Entertaining Archives - Modern Pineapple

April 24, 2015

How to Polish Silver

Next weekend is the Run for the Roses — the perfect excuse for an afternoon-turned-evening of partying in your best pastels, embroidered seersucker pants and of course, beautiful big hats. Though we won’t be heading to Derby ourselves, it has served as the perfect reminder for me to… do a little silver polishing (!). We have a pair of julep cups that need routine maintenance — used more often for flower arranging than consuming the refreshing namesake beverage. This time of year though, they need to be at the ready for containing a cool mix of bourbon, simple syrup, mint and crushed ice (ahhh, springtime).

Silver polishing should really be done at least every six weeks to preserve the shine of your silver or silver-plated wares. I’m guilty of letting this slide (there are always more pressing matters!) but I’m determined to keep ours glistening. It’s really such an easy task — I buffed our pieces back to shining health this morning in under 10 minutes. Using Cape Cod polishing cloths (available online and in practically every hardware store), wipe down the surface of your silver, making sure you get into the grooves or any etching. I had to work a touch harder inside the monogram ‘M’ for the champagne bucket (a favorite wedding present we received). Don’t scrub, especially for silver-plated items. Once your item is completely polished, use a soft cloth, some warm water and a tiny bit of dish soap to gently buff off the polish till it’s shining. Dry the item(s) with an old white cotton t-shirt, and you’re set for your next soiree.

And if you are hosting a preppy party next weekend, my hat is off to you! (We’re waiting for our horse race fill in June with the Royal Ascot.) Consider creating a Mint Julep bar for your guests to create their own concoctions to go along with delicious ham biscuits and chocolate bourbon pecan pie while you watch the greatest two minutes in sports.

Voile! And you can see the t-shirt I used to dry it reflected in the bucket. Now where’s the Rosé Perrier-Jouët..?

Post script. My mom found this incredible polishing method where you essentially turn your kitchen sink into a science lab. By using aluminum foil and baking soda, the tarnish melts off before your very eyes. Before my brother’s engagement party this summer, we cleaned my parents’ silver this way and it worked like a charm. If you have a lot to polish, then this might be the method for you! And let me know how wonderfully it livens up your favorite pieces x

April 15, 2015

Tzatziki for Two

If I had to name my favorite cuisine, it might be Greek. Really. It would even possibly edge out Mexican, which is saying a lot. I love the bright flavors, fresh ingredients and overwhelming sense of family I get when I dip into a bite — but maybe that’s my love of My Big Fat Greek Wedding talking (the dad in that movie is classic). The craving for Greek food hit me when I realized it was Xristos Anesti last weekend (a holiday I always remember thanks to my favorite Greek and college roommate Alexandra Sarris) coupled with the warm weather.

I mentioned it in a post earlier this week, but we dipped into said Greek fare last Friday. It was the first time I tried my hand at tzatziki, but it’s always the first thing I order when we go down the street to Mazi. I found a recipe in one of my very favorite wedding presents: Two in the Kitchen cookbook from Williams-Sonoma.* It was so easy that I almost got mad I haven’t been making it all these years, but it was too good to be upset. Side note: the recipe made quite a bit more than the two of us could handle on our own, or that we felt friends at a party would eat. I’ve halved the recipe here for you to enjoy — perfect for summer nights with crudites or small crackers.

Summer Snacks: Perfect Tzatziki for Two

1/2 cucumber, halved and seeded
1/2 lemon
250 g Greek yogurt (1 cup)
1 Tbsp minced fresh dill
1 Tbsp minced fresh mint
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper

Using a box grater, coarsely shred the cucumber into a fine-mesh sieve. Let the water from the cucumber drain for about 10 minutes in the sink. Squeeze the cucumber to remove any remaining moisture. Halve a lemon, and grate one half into a bowl. Then squeeze the juice of the lemon into the bowl. Stir in the shredded cucumber, yogurt, dill and mint. Season with sea salt and pepper. Refrigerate for later, or as I did, serve immediately.

*The cookbook is from my cousin Ben and his wife Kelsey, and is inscribed with a wonderful quote shared with the wisdom of several beautiful years of marriage behind them: “Cooking is like love: it should be entered into with abandon or not at all.”

March 30, 2015

Sophisticated Easter Dinner Celebration

Thoughts of Easter draw pastel-colored memories of bunnies, chocolate eggs and spring dresses. It’s a fine line decorating for this holiday without getting stuck in the world of bright plastic eggs and green basket grass, even in a home without any kids around (!). Instead, I try focusing on layering colors a palette of Easter colors mixed with fresh flowers and lots of glass to bring a contemporary yet classic feel to the table.

Since we have a wood dining table, I used a bright white tablecloth {with playful little white polka dots} as a light backdrop. Then, to start adding color I used multi-colored woven placemats from Chilewich. To create more depth and space between the placemat and the actual china itself, I added gold glass chargers {ours were a seasonal purchase from Crate & Barrel, similar here}.

From the placemats, I pulled out to colors to work into the rest of the table for a cohesive look: pink and green. I folded pastel green napkins I picked up at John Lewis {also love these mint linen ones from CB2} around our white china plates to add color to the white china. {I love how there are so many different yet compatible textures in this place setting.} On top of the napkins, I placed little ramekins of pastel-colored chocolate Cadbury eggs, tied with raffia. So. Many. Layers.

For the flowers, I paired bright pink tulips in square glass vases with the Italian cherry blossom branches {still going strong from last month’s trip to the flower market!}. I nestled a little bunny between two of the vases {from Williams-Sonoma} and filled his bowl with more Cadbury eggs. With a couple of spring straws and the addition of light pink candles, our Easter dinner table was set!

Modern Pineapple Easter Setting

Since we’ll be out of town this weekend, we had our Easter dinner at home a little early this year. It was a lower key dinner with salmon, roasted brussels and quinoa. I have a feeling our Easter this year will have a bit more Italian flair!

March 29, 2015

Modern Calligraphy Name Card Ideas

This afternoon I’m heading out to a calligraphy class with Quill London {have you seen their site yet? It’s filled with the latest from Kate Spade, Sugar Paper and Rifle Paper Co to name just a few.} They offer workshops for beginner and intermediate levels, along with brush lettering – so intriguing!

I’m really excited to try my hand at modern calligraphy, though am slightly worried the ink will end up more on me than the paper. My goal in time is to train myself to create beautiful letters for name cards for the table. Though I’ll start with paper, I hope to get as creative as these chic little ideas below to add that little something extra for guests to remember.

March 24, 2015

Top Mood Lighting Tips

There is something so special about candles. I love the way they instantly elevate any moment, whether it’s a single pillar candle on the coffee table, or dazzling candelabras in the dining room. I’m personally a huge tea light fan and advocate. They’re small with big impact, versatile to go in any room of your house for hosting and gorgeous used in a variety of ways. Here are my top tips for setting the mood with tea lights for your upcoming soiree:

1. Buy in bulk. Tea lights aren’t very expensive, and often can come in packs of 50-100 so you don’t need to replace a bag often. We go through them quickly in our house {we light them every night with dinner — really, every night} so it’s nice to have so many easily accessible. There are so many options and colors. Scope out Amazon to have them delivered right to your door. Be sure to buy tea light holders as well. Mine are glass picked up from our local everything store, Tyler’s at Notting Hill Gate, but you can buy them just about everywhere!

2. Start fresh. It’s important to use new candles for every event to ensure they will flame for several hours {you don’t want them burning out halfway through your party!}. If you are expecting an epic long night, just plan to have extra tea lights on hand to replace them. I usually keep a few strategically stacked in a drawer in each room where candles are lit {read: everywhere}.

3. Invest in proper candle tools. This means a long lighter, instead of striking matches which can fly out of your hand and onto your tablecloth {guilty}, and a snuffer to safely extinguish the flame so you don’t blow hot wax onto your dining room table {doubly guilty}. Our snuffer was a gift from my mother-in-law, who had heard the tales. {I also like this one.} As you can see, I’ve learned from experience. These tools are worth it — spend the money for your safety and sanity.

4. Light candles on a tray. This is my favorite trick! I’ve found it’s easier to light all the candles on a tray {mine is Mariposa, similar here} and spread them about just before guests arrive, instead of going from room to room hunting for candles. Just remember to be super careful walking, and don’t carry too many at once.

5. Set in groups. Tea lights can be used in any variety of ways, but I personally love having at least 3-5 lights in any given space to have a beautiful effect {and it can still be a dazzling table sans flowers — economical too!}. It’s best to stick with the old decorating trick of odd numbers, so keep that in mind during your set up.

6. Use unscented candles. The last thing you want is for an overpowering tea light to take over the delicious hors d’oeuvres or dinner you’re serving. The only place I’d suggest it’s okay {and appreciated} to have a scented candle is the guest bathroom.

March 20, 2015

Where to Find the Best Macarons in London

Seeing as it’s National Macaron Day, I’m sharing my favorite bakeries for these trendy treats that are just everywhere these days. They’re a perfect sendoff from weddings, and I love to serve them after dinner as a sweet, light dessert. It’s such fun to see everyone’s eyes light up as they try different flavors and gush about their favorite kinds. Enjoy!

Anges de Sucre: I’ve professed my love for this sweet little shop multiple times with its delicious marshmallows, muffles {marshmallow truffles — I mean, come on, so good}, and of course macarons. The name alone is enough to fall in love — it’s “sugar angels” in French. Located off Kensington Church Street, my favorites are Death by Chocolate and Pistache Vera Pistachio.

Ladurée: This Parisian patisserie is no secret in France, here or across the pond {my parents, best friend and I stood in line for literally two hours when the first NY shop opened on Madison & 72nd}, and they have multiple locations here in London. Just as beautiful as the macarons are their gorgeous collectable boxes. When we were in Paris they had a pineapple box — perfection!

Pierre Hermé: Located inside Selfridge’s {and they also have a shop in Belgravia}, this also Parisian outpost creates true works of art with their sweets and macarons. The flavors are beyond, with options like Infiniment Caramel {salted-butter caramel} and Celeste {passion fruit, rhubarb and strawberries}. Today, they’re also offering one of their iconic 25 macarons to anyone who makes a donation through them to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

Whole Foods: You can actually snag delicious macarons from the bakery area for just £1 each, which is the littlest amount I’ve seen for this pint-sized treats. They’re perfect for picking up when you’re short on time and are interested in favorite flavors like vanilla, chocolate, and rose.

March 12, 2015

Spring Awakening Tablescape

Flowers, flowers, flowers! Nothing says spring quite like fresh blooms, and with Mothering Sunday this weekend and the itch to leave winter behind for good, I’ve pulled together a spring tablescape fit for any occasion. Starting with the table, I removed the pads to expose the table’s wood underneath for a more earthy, natural feel. Then I added a table runner {ours is from West Elm, though I’m also in love with this basket weave look from Chilewich} that’s actually peach-colored on one side and cream on the other. To give an airier look and stronger contrast against our wooden table, I opted for the cream look.

During my recent trip to New Covent Garden Market, I had picked up cherry blossoms, long-stemmed pink roses and green hypericum. My favorite part of the whole table is the height range from the cherry blossoms down to the tea lights, which keeps your eye moving. The tall cherry blossoms in the center added the drama while the roses anchored the table on either side. To do this, I cut the bottoms of the cherry blossoms on an angle and put them in a tall cylinder vase in the center of the table runner. Then, with these cute pastel pitchers {also picked up from the market — wholesale makes accessories a complete bargain}, I paired the roses with the green hypericum in a tighter bunch {which I held together with a rubber band to keep its shape}.

To round out the table, I added a few bud vases with one rose in each {bud vases from Whole Foods Floral for £1 each (!), similar here} and scattered tea lights around the vases along the runner. For the place settings, I used Caspari rattan chargers to keep with the natural theme and placed an elegant dinner plate on top to add a bit of sparkle and formality for a festive event {Vera Wang Wedgwood Lace}. For the napkins, I folded them in thirds, tied it together with raffia and tucked a bit of hypericum into the folded napkin, tying the place settings together with the arrangements. A champagne glass for festive drinking, a tumblers for water {on sale now at Selfridges!}, and silverware for your meal, and it’s set for a sweet spring soiree.

Keeping the arrangement together with a rubber band as mentioned above – simple trick I use all the time!

March 10, 2015

Blueberry Mango Galette

This past summer {thanks to the New York Times} was the first time I discovered galettes, a mouthwatering cross between a pastry, pie, tart and cake all in one. And by discovered, I mean I made one myself. I used some sweet peaches we had and found how simple it was to make a delicious dessert from start to enjoying in under an hour.

Since then, fruit galettes have been one of my go-to desserts. They’re relatively forgiving, comforting and can be filled with just about anything you wish {traditionally galettes were a savory dish, but now are often served with a sweet filling}. Plus, I love a homemade dessert that is served warm and can be accompanied with ice cream. Sold.

This past weekend, champagne mangos were featured at our neighborhood Whole Foods, so I picked up a couple and matched it with blueberries we had at home. There are lots of recipes out there, but I’m fearless in the kitchen and pull together bits of recipes to make up my own. Instead of a pie crust {I usually use a pre-made one}, I went with a flaky puff pastry for a lighter feeling. I recommend it wholeheartedly for your next gathering, and for my UK friends hosting their mums for Mother’s Day this weekend, you’ll make her proud.

Blueberry Mango Galette

Filling

1 C blueberries {ideally fresh, but can be frozen}
2 mangoes, peeled, pitted, and sliced
Pinch of salt
1 T sugar
1 T flour
¼ t ground cinnamon
1 t lemon zest

Assembly

1 egg, slightly beaten
1 T water
2 t sugar

Instructions

Crust

Take pre-made crust out of the refrigerator about 1 hour before using.
Roll out dough onto floured surface to about a 12″ circle.

Filling

In a large mixing bowl, combine blueberries, mango, salt, sugar, flour, cinnamon, and lemon zest.
Toss until all fruit is coated and set aside.

Assembly

Preheat oven to 400 F / 205 C.
Transfer rolled dough to parchment lined baking sheet with lip.
Pour filling into the middle of dough.
Spread evenly, leaving about 2” around the edge for folding.
Fold edges of dough over filling, forming a circle/hexagon shape and gently pressing to seal dough around filling.
Whisk egg and water together in a small bowl.
Brush pastry dough with egg wash and sprinkle lightly with sugar.
Bake for 40 minutes {I let mine cook slightly too long this weekend – be prompt!}.
Let it cool for 5-10 minutes and serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

February 28, 2015

Host an Italian Countryside-Inspired Dinner

These days, the overwhelming sentiment from everyone I talk to is spring can’t come soon enough. I couldn’t agree more. I’ve been pouring over our summer plans and dreaming of the warmer weather that’s slowly approaching. I decided to give us a little preview of the fun to come, and take us to the Italian countryside for a recent date night.

I try to cook mostly in season, using local vegetables and decorating with regional flowers. But there does come a point where I break that, like a Saturday night when we need a dose of springtime. We picked up some cherry tomatoes and fresh basil, along with rocket greens and a giant ball of mozzarella for our dinner.

MP Roses

For the table, I used a bright white tablecloth and a peach-colored runner to add a light, fresh feeling {I got mine on sale at West Elm, but also like this one here}. Then I got to work on the center arrangement. I picked several leafy branches from our trees outside our building and inserted them into a wire frame. I used roses from another arrangement, cut them so there were just a few inches left on the stem to show off just the bloom, and added them in casually.

For the place settings, I paired our bright white plates with our rattan chargers {ours are from Caspari, similar here} to give it a relaxed rustic feel.

I was inspired for the pasta dish by the one Camille Styles shares in her book {she has great taste – I love the way she brings all the senses together with her entertaining}. It was a simple mix of olive oil with minced garlic, cooking down the halved cherry tomatoes, adding in the cooked pasta, creamy torn mozzarella and shredded fresh basil just picked off the plant. The entire kitchen smelled heavenly.

For the salad, I just drizzled from freshly squeezed lemon juice onto the rocket and parmesan, along with a little olive oil. It was light, fresh and a delicious accompaniment to the pasta.

My husband decanted a wonderfully aged bottle of red, and poured them into our crystal glasses {it’s okay to add a little glamour, it was a date after all!}.

We had such a good time laughing and dreaming about returning to Italy {the bottle of wine certainly helped!}. I know we’ll call on this combination again soon. Salute!

Chargers / Plates / Silverware / Napkins / Glassware / Decanter / Wine Coaster / Pitcher

February 23, 2015

Making V-Day Blooms Last

It seems so much longer to me, but Valentine’s Day was just the Saturday before last. I’ve been enjoying the abundance of flowers around our flat and working my magic to make them last as long as possible. Here are the secrets I’ve picked up over the years:

Always cut flowers at a slant about 1″ from the bottom. The slant helps the stems absorb more water.
Change the water every other day. It helps stave off bacteria. With every other water change, I also cut the flowers again at a slant.
Remove any leaves that are submerged or touching the water {they rot quickly}.
With each water change, I put in a few drops of vodka {really!} and a teaspoon of sugar. Again with keeping off bacteria, and the sugar feeds the plants.

Once the blooms are really on their last legs, I pull them out of the vase and put them in a floral arrangement on the table. By this point, the flowers have truly blossomed and are often very wide {especially roses}. I use a combination of bud vases and my husband’s old fashioned glasses to display anywhere from 1-3 blooms. Mixing it with tea lights lengthens it and makes a simple yet dramatic arrangement.

For an extra flair, tuck a bloom into the napkin with the stem hidden underneath the fabric folds. I love bringing nature to the table, and having individualized elements at each place setting. Whether it’s for a big group, the two of us or even just me, it’s so fun to play around with flowers. It elevates the experience {even if it’s just a weekday breakfast} and makes me feel like each moment is special.

Chargers / Plates / Silverware / Champagne / Wine / Tablecloth / Napkins

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