Nut Allergies

Dear Chefs and Caterers,

Thank you for being passionate about making interesting and delicious food, because we all know I love to eat it and try everything!

I have a favor to ask, on behalf of the 3.3 million of us Americans who have nut allergies. Can you please remember to inform your staff when a nut is used in a sauce, crust or hidden anywhere in the meal? My allergy is (knock on wood) no longer life threatening, it's just ugly, uncomfortable and inconvenient. I know this is not the case for all. Allergies are as unique as the person. For example: I can have almonds, pine nuts and coconut if it's cooked, but raw will make my tongue itch. I am allergic to: Walnuts, Pecans, Peanuts, Pistachios, Cashews and most other nuts. I don't expect you to know or remember what I can and can not eat, that is my responsibility, but please inform your staff what nuts are where and list it on the menu when possible.

Last night, my inflated lips did not hurt, it was more of a vanity issue. Having to run out of a wedding before the first dance to buy Benadryl (yes, I know, I should carry it with me) is a bummer.

Our job is to ask the servers if anything has nuts and if they say no, we'll dig in, but if we get the wrong information it could spoil our evening. You have put too much time and effort into creating an excellent meal and experience for it to be ruined by a silly little nut.

Thank you for your sensitivity to this matter.

Sincerely,

Tammy Golson

Funny Show

Ben Cameron is naturally entertaining and easy on the eyes. I look forward to seeing how funny he is when he is actually trying to be funny. If you're in New York and looking for a creative and original night out, support an artists and go see this one man show. I plan to be there Monday.


Make your reservations at:
212.695.6909

407 W. 42nd St / NY, NY 10036
just West of 9th Ave.


Happy Weekend!

Uncorked New York

A wine dinner to benefit City Harvest.

Inspired by a love of wine and and the need to make a difference, Uncorked was started in Washington DC as a way to enjoy a great food and wine experience while also benefiting the local community.

It has been such a success in the nation's capital, my dear friend Heidi Weaver decided to bring it to the Big Apple. On Sunday, October 4th, celebrate the fall and join us for a tasting of fine wines paired with fabulous French fare and a silent auction.

The Details:
Evening of Sunday, October 04, 2009
7:00 doors open, 7:45 seating for dinner
Brasserie Julien
1422 Third Avenue
NY, NY 10028

Master of Ceremonies for the evening will be Anu Karwa, of Swirl Events.

The evening begins with appetizers and a sparkling wine. A three course dinner is then served and three white wines and three red wines are presented for tasting.

Space is limited, buy your ticket to Uncorked NY here!

Julie and Julia

How does one come home from seeing Julie and Julia and not blog and drink wine. This one doesn't. Hopefully I'll write faster than I drink so the alcohol doesn't affect the content of this post.

I knew I'd like this movie, I did not know how much I would love it and relate to it on so many levels.

How, you ask?

- Julia was tall, her sister was very tall. They both married men much shorter than them, later in life and were so in love. I will stop deleting profiles of men who are under 5'10, effective immediately. I am 5'11. By the time I get married, some may say, I'll be later (gulp!) in life.

- Julia came into her passion when she was 40 (I have a head start here) and it took her YEARS to get reward and recognition. (I must be patient!)

- Julia had an amazingly positive attitude.

_____________________________

- Julie talked to families of 9/11 victims from a cubical in 2002. I opened letters and donations for families of 9/11 victims from a cubical in 2002.

- Watching Julie blog consistently, monitor her comments and see it through to the end was so encouraging.

- The frequent nods to The New York Times make me proud to say I worked for the paper for many years.

- I got excited that they mentioned Amanda Hesser (see her cool new project here!) by name early on. Imagine my surprise when she showed up at Julie's door for dinner. Amanda was a colleague and is author of Cooking for Mr. Latte, one of my favorite reads. I've been following her work for sometime, obviously not closely enough, because her cameo was unknown to me.

- Julie refers to herself as egocentric. (I think that was the word she used.) I feel like it's been about me a lot, lately, as I build my business, which I am not entirely proud of. (The being about me, I am certainly proud of the business!) I welcome the chance to make it about someone else: Accepting Applications.

In general, the film was beautifully filmed, the story was lovingly told and the love each woman had was to be envied. I want to shop for food in Paris.

Write a letter, read a blog (and leave comments), cook something French.

Bon appétit!

Marrying in Montauk

Today was a productive and picturesque day for a dear couple marrying in Montauk in September. They signed contracts, booked overnight accommodations and shopped for flowers (just to see what's out there and to gauge what will be available in September) This talented couple is going to brave the flower design on their own!


Farm fresh yellow cherry tomatoes were pop in your mouth dirty delicious.


These vibrant flowers were $10 for the biggest bunch at Helen's Greenhouse & Flower Farm.


The bride preferred this more subtle color palette.


The blackberries were a personal purchase, and perfection!


I love seeing flowers in their natural state.


One of the brides favorite, a consideration for the escort card table.


We collected beautiful stones that will be incorporated into their table decor.


Then we dipped our feet in the water!





Photos by the new iPhone.

Branding

According to Wikipedia: A brand is a name or trademark connected with a product or producer.[1] Brands have become increasingly important components of culture and the economy, now being described as "cultural accessories and personal philosophies".
Having started my own business, I have spent much time researching and thinking about branding. Yesterday, I was the happy "victim" of an excellent brand. I know better, but it did not prevent me from having a physical reaction. A happy bride sent me home with a gift after a post honeymoon dinner she and her new husband hosted. She had it in a gift bag, so when I got home and peered in.... I think my heart skipped a beat or I gasped or something dramatic. I was delighted by the light blue box women everywhere recognize. It was my first blue box, so I ceremoniously sat on my couch and carefully with clean hands, opened the bag, took out the box, slowly untied the signature white ribbon, opened the box and gently removed the cloth bag that cradled a shiny silver business card holder.

What do you think is the most successful brand?



Thank you for the generous gift, Helen, it was so thoughtful of you! I will always remember my first blue box!

In Any Event

Who is responsible for all the Indian eye candy I have been sharing this week? The parties were planned by the professional team of In Any Event, made up of two of the finest event planners I know: Leslie Price (Pictured on top left with graphic design genius Ana Dolan and me) and Eyal Tessler proudly wearing his turban. I love working with all three of them, they are brilliant, period.

Indian Wedding, the conclusion

The final event of the Indian Wedding was at Gotham Hall and planned by In Any Event.

Guests were greeted by personalized post cards of the Taj Mahal, a miniature replication of the couple's save the date. The original photograph was taken by a friend of the couple. These precious escort cards (one of my favorite details!) were made by Ana Dolan.


Dinner was served family style and catered by the fabulous Olivier Cheng.




The couple practices their first dance while guests are enjoying the cocktail hour.


This cake was inspired by the cake in the movie Rachel Getting Married and next to the bride and groom was the most photographed detail of the evening.


The room looked stunning and surprisingly intimate from up above, given the grandness of Gotham Hall and the fact that there were 395 guests. The balcony provided great photo opportunities. The big screen alternated a slide show which included photographs from their previous events and scenes from Bali movies.

Indian Wedding, Part 2

The evening reception was under a tent in the backyard of the bride's parents in Scarsdale, New York. There was more music, entertainment and dancing! My trusty Canon point and shoot could not capture the magnitude of the scene, but suffice to say the lighting, smoke and mood reminded me of a movie!







Tomorrow I'll share the photos from the final party at Gotham Hall.

Indian Wedding

A few weeks ago, In Any Event asked me to work an Indian wedding with them. Words will not do it justice, instead I am going to share my photographs of this very vibrant and festive masterpiece.

Day one was the ceremony at Oheka Castle:
















Tomorrow I will write briefly about their evening reception under a "tent" and share photos from day two at Gotham Hall.

Another Love Poem and more from Lyndhurst

As promised, this is the love poem Saturday's Groom selected for his Bride. This is such a lovely tribute especially for a couple who is more spiritual than religious.

LOVE
By Roy Croft

I love you,
Not only for what you are,
But for what I am
When I am with you.
I love you,
Not only for what
You have made of yourself,
But for what
You are making of me.

I love you
For the part of me
That you bring out;
I love you
For putting your hand
Into my heaped-up heart
And passing over
All the foolish, weak things
That you can't help
Dimly seeing there,
And for drawing out
Into the light
All the beautiful belongings
That no one else had looked
Quite far enough to find.

I love you because you
Are helping me to make
Of the lumber of my life
Not a tavern
But a temple;
Out of the works
Of my every day
Not a reproach
But a song.

I love you

Because you have done
More than any creed
Could have done
To make me good,
And more than any fate
To make me happy.

You have done it
Without a touch,
Without a word,
Without a sign.
You have done it
By being yourself.

As dinner wrapped up, DJ Rob Kelley took over and got the crowd sweating-- I mean dancing. Well Spun Weddings was everywhere and captured the entire day on video. I look forward to seeing their final product of this audio and visual masterpiece! This was my first time working with both vendors who were so hardworking and very professional!

Love Poems and Lyndhurst

I had the pleasure of coordinating an amazing wedding at Lyndhurst in Tarrytown, New York on Saturday. The ceremony was nearby at the stunning Irvington Presbyterian Church. The couple is fantastic and decided to each select a love poem without telling the other what poem they chose. They sent them to me separately and I delivered them to the couple's friend who read them aloud at the ceremony. This personalized touch added a thoughtful and unknown element to the ceremony and cost the couple nothing.

Cocktails were on the serene veranda which overlooked the property's manicured 67 acres. The summer evening was filled with the music of a string trio and dinner was served in the prettiest tent. Paper lanterns in various sizes and shades of violet, lilac and lavender (my favorites!) hung at different heights paired with tall and full floral arrangements in coordinating colors transformed the tent.

David Willems was the photographer, I can't wait to share the details of this day through his images of this very beautiful wedding!

The Brides poem for her Groom was:

Carry Your Heart With Me
By E. E. Cummings

I carry your heart with me (I carry it in
my heart) I am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling) I fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) I want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

Here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

I carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

Tomorrow I'll share the Groom's poem for his Bride along with more fun from this wedding. What is your favorite love poem?

Planning a Birthday Party

While I have great clients, I am guilty of playing favorites! Luckily my three year old godson in Michigan is one of them. Planning his birthday this year was so much fun. The morning of his party was like Christmas morning. He took my hand and guided me through each room in the house that had fun things for his birthday. Everything he showed me was followed by a: "for my birthday!"

Jen Kroll, the extraordinary wedding photographer came by early to capture the details of the day, before heading out-of-town to shoot a wedding. I am so grateful to her. I look forward to unveiling her photos soon.

Planning a Birthday Party:

-Start thinking and planning early.
-Consider your child's interests. Find inspiration in their playroom, on their bookshelf or from their imagination. Take a common idea and find a way to personalize it.
-Do less well vs. more sloppy. It's okay to aim for the sky with your intentions, but if everything does not get done, don't panic. You have not published the menu or the itinerary and no one will be the wiser if you eliminate a game or forgo the potato salad.
-Delegate and enlist help when necessary. Even if the help is from a local bakery, it's okay!
-Childrens' parties are an excellent opportunity to explore and experiment with DIY projects, especially when it comes to invitations, goody bags and decorations. (If the results are unsuccessful, you don't have to use them or you can tell guests your child helped you.) No one will criticize a parent for trying, on the contrary.
- Keep it simple, the first few years are for you and they won't remember the details, but be bold and have fun with bright colors, balloons and silly things that aren't always appropriate for other events.
-Remember this is a celebration and it should be fun, schedule time to relax and enjoy yourself.

Wedding Photojournalism

This is one of the most interesting, original and inspiring engagement videos I have ever seen. Take a look:



Thanks to Yura Liamin of Lux Photo Studios for sharing his images, his perspective and answering the question, what is photojournalism?



Wedding photojournalism focuses on capturing the little things, the details, sudden emotions, instant reactions, true feelings, and is evolving from a simple trend to become the standard in the wedding photography industry. It branches away from traditional wedding and event photography associated with posed shots and “everybody smile” and “look happy” poses. While traditional photographers create bridal images that are mostly posed and scripted, photojournalist captures bridal images with very little involvement in the composition of the photograph. Spontaneity makes for the best images. An image should tell a story, set a mood, and be filled with character.



Moments Rather Than Poses

The true strength of wedding photojournalists is in informal, candid, documentary style of wedding photography and videography. Professional photojournalists capture the images and videos throughout the wedding day or an engagement session or a corporate party that tell a story. The photographer unobtrusively seizes each action of the day, without staging elaborate shots and the events are captured in a pure, genuine state.


This style is right for you if you want both candid and artistic photos, while being photographed in a loose and relaxed way, with a photographer that lets the actions of the day happen instead of making them happen. Good photojournalists go beyond candid to freeze the action at its peak moment, to capture the essence, to find the feeling… to tell stories of bride and groom, of their special day.