Hi all! I’m so excited to be back with my bi-weekly blog! It’s been a hectic 6 months with a heck of a lot of packing and unpacking. My husband and I sold our NYC apartment and bought an apartment in Palm Beach last November. And because I am not ready yet to exit the Big Apple, I bought an apartment in NYC and am currently renovating the kitchen. But over the next few weeks, I have some fabulous summer recipes to give you inspiration for summer cooking and entertaining.
To celebrate summer this year, I threw a Taste of Capri party in the Hamptons to honor one of my favorite destinations in the world. You know how I always love theme parties. Let me share some of my ideas with you as this is an easy party to replicate. We decorated the tables with beautiful lemon tablecloths that I bought from Amazon ( link). I bought fresh lemons and found lemon leaves in the flower market so our guests could be transported to the sights and smells of the Amalfi Coast. With the use of these simple elements mixed with colored votives and glasses, we were able to create a simple yet evocative tablescape.
We started out the evening with Napoleon-style pizza, Aperol Spritz’s, and homemade Frozen Bellinis (check out the recipe below!). The meal was catered by Chef Andrew Molen. I usually cook myself but really just wanted to be a guest at my own party this year. The buffet included Italian fare of course… a fresh summer caesar salad, grilled branzino fillets, and spaghetti with mini meatballs and Pomodoro sauce. We also had an incredible accordion player who serenaded our guests during dinner.
I sang some Italian classics including That’s Amore before our guests danced to the music of our wonderful DJ. And of course, I had to wear something from an Italian designer, and this Dolce and Gabbana Dress from their summer collection reminds me of Capri! We finished off the night with a dessert bar including strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate gelatos imported from Italy.
A big thank you to my wonderful event planner and dear friend, Hank Stampfl of Revel Rouge who helped me create my vision. I hope you will take this party inspiration and throw a themed event of your own using food, tablescapes, and music to set the mood. Salute!
Ingredients
Simple Syrup
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
Frozen Bellini
- 16 oz frozen peaches
- 6 oz peach liquour
- 4 oz simple syrup
- 1 cup ice
- 2 cups sparkling wine plus more to top off
Instructions
Simple Syrup
- Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer and stir until sugar dissolves, about a minute or two. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Pour into a jar or squeeze bottle. May be stored in your refrigerator for up to a month.
Frozen Bellini
- Add all ingredients to a blender, and blend until completely smooth, about 2 minutes.
- Serve in champagne glasses, and if you’d like, top it with more sparkling wine.
