Chase Sarah Leah - Silver Palate Good Times Cookbook

Our travels have taken us to Europe, the Orient, and seemingly every nook and cranny of America. Sheila has taught at most of the major cooking schools in America; Julee has spoken at numerous gastronomical symposiums and workshops. Over those years weve planned almost every kind of party imaginablecocktails aboard the Intrepid, black-tie garden dances, Broadway opening nights, Fourth of July fireworks dinners, silver anniversary square dances, Christmas balls, after-opera suppers, a luncheon for the Archbishop of Canterbury, picnics in the park, a wedding for a rock star, political fund-raisers, and Valentine dinners for two. Practice does make perfect, and wed like to share with you our experience in creating those good times. The emerging American cooking style has long been our passion, yet it is difficult to define. Elegance is the art of not astonishing.Jean Cocteau American cuisine is in the process of developing, as we learn to lighten up but retain taste, trim quantities without sacrificing pleasure, create simple, fresh, clear, and distinctive flavors, use our sense of humor, and allow enthusiasm and ingenuity to reign. Elegance is the art of not astonishing.Jean Cocteau American cuisine is in the process of developing, as we learn to lighten up but retain taste, trim quantities without sacrificing pleasure, create simple, fresh, clear, and distinctive flavors, use our sense of humor, and allow enthusiasm and ingenuity to reign.

The new cuisine is excitingit is our own American style. Our Silver Palate recipes are created in response to this excitement. They are inspired by our travels, or adapted from favorites lovingly shared with us by friends and professional colleagues, or are our contemporary versions of classic dishes. Our style is strongly influenced, also, by our living in one of the most culturally diverse, sophisticated, challenging, and intellectual cities in the world. All these recipes have been tested by our staff, tasted by our clients, and then added to The Silver Palate recipe boxwhich were opening to share with you. It has never been easier to plan a partythe best ingredients are widely available todaybut the most important ingredient to being a successful host or hostess is to have a passion for people and a love of good food.

Like staging a symphony or a play, the final result is far more than the sum of its parts. Of course, each element should be as good as good can be, but that is not enough. An overall party plan needs to impart a sense of harmony and fluidity to an occasion. We love parties that are easy-going and comfortable, conveying the feeling of inclusiveness rather than exclusivity. When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece.John Ruskin Sharing a meal with friends is one of the most enjoyable social encounters. There was a time not too long ago when entertaining was a should do or a have towhen it was a gesture, however gracious, designed to maintain a social position or to repay a debt.

We like to think its now done just for fun, that hosts make the extra effort not to impress but to guarantee their guests a good time. Thats the differenceentertaining has become fun, and food a playful part of life. Theres a world of good eating in the difference. When we begin to plan a party at The Silver Palate, we think of it as making magic. The inspiration might be a spur-of-the-moment celebration of the first daffodils or a grand formal holiday gathering. The guests are an interesting mixpeople we like, not people we owe! The setting suits the moodby a stream or in a candlelit dining One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.