gently fold whites into strawberry mixture.

Ladle batter into buttered pie plate; place in a roasting pan. Pour hot water around the pie plate, halfway up sides, like so:Bake until golden, about 30-35 minutes.

Let cool on a wire rack 10 minutes. Dust with confectioners' sugar; top with extra strawberries. Recipe adapted from Martha Stewart.

Here's our 'before', all pretty and appetizing:
...and here's our picked over, half-eaten 'after':I hope you enjoy this strawberry deliciousness as much as we did!

Quilts at the Park Avenue Armory

There are quilts, quilts, and more quilts on display this week at the Park Avenue Armory for the exhibition Infinite Variety: Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts.

650 American quilts from Jonanna Rose's impressive private collection are showcased.

I thought 650 red and white quilts might get a little repetitive or be a bit boring, but it's just the opposite.... look at how glorious they all are:
They float like magic carpets in the massive 55,000 square foot space:I've never made a quilt, and I don't own any quilts, but I think they're really beautiful objects. My mother is into 19th century American art & antiques, and that includes quilts. We had a few antique ones hanging on the walls of my childhood home and this exhibition brought back fond memories.

Some of Mrs. Rose's quilts have geometric shapes on them, others have pretty patterns:
There are stars, boats, flowers, and even airplanes:
This installation was done in conjunction with the American Folk Art Museum. The museum has named 2011 the 'Year of the Quilt', and this display is certainly a fitting celebration:Infinite Variety is at the Armory - 643 Park btwn 66th & 67th - until 5PM on March 30th. Admission is free.

This is a brilliant exhibit; go check it out if you're in/near NYC.Infinite Variety: Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts.

Monty Monday - Catching Zs

Last week I was tossing and turning for hours in the middle of the night. (I have this herniated disc nonsense in my neck that makes normal sleep impossible.) Monty, usually a very sound sleeper, had finally had enough of my disrupting his beauty rest... He slinked out of the bed and went to the living room.

A couple of hours later I went to check on him.

I found this:The dog had taken his fleece blanket and made a comfy perch for himself on top of the sofa cushions. He even brought his stuffed monkey along (on the right) for company.

I don't think I've seen him this relaxed since he was listening to Janine Jansen on my iPod:
He was quite happy to receive a belly rub during my 3am visit:
And perhaps was sending me the not so subtle signal that he'd like a chin scratchy as well:I decided to let him camp out in the living room for the night.

He happily resumed his supine snooze:He looks super cute, but I don't think he'll be getting any gigs as a night watchman any time soon.

Zzz little Monty.

Post-Game Party Report

Lots of artsy, cultural things in this week's post-game report...

I saw the Van Cleef & Arpels exhibit at the Cooper-Hewitt:Many thanks to my girl, fashionista Liz, for holding up the program in this shot.

Van Cleef & Arpels has been making drool-worthy jewels for over a hundred years. This exhibit displays their finest pieces -- everything from sparkly tiaras to enameled cigarette cases to giant blinged out brooches.

I especially love VC&A's Alhambra motif. Chappy gave me one of their Alhambra necklaces for Christmas years ago (thank you darling!) and it's been a favorite ever since. If you're into the Alhambra or if you prefer dazzling diamonds, check out Set in Style at the Cooper-Hewitt.

I saw Esa-Pekka Salonen guest conduct the Philharmonic as part of their 'Hungarian Echos' festival:I'm way, way in to Russian and German classical music, but was totally unfamiliar with the evening's program. The Phil played Ligeti's Concert Românesc, Haydn's Symphony No. 7, and Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra. It was the first time I'd heard any of those pieces, but it was all good -- especially the Concerto for Orchestra, where each of the orchestra's principal players was featured in a kind of mini solo.

Salonen, the conductor, got all sassy at the end of the Ligeti... A woman in the third row burst into an enthusiastic round of applause about eight bars too early. The conductor turned towards her, held up his left hand in a stop, in the name of love-like gesture, and continued conducting the strings with his right hand until the end of the piece. It was pretty awesome multitasking.

I saw the latest round of exhibits at the Aldrich, a small but excellent contemporary art museum in Ridgefield, CT.

The highlights for me were Robert Talpin's sculptures, pictured here is his 'The Young Punch Goes Shopping with His Mother':
and Hope Gangloff's 'Love Letters' exhibition:
I headed downtown to the Film Forum to see the documentary 'Bill Cunningham New York':This movie is a delightful peek at everyone's favorite bicycle-riding, royal blue smock-wearing, fashion photog, Bill Cunningham. The film explores Bill's 40+ years in the business, and showcases his sweet personality and passion for fashion. I loved it. It's only in NYC for a limited run, so catch it while you can.

I went to Bar Boulud for a dinner/panel discussion entitled 'Women, Money, and Meaning'. The dinner featured high-powered speakers from the world of finance and law. I was particularly impressed by the whip-smart Park Avenue Divorce. (Thank goodness I don't need her, but she'd be a great resource to anyone that is contemplating/going through a divorce.)

During dinner, the sommelier at Bar Boulud walked us through the tasting of two Burgundies, a Riesling, and a Chardonnay:You'd think after all my recent tasting experience at Morrell's that I'd know my earthy aromas from my floral aromas and my black cherry flavors from my strawberry flavors, but alas, I really don't. No matter though -- the bottom line is all that wine was super delicious, especially when paired with Boulud's pâté.

After all that excitement I'm looking forward to a quiet weekend. I hope you and yours have a fun fin de samana too.

Book Party - In the Spirit of St. Barths

Last night Assouline threw a party celebrating the publication of Pamela Fiori's new book 'In the Spirit of St. Barths':The event was held at Assouline's cozy boutique on the mezzanine level of The Plaza Hotel.

The shop is a luxe, library/loft space, and last night it was filled with a stylish crowd:Author Pamela Fiori was the editor-in-chief of Town & Country and Travel & Leisure magazines, so she's well-versed in the worlds of travel, luxury, and style. Her book on St. Barths combines all her strengths and gives us an insider's peek at this exclusive island.

Plus it has gorgeous, glossy photos like this:I've never visited, but wow!!! It looks divine. Photo via Assouline.

Pamela is also a lovely, warm lady; I'm a big fan:To celebrate the book's launch, Assouline is giving away a trip to St. Barths through their Facebook page. Nice, right?

They're asking: "What are your three essential getaway pieces?" I'm entering the contest, and my three essentials are:

1. Anthelios sunscreen,
2. my big, floppy Helen Kaminski hat, and
3. a brightly colored Eres bikini.

I hope I win, because with those essentials I'm all set to jet off to St. Barths (...but I fear I'd be ill-prepared for Vail).

For more information on the book, visit Assouline's website.
To enter the contest for a free trip to St. Barths, visit Assouline's Facebook page.

Veuve Clicquot at Morrell & Company

Last night I went to a tasting event at Morrell & Company. I had such a nice time at their recent Scotch event so I figured I'd give another beverage a try... This time it was a Veuve Clicquot champagne tasting.

Morrell events are held in their Rockefeller Center store. It's cozy to sit and sip surrounded by wine-covered walls:
They served a few different cheeses from Artisanal during the tasting:They were all French and all delicious, but I can't remember any of the specifics.

And then it was on to the bubbly...

Winemaker Cyril Brun - a 3rd generation vintner - explained how Madame Clicquot's love of orange transformed a previously boring, off-white label into the bright, iconic label that's instantly recognizable today:
The first flight - Veuve Clicquot's Yellow Label Brut & Rose Brut:These were yummy -- very bready, yeasty, and effervescent. I think their yellow label champagne tastes like a delicious brioche.

The second flight was Vintage 2002 & Vintage Rosé 2004:I loved that 2002; it had a nutty, caramel flavor.

The winemaker explained that this taste comes from increasing the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes, and from cellaring the wine for at least 6 years. (Or something.)

The third flight was La Grande Dame 1998 & La Grande Dame Rosé 1998. This Rosé was heavenly, and I loved the salmon-y pink color:It tasted silky and creamy, and it's been aged for 10 years. The winemaker suggested pairing it with lobster or veal, but I thought it was perfectly drinkable on its own.

We also learned about how to store champagne (lying in a cool, dark place with high humidity) and how to taste champagne (smell, swirl, smell again, and then sip). This was a fun, educational way to spend a Monday night.

Cheers to Veuve Clicquot and Morrell and Company!

Monty Monday - Goodnight Gracie

Monty Morris and George Burns...separated at birth?

Monty:
George Burns:...all that's missing is a doggie cigar for Monty - then they'd be twins!

True Prep book signing at J. McLaughlin

Yesterday I went to J. McLaughlin's shiny new shop in Westport, CT for a Lisa Birnbach (squeeeee!!!!) True Prep book signing.

Lisa wrote The Official Preppy Handbook in 1980, and it's pretty much been on my bedside table ever since. The irreverent, lovingly teasing book was an instant classic for this girl who grew up in Short Hills, summered in New Hampshire, and went on to marry a man named Chappy. I was all kinds of excited to meet the pink and green guru in person.

J. McLaughlin was ready for the preppy onslaught. They were armed with Southside appearing cocktails, mini-quiches involving bacon, and multiple copies of True Prep:Lisa arrived and I gasped.

I think I'm telling her, 'I'm your biggest fan..." or some such nonsense here:I wore my embroidered critter pants, Gucci loafers (no socks, natch), and pearl studs. Lisa wore delicate patent leather black ballet flats, a lime green sweater tossed casually over her shoulders, and a pearl necklace that belonged to her Grandmother.

We were all smiles for the preps:Lisa was just as lovely and gracious as you'd imagine she'd be. She told tales of her recent travels to Japan, talked about her Twitter usage, and even tried on a fellow party-goer's madras blazer. She was a warm, good sport.

After chatting with Lisa, I helped myself to a delicious tea sandwich. Like most preppies, I love anything and everything with mayonnaise:
The food was thanks to my blogging buddy, Fairfield County's own Kelsey - aka The Naptime Chef:
Back at home, I surveyed my Lisa Birnbach collection - the old and the new, both equally marvelous:
I asked her to sign my well-worn copy of TOPH:That awesome inscription guarantees the book a place of honor on my bedside table for another 30+ years.

If you don't already have a copy of Lisa's new take on the Old Guard, pick one up here.

Post-Game Party Report

Well, there aren't too many parties in this week's post-game party report, but there are lots of other fun-fun-fun happenings.

I went to two museums... (I wish I'd majored in art history, so I think museums are MEGA fun.)

The Rubin is a little gem of a museum downtown with a massive collection of Himalayan art.

They've got paintings, tapestries, and statues:
A Tibetan shrine room:
And a cool photography exhibit of the Sadhus in Nepal and India:If you're into yoga like me, you'll love these photos. The Rubin.

Discovery Times Square is running an exhibit on Pompeii called 'Life and Death in the shadow of Vesuvius'.

It's a comprehensive look at Pompeii before and after the volcano eruption. Before, with beautiful frescoes like this:
And after, with spooky, giant mass graveyards like this:There are also dozens of white plaster casts made of bodies the archeologists found frozen in the ash - the ghost-like figures are compelling and creepy, and it's all very well done. Discovery Times Square.

I went to the opera...

The cast of Boris Godunov during their final bows:Boris Godunov is a four and a half hour long Russian opera. It's a big time commitment and quite an intense story, but I thought it was so awesome I would have happily sat there for another four and a half hours.

René Pape, Superstar Basso, played the title role and conductor Pavel Smelkov was a superb understudy for the ailing Maestro Gergiev. The plot involves ambition, lies, and many twists and turns. The singing was powerful, there were large white horses on stage, and the crowd scenes showed off the ample talent of The Met chorus. I got so swept up in it all that I cried -- a lot. Boris Godunov.

I went to the theatre...

The poster for War Horse outside the Vivian Beaumont:War Horse was a smash hit in London, and it's now in previews in NYC. It's about World War I, and a boy and his horse. It's touching, difficult at times, and so so so good. This is a must-see production if you're in/near New York.

The horses are massive puppets played/operated by three actors. The puppets are only made of steel and mesh, but they totally come alive on stage. (Here's a video of the horse puppets in action.) And again, I got so swept up in it all that I cried... like so much that I needed to borrow a tissue from the stranger sitting next to me. War Horse.

I went to the Antiques & Art Show at the Park Avenue Armory...

There were dozens of booths/stalls with dealers selling everything from fine Art Deco furniture to antique American flags to vintage jewelry. There was something for everyone's taste, and I enjoyed some leisurely browsing.

Newel Antiques had this stylish, eclectic booth:I went to an afternoon tea...

The United Hospital Fund held its annual Volunteer Achievement Awards at the Waldorf-Astoria.

I was honored to be smooched by our friend, the dapper honoree Doug Leeds:Congratulations to Doug on his well-deserved award for his years of service/volunteering at Memorial Sloan-Kettering!

I stood on line...

I tried to get an iPad2 from the local Apple store in CT, but it was all long lines and TV crews interviewing people about the aforementioned long lines:I left sans iPad2 -- they sold out of all the white ones, and I had my heart set on that color, but I'll try again soon.

And I enjoyed a Bloody Mary...

Because after all of that going and doing and seeing, I thought it'd be nice to kick back with a cocktail:And indeed, it was.

Cheers to a great week!