Most people think of lavender as a summertime ingredient, but once it’s been dried it can be a wonderfully subtle drink garnish in the fall. Dried florals in general feel like autumn to me, reminiscent of wreaths and golden fields. This year we’ve partnered with Terlato Wines to create a lavender-inspired fall cocktail using their […]
Typically around this time of year, I find myself daydreaming of ways to spookify my favorite baked treats. Witches, goblins and all the creepy crawly things I can wrap my head around, they’re all there, waiting to be turned into something sweet. But this year, it’s been a little different. The end of the month crept up […]
When Veuve Clicquot first came to us with the challenge of creating a chic Day of the Dead party concept, we weren’t quite sure where to start. Flower crowns? Nah. Skull face paint? Too overdone. An abundant buffet? We did it last year. But as soon as our brainstorm ventured over to the holiday’s sugar skull […]
We’re feeling fall at the market! New greens and root vegetables are beginning to make an appearance, and I’m giddy with delight. But my new favorite ingredient of the moment isn’t chard – it’s char. I love the smoky, slightly exotic, haunting hint of bitterness it brings to almost any dish, and I’ve been exploring […]
When I took a poll last month about which seasonal menus you’d love to get a little help with, “Adult Halloween Party” was one of the most frequent requests. I’m right there with you: it can be really tough to find the balance between spooky and sophisticated, and while you want to infuse the menu with […]
Autumn feels like a fitting time of year to reconnect with faraway friends, as well as the people who live right in our own neighborhoods. When I was growing up, my parents were always friends with our neighbors — we’d have dinner parties, leave baked goods on each other’s doorsteps, and when I was old enough […]
I’m on a major Asian food kick lately, playing around with lots of miso and sriracha and fish sauce in dishes. Since most of my experiments have also been super spicy, I’ve been searching for the perfect cooling cocktail to pair them with, and here it is! This Cucumber-Ginger Sangria packs its own little kick of heat with […]
It doesn’t feel like fall until I’ve eaten ______. How would you fill in the blank? For me, it’s caramel apples, pumpkin everything, a steaming mug of chai tea, and sweet-spicy-crunchy caramel corn. I think it reminds me of the fall carnivals we used to have at school growing up, where everyone dressed up and there […]
Whoever said kids have no place at a cocktail party must have never met Shannon Eddings. Not unlike her interiors, this Austinite’s gatherings are classic and tasteful, but always with a hint of playful whimsy (and in the case of today’s gathering, that whimsy comes in the form of a toddler playing “mixologist”.) The mother of three is a pro at […]
If sweet potatoes haven’t become a regular staple in your household, it’s time to make them one. There’s simply no vegetable like it: healthy and satisfying, crazy delicious, and as easy to prepare as a bowl of cereal. For the laziest meal, I throw a whole sweet potato into the oven, just as-is, and enjoy […]
Morning friends! I’m taking it a little slower this morning after two long days and late nights at the ACL Festival. We’ve totally lucked out with the most sunny, beautiful weather, and it’s weekends like these that make me extra happy to live in Austin. Yesterday, we took Phoebe to the shows for a few […]
It doesn’t take more than spending a few minutes with Catherine Stiles to think to yourself: Can we be best friends? Not only does being tight with her mean access to some of the greatest barbecue in the country at her husband’s Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew, but it also comes with a lifetime membership to some of the best Texas-style […]