Stop For Sushi

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You will be happy if you obey their sign out front and stop in for sushi

The interior of Sushi Stop in West L.A.

In a city overflowing with great Sushi spots it is difficult to set yourself apart. One of the ways is by offering unique combinations as Katsu-ya does or feature a celebrity chef, which is the case at Nobu or a great atmosphere like Hayama. What sets Sushi Stop apart is the reasonable pricing. Everything on the menu is $2.75. The beauty is that they they do not skimp on the quality of the sushi. The sushi is fresh and delicious. You will find all of your favorite basic sushi here. They also offer wonderful specials each day. Their miso soup is excellent and the tofu salad with ginger dressing is tangy and flavorful. All diners sit at the sushi counter and there is sometimes a wait but once you sip the hot miso soup and devour one spicy tuna after another it’s worth it. Sushi stop is on Sawtelle Blvd., just north of Olympic in West L.A. They are open from 11:30 to 10:00 every day. They offer valet parking on Mississippi Avenue. Their site is http://www.sushistopusa.com/

Buffalo Club

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The interior of the Buffalo Club has a wonderful speakeasy feel.

The large, outdoor space is covered in winter and open to the stars in summer. It’s a great party venue.

Parmesan crusted organic farm egg with spinach and crumbled bacon –

I recently enjoyed a wonderful meal at The Buffalo Club in Santa Monica. It was a multi course tasting menu with wine pairings. Their comfort food with a twist is delicious. A few of my favorite courses were the spicy tuna tartare, the moist and flavorful pan seared Halibut, the parmesan crusted organic farm egg (pictured above) and of course their legendary bubbly macaroni and cheese. The restaurant is comfortable and has a nostalgic, clubby feel. The tented patio sprinkled with lounge furniture feels very L. A. The indoor area with its wood and leather could just as easy be in a corner of Manhattan – and I am not referring to Manhattan Beach. If you have not visited in a while treat yourself to a great meal and a fun evening at a long established Santa Monica jewel.

Anthropologie is at it Again

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It’s always a treat to visit Anthropologie because I never know what treasures I might find. In addition to fantastic clothes, I have bought wonderful items for nearly every room in my home. The Anthropologie at 211 south Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills has expanded their home decor department. Make sure to stop upstairs to see an expanded collection of rugs, bedding, wallpaper, curtains, lamps… You will find items that are not available at any of their other southern California locations.Aren’t these fun! Their new spring dining collection has arrived. There are great dishes, pitchers, platters, vases etc.

Let Them Eat Cake

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There is a hot new bakery in town. Kimberly Bailey recently launched “The Butter End Cakery” in Santa Monica. Kimberly creates magical CAKE using the finest natural ingredients. She uses cage free eggs, hormone free butter, organic milk , Nielsen-Massey Flavoring and Guittard chocolate. There is no fondant in sight – instead this creative genius uses rolled chocolate. Kimberly’s cakes look fantastic and taste absolutely incredible. View their fun site at http://thebutterend.com/

Kimberly and one of her masterpieces. The lovely display at The Butter End’s opening celebration. The Ritz Carlton, Marina del Rey provided the hors d’oeuvres A fun lighthearted cake.

It’s Here

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I am delighted to report that our redesigned Website is 95 % complete! We are still adding press and tweaking a bit but I did not want to wait any longer to share it with you. Feel free to forward it. http://www.pryorevents.com/

Brunch at the Beach in Santa Barbara

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I typically expect a restaurant with an amazing view to serve mediocre food at best. The Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach is a pleasantly surprising exception. They care about everything they serve. I have enjoyed several wonderful meals at this extraordinary spot right on the beach. Sitting on their patio inches from the sand is a fantastic way to begin your day. Their weekend brunch is very good. Dinner here is delicious. They specialize in seafood and their fish is fresh and delicious. They feature locally sourced seafood as well as several types of fish flown in fresh from Hawaii. Their cioppino is very god as well as the chowder, and fresh salads. If you are not a fan of seafood there are meat and vegetarian options on the menu as well.

They also own The Santa Barbara FisHouse and S.B. Shellfish Company on the pier. I never visit Santa Barbara without enjoing a meal at one or two of these restaurants. I wish we had something comparable in L. A.

The unobstructed view from the table

The restaurant is on Cliff Drive in the Hope Ranch section of Santa Barbara

Grace Ormonde Magazine Photo Shoot

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The pool at Pelican Hill in Newport is extraordinary.

The view from the golf course almost makes me wish I played golf.

We had the pleasure of designing a table for inclusion in Grace Ormonde Wedding Style Magazine. We were honored as this is truly a stunning publication. We shot the table at the gorgeous Pelican Hill Resort in Newport Beach.

I wish we could share a few images of the table but we need to wait until the issue is released. I can tell you that the flowers from Hidden Garden Flowers were gorgeous and the unique pieces from Classic and other sources were great. It is truly an original table that won’t be found anyplace else.

Seasonal & Delicious

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The days are longer and summer is just around the corner – it’s time to eat lighter. The following dishes are easy to prepare, fresh and delicious. They are especially nice to serve at a party but easy enough to make for two.

Serve this refreshing tomato salad as a first course or in between courses – use green, yellow and red heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, fresh parsley and drizzle with your favorite vinaigrette.

Fresh mint sorbet tastes better when served with shortbread hearts in martini glasses.

Select a colorful assortment of fresh vegetables at one of our many farmers markets. Serve simply grilled with evoo. A selection of imported cheese and crusty bread can turn this into a meal .

Gracious Guests

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I have been planning parties and weddings for sixteen years so you would think that not too many things guests do would surprise me. Yet it’s always a bit shocking the way some guests behave. Sometimes I think good manners are a thing of the past. As my grandmother always told me “Give everyone the same respect – from your waiter to the CEO”. If you follow these simple, common sense rules chances are your social calendar will be full.

How To Be a Gracious Guest
RSVP in a timely manner. If you are not sure whether you will be available or in town call your host and explain the conflict.

Let your host know of any serious dietary restrictions at least two weeks in advance – not on the morning of the party.

Arrive promptly – especially to a dinner party or an invitation that specifies “sharp”.

Never show up with uninvited guests.
Don’t drink so much that you will be embarrassed the next day.

Try to be sociable and meet new people. Never tell embarrassing stories about your host. Try to avoid controversial subjects.

Unless you are seriously allergic to something – eat it.
If the party is a casual affair, offer to help but never insist.
Do not complain that it’s too hot or too cold or the food is too salty… however if your host is a close friend and the problem can be remedied then by all means mention it.
Say goodbye to your host before you depart – even if you depart early.

Send flowers and a hand written thank you note the day after the party.

SPRING TIME

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I love the fresh, crisp feel of this wedding that we planned in a clear tent. The yellow flowers really pop against the white swagging.

Tammy Julian who creates all of the flowers for The Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire put these together. They are simple, yet very pretty.
A colorful array of spring flowers waiting to become part of an event…

Even though I live in Southern California where it feels like spring most of the year, I still look forward to spring time. Perhaps it’s because I am from the east coast where spring means the end to a freezing winter. Maybe it’s what spring symbolizes – new beginnings, flowers blooming and the fact that summer is just around the corner. Look for inspiring spring entertaining ideas in the next few weeks.