Fete Events

Litchfield County, Connecticut is the perfect escape from the big bad city—picturesque, idyllic, friendly and only 90+ minutes away… But, alas, there aren’t so many great restaurants to be found in the area. We were thrilled, consequently, to find ourselves at Community Table in Washington, CT. It’s a spectacular dining experience created by wildly talented Executive Chef Joel Viehland (recently nominated as a Food and Wine Magazine’s Best New Chef Finalists), out in the middle of nowhere. Any true foodie has noticed the industry-wide push towards locally grown ingredients, and Viehland elevates this concept—throughout his small menu and wine list—to an art form. (While wines are indeed local, diners can bring their own, for a small corkage fee.)

To get there, you drive along a local highway and pull up to an unassuming barn on the side of the road. They take no reservations—which creates an inevitably packed house —and the vibe is quite casual. Once we were seated, the flavors knocked us flat…. Truly incredible. My 7-year-old son was talking about the flavoring on his heirloom fingerling potatoes all week (Isn’t it great when you can expose great food to a child?) Guests experience nothing short of excellence, thanks to its straightforward, quintessentially “Litchfield County” vibe and Viehland’s marvelous talent. (He trained at Noma, after all… a two-Michelin Star restaurant in Copenhagen, voted best restaurant in the world this year by San Pellegrino’s Top 50 Restaurants list.)

Carmelized Onion & Mushroom Tart (shown below): House cured guanciale, gruyere, potatoes, 60 degrees celcius cooked egg yolk

Salt-Baked Heirloom Fingerling Potatoes (shown below): Vinegar poached onions, smoked (locally grown) paprika pepper aioli, herbs, nasturtium leaves

Once or twice a year I attend a design show in Paris.  It’s always a perfect excuse to take a break from NYC, hop the pond, eat some extraordinary food, wander the ancient streets, and experience a flood of inspiration. What’s really nice about this show is that some of the world’s best home and interior designers come together within this elegant marketplace. I go to open up my mind… not just to the things I’m seeing, but the innovative ways people bring style to life. Of course, Paris itself is an artist’s dream… Throughout Europe, artistry is revered as a part of life, with great design injected into every facet.

With that, I offer you my TOP TEN (well, TOP ELEVEN!) list of inspirational finds from my trip, in no particular order.

1. These driftwood mushroom stools stand about 18 inches tall, each are individually carved so they’re all different, and they offer a whimsical yet functional option for outdoor seating. (And hey, if you get hungry…)

2. There’s never a shortage of cheeky glamour at Louis Vuitton’s store on the Champs-Elysees—from their polished gold steps to this super chic window display. Who couldn’t fall in love with this zebra? And that gold, red, and black beading creates a dazzling desert effect that I’ll be borrowing someday in the future.

3. This image shows an incredible photograph that I’d love to have… It’s actually two mirror images put together to look like a V-wall, creating this effect that there’s a window into another gallery.

4. Stylish scooters and bicycles are essential elements of all great European cities. This classic dusty-red leather will just get better looking as time goes on, and the leather bike is more chic an accessory than any handbag.

5: I’ve had this Tim Burton, “Alice in Wonderland” card house effect in my head for a long time.

6: I already adore and collect nickel-plated lanterns. These oversized version are done up with chic brown leather straps, given even more style to an already timeless piece.

7: We forget how clean and cool a simple pegboard can be! This board is similar to any you’d find in an old garage, and the lettering is created with very simple yarn. But the font and the spirit in which it’s crafted is incredibly special.

8: We’ve all been in rooms that appear much larger than they are, thanks to a great mirror effect. Well these cubes are actually half-cubes, made to look like a full cube by mirror and shadow. Look closely and see this brilliant technique.

9: Rustic effects can be so elegant when done well. This simple concept—wooden pallets in lieu of a boxspring—would be perfect for a very chic, simple Americana farmhouse event.

10. That he blows! Josh’s favorite. This guy just sums up the beauty of life for me. A rose and its thorns, exemplifying that constant push-and-pull of tension that gives life its substance. Ain’t he cute?

11. We’ve all heard of ice packs for our eyes. So why not for our Pinot Gris? At this incredible restaurant/wine store, these rapid-ice wine chillers—sort of a frozen life jacket for your white wine—are a great notion for a fun, friendly event.  In Paris, they are quickly replacing the wine chiller filled with ice.

There are few elements as vital to the success of a wedding as its musicians. From the pacing of each piece, to the quality of the sound, to the intuition of its performers, ceremony music stirs all those in attendance, and sets a tone to last a lifetime. Bianchi Musica (bianchimusica.com), which provides exquisite chamber music for private events and weddings, is helmed by world-renowned pianist/singer/composer Pilley Bianchi—an extraordinary woman with whom I love to collaborate.

Pilley has turned me into a huge fan of piano music, with the original compositions she’s written for my clients. She has an uncanny ability to build anticipation, particularly as a bride is about to appear at the end of an aisle, and is adept at transporting guests into a beautiful state of mind. Adding to Bianchi Musica’s appeal is the fact that her musicians are exquisite, both in talent and beauty—fresh, angelic-looking women who are each accomplished chamber musicians in their own right.

Whether it’s their ethereal look, the exquisite sound, or Pilley’s ability to keep a wedding or event well paced and otherworldly, I’ve never been disappointed. She truly elevates what a ceremony can be.

**Side note on Pilley: Cultivating excellence must be a family affair… Pilley’s father trained his dog Chaser to understand the name of over 1000 objects. Chaser recently did a piece with Matt Lauer on the Today Show and was named the “smartest dog in the world!”.

http://www.bianchimusica.com/

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/41489081/ns/today-today_pets_and_animals/