First Party of the Season

After weeks of planning and executing, the first party of the summer was a great success. Seven writers filed into my apartment and drank, ate and laughed. (Not pictured: Mary Ore, who took the photo...eyes closed: Melissa Clark, who'd consumed a lot of champagne and white wine by this point.)

The menu consisted of a cheese plate, edamame and garlic crostinis topped with goat cheese and baluga lentils for appetizers. 

I also made an organic salad with dried cranberries, hearts-of-palm and avocado served with a raspberry vinaigrette  (courtesy Liz Bliss). The main course was a shrimp and pasta dish inspired by a fun little cookbook titled "Bowl Food".  Dessert was a trifle made with organic blackberries and strawberries. I'm thrilled to announce that Mary had 3 helpings. (Mary, don't kill me!)

Good friends, good food, even good flowers...

I look forward to hosting more parties in the coming months.