Small Pleasures’ Stir It 28 Event Menu
I just wanted to take a minute to share with you the menu small pleasures is planning to serve at the Stir It 28 event in Los Angeles. We'll be presenting up an "interactive" bruschetta bar (interactive is definitely a trend for 2010 in catered parties- no stodgy buffets or sit downs)) with assorted crostini and toppings so that guests can assemble their own bruschetta, and a luscious spread of desserts. I think it's a great menu- perfect for a cocktail "mix and mingle" type gathering. I'm also very grateful and excited that Tom Coffey, one of our very best servers will be doing his magic to create a beautiful display, and the lovely Aida Cadres will be on hand to help out, as well. L.A.'s own, The Liquid Muse is partnering with Grey Goose Vodka and Fre Alcohol-Removed Wines for the cocktail program for the the event. She's created a signature cocktail -“Hearts for Haiti”-just for the day. I've done a walk through of Greg@sippitysup's home (Greg's hosting us for the event) and believe me, it's a lovely home. All in all, it is promising to be a great way to spend an afternoon, and on top of that, to contribute to a very worthy cause. Now I'd say that's a win/win. Menu Bruschetta Bar Kalamata Olive Tapenade SunDried Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper Pesto Cannellini Bean Purée with Prosciutto and Herbs Caramelized Onion and Fig Spread Herbed Goat Cheese Spread Gorgonzola Dolce Latte Spread and for Dessert… Puff Pasty Wrapped Baked Brie with Caramelized Apples Rosemary Spiced Nuts White Chocolate Lemon Curd Swirl Cheesecake Profiteroles with Chocolate Fondue Triple Fudge Brownies Grapes and Strawberries Oh, and there'll be a professional photographer on hand, so check back next week for great pics of the...
read moreBarbecued Shrimp- Good for Super Bowl, and Good for Valentine’s Day, too!
“Barbecued” – a curious term in New Orleans- Shrimp
read moreA Special Cake for a Special Day-German Chocolate with Milk Chocolate Buttercream
This German Chocolate Cake with Milk Chocolate Buttercream has always been a “go to” cake for special days in my family.
read moreBlogging and Eating for Haiti Relief
It started as a simple idea- food bloggers love food, and that fact creates a bond among us. Haiti is desperately in need of being fed- something we can align with passionately. Watching those news accounts out of Haiti after the January earthquake made us all want to do something to help. Hence the birth of Stir It 28 -a grass roots event of local food bloggers to help Haiti. Food bloggers will come together bringing and serving delicious treats they've prepared. 100% of all funds raised during the month will go to Share Our Strength and Yéle Haiti. Your LA2LA Chef is thrilled to be taking part in this event in Los Angeles (events are also happening in Chicago, New York and Atlanta -the list of cities is growing so check the site links). The plan originated with bloggers Chrystal Baker of Duo Dishes, Bren Herrera of Flanboyant Eats , and Courtney Nzeribe of Coco Cooks. For more information and to purchase advance tickets please go to at Flanboyant Eats or Coco Cooks. If you're in L.A. I look forward to seeing you on February 21st. Ciao,...
read moreMardi Gras in L.A.
As those of you who read this blog know, we are in the full swing of Mardi Gras season- even here in L.A., two thousand miles away from NOLA. There was a huge Mardi Gras ball this weekend in L.A., and while your LA2LA Chef was not in attendance she received this report from one of her relatives who was. “The ballroom was filled with the sounds, sights and the revelry that is Carnival in New Orleans, including the fancifully decorated umbrellas that bounced to the beats of the Second Line snaking through the large, colorful room. These (mostly) New Orleans expats and their offspring, know how to celebrate Mardi Gras and celebrate they did! “Laissez les bon temps roulez” was the rule of the day. The only requirement was revelers had to come costumed. There was no formal theme for the ball, but the undercurrent of support and excitement for the Saints was strong, with Saints jerseys dotting the room and the fleur de lis, the favored accessory, could be seen on many of the costumes, masks and umbrellas. A pair of revelers, who won the award for the most beautiful costume worn by a couple, wore large gold fleurs as the major attraction on the back of long black capes and masks made of gold and black fleurs de lis. Another large family of revelers was attired in black clothing, black high hats with white banners across their chests bearing the names of streets in the Seventh Ward of New Orleans, the area from which many, if not most of the revelers, once lived. The only design other than the street names on each banner, was the simple, elegant fleur de lis. The caped wonder, Bat Man, was seen sporting a gold and black fleur de lis with the words “Who Dat” emblazoned across his chest. Another group of royal ladies (one of whom even flew in from New Orleans to attend), all of whom wore fleur de lis designs on banners across their bosoms, accompanied a king* , who had the fleur prominently displayed on his crown, tunic and shoes. Yep-the fleur de lis ruled supreme.” *That would be my relative. Thank God he was the most beautiful single costume winner- there was widespread grumbling heard last year, when his Cardinal costume didn’t take the prize, that the judges’ ruling was tinged with nepotism. “Laissez les bon temps roulez” ...
read moreFrom Ain’ts to Saints- the Soul of New Orleans
A couple of nights ago, I posted a question of my Facebook page asking what people were planning to serve on Super Bowl Sunday. I got a response back from a friend saying, “This is going to come as a shock…but I have never seen a football game. Not in person. Not on television. My husband doesn't watch football. I bet he doesn't know the teams who are playing. I know- un-American.” Many probably do think it is un-American, no doubt, but a shock? Not exactly. I myself have always said Super Bowl is the perfect day to go out to a restaurant (they’re empty and quiet), and have never known before what teams are playing. But this year’s Super Bowl is about way more than football. The Saint’s have become the symbol and metaphor for the city of New Orleans, and its journey to recovery. Although the Super Bowl has been held many times in New Orleans, the Saints have never played in the Bowl. Now, this team made up of rejects, and often referred to in the past as the Aint’s, whose fans could be seen wearing paper bags over their heads at games, will be competing for the NFL championship. They have are now being referred to as “The Soul of New Orleans.” Wright Thompson of ESPN.com writes “They are a motley group, undrafted guys and late-round fliers, players cast off from other teams. (Drew) Brees landed in town after an injury convinced the Chargers that his best days were behind him. ‘When we came here,’ he has said, ‘I was in the process of rebuilding, as well.’” Fr. Tony Ricard of Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, says as he finishes saying Mass in a Saints jersey, “the Saints have lifted the spirits of the whole city.” Even President Obama has cautiously weighed in saying, "You know, I think both teams are terrific. I guess I am rooting a little bit for the Saints as the underdog, partly just because when I think about what's happened in New Orleans over the last several years and how much that team means to them. You know, I'm pretty sympathetic." It’s an understatement to say the city is overflowing with civic pride, and all of us expatriates here in Los Angeles, will be glued to our television sets, as well. So next Sunday, my brothers, my uncle, my cousins and yes, even I, who has barely seen a football game in my life, will gather to celebrate my mother’s (a NOLA expatriate of over 50 years) birthday and to cheer on the Saints. We’ll be eating jambalaya, shrimp po’boys, potato salad, and red beans and rice- thanking God for Mother, and cheering on our Saints. So, I have two things to say- 1) don't rain on our parade, and 2) what will you be serving? Click on this link to hear Wright Thompson talk about "The Soul of New Orleans"...
read moreThe Caterer’s Job- It’s About More than Just the Food
The caterer’s job is to fulfill their clients’ desires-giving my clients what they want.
read moreCatering to All the Special Moments in Life
I received this touching e-mail last week which I want to share with you now. "I'm writing today, as you've done such a wonderful job catering for our family during both happy and difficult times in the past, and sadly I fear we are facing a sad upcoming occasion. My dear mother, who has been gravely ill for several weeks, today entered palliative hospice care. My sister and I cannot imagine anyone but you and your company feeding our friends and family at such time as we will remember and celebrate her life. Understandably we do not have a timetable, it may be days, or longer… but in advance wanted to know if you would be able to help us when the time comes? With thanks as always." She wrote again 3 days later to say that her mother had passed away peacefully with her family by her side. I first catered a event for Lyla when she and her husband celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. A couple of years after that it was her husband's 75th birthday, and finally three years ago, her husband's memorial service. Her daughter was right on, I have had the honor to be there at both "happy and difficult times" in their lives. I talked to Lyla's daughter a couple of times during the week. She shared thoughts and memories, and even struggles of her family. I was honored she felt so free to speak openly with me. As business owners we hear over and over again, it's about the value you offer to others. While, as a caterer, I always place a very high value on the quality of food I serve, and how it's displayed, my mission is really to create memorable celebrations for all the special moments in my clients lives. And very often, the mission goes way beyond the food we provide. Lyla's memorial was indeed, a celebration, and I have grown with her family as they move through their milestone moments. I feel privileged to have done...
read moreHaiti and New Orleans
I listened with empathy and a measure of recognition today, to newscasts interviewing Haitian expats in the U.S. Their voices tremble as they speak of anxiously awaiting news of the fate of their loved ones, and recounting a night of little or no sleep. Haiti and New Orleans have historic connections. Their people share a past of brutal plantation culture, slavery and a racial caste system under French colonists in the 17th and 18th century. The present day country of Haiti was formed in 1801, after an extremely bloody period of slave rebellion on the island of Saint Domingue in the 1790’s. The island was split into two countries (the other being Santo Domingo, or the modern day Dominican Republic), and many post-rebellion refugees from Saint Domingue eventually found a home in New Orleans. Ned Sublette, author of The World That Made New Orleans: From Spanish Silver to Congo Square writes “The southern United States was in a panic. The slaves of Saint-Domingue had risen up and killed slavery itself.” He further states that “Haiti was central to every major event in the hemisphere at the time, and most especially to the Louisiana Purchase. Slavery continued for in the southern United States for another 70 years…but the Haitian revolution was the turning point.” He also connects the slave rebellion with the French Revolution as a fundamental event in shaping the modern world. So perhaps, in some way, we all owe a debt to Haiti. New Orleans is often referred to as a Caribbean city, and many of its distinctive rhythms (along with the voodoo culture) arrived there directly from the islands of Saint Domingue and Cuba. It traded with the newly established nation of Haiti, long before the government of the United States recognized it as a nation. Unfortunately, the nation of Haiti has not fared well, suffering dictatorial governments, bruising poverty, and I might add, little or no help- and sometimes harm- from its huge northern neighbor. And the news of today’s earthquake is heart wrenching. As I said, I can empathize having seen my beloved city of New Orleans face an unprecedented disaster, and yet this is oh so much worse. I hope that if you have stuck with me this far, you will do whatever you can to help the citizens of Haiti now. I’ve listed below a few organizations that are on the front lines helping. Doctors without Borders Habitat for Humanity Oxfam The Clinton Foundation Yele Haiti Also, you may text "Yele" to 501501 and $5 will be charged to your phone bill and given to relief projects through the...
read moreKing’s Day, King Cakes and the Beginning of Carnival Season
King’s day- the Feast of the Epiphany- marks the beginning of Carnival season when King Cakes grace every table in New Orleans.
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