Friends and Family at Rosh Hashanah Dinner at Regena’s
It was the beginning of the Jewish New Year and the end of an era.
This year I celebrated Rosh Hashanah with Regena Thomashauer and her family and friends. Hollywood hottie Heather Graham was there too, and I cooked Chicken Marbella to honor my long-time friend Sheila Lukins, who recently passed away. Sheila was my boss for two years in the early 80’s the Silver Palate.
- Me, Michael Mclaughlin and my Dad in the Silver Palate Store 1980
When I opened Flavors Catering and Carry-out in the early 90’s on West 18th Street, Sheila came to my store opening and blessed it. She wasn’t my boss any longer, and we were good friends. She came to many of my “Chef and Foodie” Pot Luck dinners in the Hamptons and invited me to her home as well.
Her dinners were truly memorable. One time Sheila threw a small dinner for 10 people in her newly renovated and totally charming home in Sag Harbor. It happened to be one of the hottest nights of the summer, and there was no air conditioning in her home, but that didn’t stop her! She sweat her way through the preparations and made the most incredible meal! We all ate well and drank like fish. The meal was Provencal Fish Stew with Aioli and a platter of the most gorgeous summer vegetables. We had a lot of laughs and forever joked about that hot summer night.
Then there was the dinner she gave in her gorgeous apartment in the Dakota. I sat next to Ted Allen and Dana Cowin was there. Sheila served meatloaf that night and she showed us her collection of photos. She was so proud of her two daughters and her grandchildren.
I will always remember my dear friend Sheila. Her deep, magical voice and her wonderful warped sense of humor and, of course, her passion for the recipes she created for all of us to enjoy.
When I worked at the Silver Palate, we dished out Chicken Marbella every single day. I would always take the leftovers home. But I don’t think I ever cooked it or ate it again until I dusted off the recipe and made it for Regena and her guests.
It’s such a perfect party dish; the combination of sweet and salty. The prunes, olives, and capers combined with the vinegar, garlic, and red wine. It’s full of flavor and great hot or cold. It was racy when she first created it, but today it’s become a household name!
I served it with the brisket recipe from my cookbook, Pamela Morgan’s Flavors, and the side dishes were roasted mushrooms, string beans and quinoa with toasted pine nuts. Dessert was chocolate angel food cake with whipped cream, fresh berries, and coconut gelato. Pure pleasure!
*The original blog was called Flavors in Love. All material has been transferred and some has been edited for easier reading, and archiving.
I had no idea Sheila had left us – she was so young. What a loss to the food world! I love the Silver Palate books, and have followed her career for years. I always felt she was the heart and soul of The Silver Palate, and that Julee was just along for the ride, no disrespect intended. Sheila was an inspiration for all aspiring foodies, cookbook authors, and amateur cooks alike. She will be missed.
I had no idea Sheila had left us – she was so young. What a loss to the food world! I love the Silver Palate books, and have followed her career for years. I always felt she was the heart and soul of The Silver Palate, and that Julee was just along for the ride, no disrespect intended. Sheila was an inspiration for all aspiring foodies, cookbook authors, and amateur cooks alike. She will be missed.
So nice to meet you too. Thanks for checking out my blog. See you soon.
Pamela
So nice to meet you too. Thanks for checking out my blog. See you soon.
Pamela
yes…..i remember chicken marbella…i used to make it all the time! it was great meeting you the other night at the tarts and vicars party.
best,
ellie
yes…..i remember chicken marbella…i used to make it all the time! it was great meeting you the other night at the tarts and vicars party.
best,
ellie
Hi Pamela,
The Silver Palate cookbook was the first cookbook that I bought when I started to learn how to cook in the summer of 1992, my sophomore year in college. Chicken Marbella was the first recipe that I tried from the cookbook. I spent the summer in Cambridge, MA and made the dish for picnics and parties for my college friends. Thank you for this post. I love how meals and food bring people together and how the name of a wonderful recipe can hold so many memories. Much love, Margaret
Hi Pamela,
The Silver Palate cookbook was the first cookbook that I bought when I started to learn how to cook in the summer of 1992, my sophomore year in college. Chicken Marbella was the first recipe that I tried from the cookbook. I spent the summer in Cambridge, MA and made the dish for picnics and parties for my college friends. Thank you for this post. I love how meals and food bring people together and how the name of a wonderful recipe can hold so many memories. Much love, Margaret