Entertaining made simple with a little help from the experts
January 18, 2010/
It's a family affair. Since 1914, the Russ clan has been providing New Yorkers with smoked fish as well as other appetizers that have made them part of the city's cultural heritage.
Dropping into the
Russ & Daughters landmark shop in the Lower East Side, which has been in the same location since ...
December 4, 2009/
Decorating with a heavy hand can leave your holiday party looking a little too much like Santa's lair. Our friend and celebrated event designer
David Stark shows us how to lay off the tinsel and faux snow for a more natural aesthetic this season.
For The Lazy Hostess, Stark shares his top 5 design ideas for a festive home ...
October 9, 2009/
Sweater weather is on its way! As we tuck indoors during this chilly season, our thoughts on home entertaining turn to cozy fires and comfort food like hearty pastas, oven roasted vegetables and grilled meat.
When it comes to this type of dining, who better to ask than chef
Marc Murphy who is known for ...
September 21, 2009/
With cooler days ahead and tougher financial times to come, it’s no surprise that potluck dinners are making a swift comeback.
With the chicest social types embracing the concept of hosting a party where their guests get a hand in the entertaining, the potluck dinner has been elevated from its simple bring-your-own-dish status to a creative group dining experience. Of ...
August 11, 2009/
Just when you've mastered cooking dinner for 8 friends and making it look effortless, you remember that you forgot about dessert! And, the last dish of the meal is surely what your guests will remember, right?
Don't fuss over fancy sweets when you can whip together a delicious dessert in 2 seconds flat. The Lazy Hostess picked up the perfect ...
July 28, 2009/
And, the love affair with The Minimalist continues....
Published recently in the
New York Times, one of our favorite food writers and cookbook authors,
Mark Bittman, gives us
101 Simple Salads for the Season, a full range of effortless recipes, that claim to take 20 minutes or less to ...
July 2, 2009/
Out of all of the weekends in the year, 4th of July is hands down the biggest BBQ celebration. Whether you are staying in the city for a backyard bash or chilling at the beach, making a simple meal of grilled meat and fish, summer salads and frosty desserts is always a crowd pleaser.
The Lazy Hostess loves ...
June 12, 2009/
Summer entertaining calls for casual dishes that can be whipped up in an instant and that pack a flavorful punch. Bursting with bright colors and fresh ingredients, Mexican food is the quintessential summer cuisine and always a crowd pleaser.
We asked chef
Julian Medina, one the leading Mexican chefs in the city and owner of ...
May 21, 2009/
In a bustling city like New York, there is nothing better than finding a little patch of grass to call your own when the summer weather arrives.
For impromptu picnics in the park, make sure your basket includes the essentials like savory salads (that won't wilt in the heat), gourmet sandwich wraps, salty and sweet snacks as well as a ...
April 9, 2009/
When you visit the studio of uber talented
David Monn, a designer best known for planning events such as the Costume Gala at the Met, you always leave amazed by his luxurious creations. What was surprising about a recent wedding salon that he hosted, with industry notables such as
Cathy Riva,
Lisa Hoffman of CECI New York and caterer
Peter Callahan, was that his incredible tabletop ideas were ...
March 3, 2009/
There are few things in life that can instantly put a smile on one's face or conjure up happy memories of childhood days more than the cookie.
And, for the Lazy Hostess, it's one of my favorite desserts to serve to my guests and definitely one of the easiest!
Lately, we've been inspired by
The Cookie Bar, created by Dawn Casale of
One ...
January 6, 2009/
Hosting a casual Sunday brunch for a few friends can be a great way to spend the afternoon. However, the task of poaching eggs, grilling bacon and making toast for each of your guests can leave you feeling more like a short order cook than a chic hostess.
Over the years, I’ve picked up some simple shortcuts from caterers and chefs on how to make everyone’s favorite morning meal quick, easy ...
December 2, 2008/
The stress of the economy has certainly put a damper on holiday revelry but it doesn't mean that you should forgo the season's festivities all together. While parties may seem frivolous as the country tightens its purse strings, the reasons why you entertain family, friends and colleagues this time of year are not.
All you need to do is get back to basics and become more thoughtful about how you ...
November 3, 2008/
Why brave the chilly weather and the Saturday night crowds, when you can keep the party at home? Whether you play Texas Hold ‘Em or Scrabble, here are some fun ideas and entertaining tips for hosting your very own Game Night.
The key to any casual get-together is making sure your guests feel relaxed and at home. Make sure to serve comfort food that is easy to eat ...
July 28, 2008/
Feeling hot, hot, hot? Entertaining during these steamy summer nights can be effortless if you keep things simple. Lazy Hostess asked
Maya Kalman of
Swank Productions for her tips on planning a beach inspired pool party where the pool is optional!
With some original ideas borrowed from one of her recent corporate bashes, Kalman shows us how to channel our inner child and have some fun, even on ...
July 17, 2008/
Summer afternoons are the perfect time for leisurely tea parties in the garden. For a fresh take on traditional tea and crumpets, we turned to one of LA’s most eco-chic event planners,
Dana Morgan of
Green Carpet Event for some simple tips. Here, she shows us how a little creativity turned colored tea tins, vintage china, left-over carnations and recycled drawer liners into a stylish and ...
February 22, 2008/
Vanity Fair’s party may be a no-go this year but excitement for the Academy Awards is at an all time high with nominations for some of our favorite actors including George Clooney, Johnny Depp, Cate Blanchett and, breakout star, Ellen Page from
Juno. We asked one of the entertainment industry’s top caterers,
Mary Giuliani, to share some simple ideas for hosting a last-minute Oscar Viewing Party.
To bring ...
January 29, 2008/
The Lazy Hostess has a crush. Naturally, it's on a best-selling cookbook author who goes by the moniker -
The Minimalist (from his popular column in the
New York Times).
Mark Bittman (of the wildly successful
How to Cook Everything) has created 101 simple appetizers that can be prepared in 20 minutes or less. The easy recipes are perfect for the ...
January 16, 2008/
The famous French bistro
Artisanal is not the only place to experience a decadent chocolate fondue for two.
Now you can recreate the gourmet pleasure in your home with
Fondue au Chocolat by
Aux Anysetiers du Roy, the Parisian restaurant best known for their aromatic blend, Herbs de Provence. Packaged in their signature, reusable stoneware crock, the fondue comes in ...
November 12, 2007/
In a moment of holiday nostalgia (or insanity), you've invited your family, in-laws and a few of your dearest single friends over for Thanksgiving dinner. Now that the date is fast approaching, the idea of preparing such a grand feast for your loved ones has you up at night. No need to lose sleep, the Lazy Hostess has two words of comfort for you: Whole Foods....
June 27, 2007/
When temperatures start to rise, there is a mass exodus out of New York City. Whether to Montauk or St. Tropez, we do whatever we can to bring the party to the beach. But, there are always a few weekends when you just can't get away.
My advice on how to
beat the heat? Gather some friends and host a summertime dinner of chilled crab claws and ...
May 23, 2007/
As a hostess, I am self-admittedly a little on the lazy side. But, do you blame me for loving the party
more than the prep? I promise you that with some savvy planning your guests will never know the difference. So, what's my secret for stylish and simple entertaining? I think the Beatles said it best
- ...
April 9, 2007/
If you don't know your Fourme d'Ambert from your Malvarosa or how to navigate the vineyards of the Loire Valley,
don't worry. Hosting a wine and cheese has never been easier.
An impromptu "Girl's Night In" for some of my PR friends was the perfect excuse for ...
March 22, 2007/
Scrolling through someone's
iPod library is a little like rifling through their drawers.....you are bound to find something unexpected.
As a professional event planner, you would assume that I have an extensive collection of music neatly organized into lists for every occasion but it is quite the opposite.
While I ...
