Hi. I hope everyone is having a great end of summer.
The team here at David Monn, LLC is excited to announce the launch of an updated website www.DavidMonn.com and a brand new and improved blog found here http://davidmonn.com/wordpress/
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Sincerely,
David Monn
Recently I was interviewed by Bloomberg News regarding my contribution to the not-for-profit world which is near and dear to my heart. I think giving back is the most important thing I can help do in my business as a party planner. Below is the article! Cheers to giving this season to your charity of choice.
Bloomberg Holiday Story here
What would you do if you were asked to plan a last minute, day of, dinner party for 8 complete strangers for less than $150? Well, the Today Show called with that challenge and here is what my team and I created.
We wanted a mystical holiday table and elegant but affordable food. Below are the recipes and decor. If you need more info please comment. And, tune in to the Today Show LIVE Monday, December 20th around 9AM Eastern.
Décor List:
Quilt Batting (Table Cloth)
1 White Sheet
White Christmas lights
Apple barrel for centerpiece
Burlap fabric for napkins
Birch wood candle holders
Pillar candles
Grocery store list:
(Centerpiece)
3 bunches green Grapes
Gypsy baby’s breath
1 box Sugar for Grapes (to frost the fruit)
Walnuts
Recipes:
(Soup)
8 servings
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup chopped shallots
1 cup Sauternes
4 cups chicken stock
1 15.5 ounce can puree of chestnuts
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Chopped parsley for garnish
Croutons
Heat butter on medium, add shallots and sauté for 10 minutes.
Add Sauternes and cook 10 more minutes.
Add chicken stock, bring to a boil and reduce heat, add chestnut puree and whisk until smooth.
Add cream, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper and simmer for 15 minutes.
(Twice baked potato)
8 servings
8 Over sized Idaho Potatoes, bake until done.
Scoop out
Add:
1 cup of sour cream
1/2 lb butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup of heavy cream or until smooth
Combine all and hand mash mixture.
Add back into potato skins.
Brush the top with butter.
Bake 20 more minutes at 350 degrees.
Finish with a quick broil to give a golden brown top.
(Venison Chili)
4 slices bacon, chopped
3 pounds venison stew meat (leg) cut into ½” cubes
1 cup chopped red bell peppers
1 cup chopped Spanish onion
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 cup dry red wine
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground coriander
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper or to taste
1 16-oz. can diced tomatoes
1 cup beef broth
Salt and pepper to taste
Cook the bacon in a large pot until the fat is rendered and bacon is crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Season the venison with salt and pepper and brown in the bacon fat on all sides (in batches in a single layer). Remove meat from pot and add peppers, onions and garlic and cook over low heat, stirring, until onion is translucent. Deglaze the pan with the wine and tomato paste, turn up heat, and bring to a boil. Add spices, tomatoes, beef stock, venison, and bacon. Reduce heat to a simmer and simmer, partially covered, until venison is tender (about 2 hours or longer). Adjust seasoning. Like any chili, best if made a day or 2 in advance so flavors can develop.
The family was my favorite part of this entire project. I loved working with Steve and Jenny Margolis and their two wonderful boys. Thank you for allowing me into your home. Happy Holidays.
Keep holiday entertaining simple and fun. This season I suggest creating a mustard dipping station for my favorite hors d'oeuvre of the season "pigs n a blanket", or in french "les cochons dans une croissant."
You can find an assortment of mustards at:
Kalustyan’s
123 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10016
Order online for holiday delivery!
1. Basil Dijon Mustard 7.2oz jar for $13.99
2. Chinese Mustard, Extra hot 4.25 oz for $8.99
3. Creole Mustard 5.25 oz for $9.99
4. Honey Mustard, sweet. 4oz jar $7.99
I have been listening to R&B lately and have been inspired by some really amazing holiday tunes, some old and some new. I'm sharing with you my music for this season. I hope you enjoy the selections and maybe they can help set the stage for your own holiday party.
Silent Night – Boyz II Men
White Christmas – Otis Redding
Merry Christmas, Baby – Christina Aguilera
Let it Snow – Boyz II Men
Silent Night – The Impressions
I Want To Come Home For Christmas – Marvin Gaye
Our First Christmas – Gabriela Anders
Do You Hear What I Hear – Yolanda Adams
Oh Santa! – Mariah Carey
This Christmas – Tamia
With a Christmas Heart – Luther Vandross
The First Noel – Born in the King
Silent Night – Keyshia Cole
O Come All Ye Faithful – Luther Vandross
Ill Be Home for Christmas – The Isley Brothers
When Christmas Comes – Mariah Carey
The Christmas Song – The Temptations
Time of Year – Ashanti
I love the holidays. The warmth of the season, the time with family and friends and especially the decorating! Often people ask my advice about holiday table settings and centerpieces. I have a few easy entreating tips to share that I hope inspire you to create your own festive table.
Instead of flowers I'd like to suggest a few other more affordable ideas. The first centerpiece is using green grapes, green apples, both dusted with frosted sugar, rose cones and glittered babies breath. You can spear the apples with floral sticks and insert them into floral foam.
The next centerpiece can carry you through 2012. It is all babies breath. I choose both gold and silver glittered for this sample. We used floral foam, or oasis, to secure it all in a gold bowl I had in our office.
For me, it is about creating the whole environment. I am a huge fan of having your home smell like the holidays. The Ralph Lauren Holiday candle with currant, evergreen and juniper is wonderful, but if that is out of your price range Ashland Home Occassions makes a Christmas Tree scent that is $3.50, you can find this at Michaels.
And, my fun food suggestion of the season is...Pigs n a Blanket! For Gourmet style try Dean and DeLuca's Kobe Beef and Costco has an amazing selection too! Serve with a selection of mustards!
If you'd like to listen live today, December 3, 2010 at 2PM eastern check out http://www.Sirius.com/freetrial/register
Update on Post:
To check out David Monn on Martha Stewart Radio click on her radio blog here.
Recently I had the pleasure of being interviewed by the New York Times about some of my favorite shopping spots in New York City. It was hard to narrow it down so I choose instead to focus on something I have in my own home, the color Gold. I love the warmth of this color and these shops all have amazing items that I love.
You can read more of the story here at this New York Times link.
Triple Baked Potato
Aunt Julia’s Angel Food Cake
Last week, I invited some of my friends over for dinner. I love to cook, and lately have become taken with perfecting my coq au vin recipe, so I asked them to try the latest version and give me their feed back.
For me, setting a beautiful table is as important as serving a beautiful meal. It's all part of the same experience and both parts need equal attention paid. Your table doesn't need to be "fancy" or feature expensive linens or china, but it should be elegant. For my latest dinner, I selected wonderful green grapes and draped them in small glass bowls, and filled some of my favorite silver pieces with sugared orange slices. These little touches made a big difference on the table, and gave my guests something to munch on between courses!!
Check back for more easy tips to take your next dinner party to the next level!
Last week I had the distinct pleasure of designing the Young Women’s Leadership Network (Em)Power Breakfast. Even though I’ve helped the YML Network in the past, the individual stories of the aspiring young women never fail to move me.
The YWL Network partners with urban public schools to create single-gender public schools and college bound programs for inner city youth. The YWL Girls’ Schools have given young women opportunities they may not have had without the help of the Network. This year, the students had the privilege of personally interviewing community leaders, one of whom was Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and several business leaders from companies such as RCA/Jive Label Group, Goldman Sachs and The Estee Lauder Companies. They were even lucky enough to meet one of my favorite musical artists, Alicia Keys!
With the fall season in full swing, the YWL Network (Em)Power Breakfast always serves to remind me that children all across the country are back at school and hard at work trying to reach for their dreams. I take great pleasure in supporting the Young Women’s Leadership Network because it allows me to help provide these young students with incredible opportunities. .
For more information about the YML Network please visit their website at www.ywlnetwork.org.
I feel like there have been a lot of people in the news who have passed away recently. I was saddened to learn of the death of my colleague, Robert Isabell, over the summer, and, more recently, Dominic Dunne.
Over the course of my career, I've been asked by a few special clients to coordinate the funeral and memorial services of a loved one who had just passed away. Although most people don't think about it, funerals and memorial services require just as much planning as any other event, often times more so due to the very short turn around time. I pride myself on giving my clients elegant and memorable events that allow them to say goodbye with grace and dignity.
About a month ago, we did a funeral for a client. When I mentioned that one of the children hadn't received many hand-written notes, someone in my office suggested that perhaps his friends and associates simply didn't know what to say.
A condolence note should be brief, avoid including a personal comparison (when my mother died...), and let the person know that you're there for them. It's perfectly fine to say "While no one can truly know how you feel, please know that I am here if you need anything at all." Obviously, sharing a short remark about the deceased if they were a family member or very good friend is perfectly acceptable, but not necessary if there was no close relationship.
In the end, the effort of putting pen to paper will mean more than the content of the note itself. So no matter how awkward you feel, send that note because it will mean the world to the recipient.
Several weeks ago, some friends of mine invited me to join them for a night at the theater. Going to a show is one of my favorite things to do. Taking in the scenery, the costumes, the phenomenal actors and of course the great story lines makes for a wonderful afternoon or evening out.
This time, I saw Mary Stuart. What an incredible show! Unfortunately, it's closed, but I had to talk about it. Director Phyllida Lloyd did an amazing job with the story of the dynamic relationship between Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots. In a time when men were the heads of the family and leaders, these two powerful women set the bar for female independence and the feminist movement.
The most amazing scene is the much-written about rain scene. Mary and Elizabeth face off in this pivotal moment with Mary, the prisoner, getting soaking wet, while Elizabeth, the executioner, remains dry in a scene that speaks volumes about both the characters both literally and figuratively. The actual rain was accomplished through the use of ceiling sprinklers and water traps and is simply breathtaking. I've never seen anything like it in theater before.
Although the show has closed, I had to talk about it because it proved that great, impactful theater is still alive and well in New York City. There are plenty of options for everyone - from historical to comedy to musical to children's shows. I think the theater is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon or evening and is one of the great things about this city.
As always, check out TKTS booths for daily discounted tickets.
Recently, a good friend of mine recommended that I speak with a nutritionist about Sammy. While he's always been in good health, Cavaliers are a temperamental breed and you need to keep a close eye on their weight. They're notorious for developing heart murmurs, and any extra pounds can make the problem worse. Happily, Sammy has not been diagnosed with a murmur, but I'm very conscious of what he eats to help avoid that issue in the future and to keep him as healthy and happy as I can.
She recommended two things:
1. Switch him to an all-natural diet
2. Split his proteins and grains.
I learned that dogs (as well as humans) cannot digest proteins and grains at the same time. In order to get the most benefit from both, it's best to split the two into two different meals. Proteins in the morning and grains in the evening.
In the mornings, I give him Dr. Harvey's vegetables with two ounces of fresh, ground raw lamb and 2 tablespoons of canned pumpkin and in the evenings, he gets Dr. Harvey's Miracle Food, a half cup of barley and 2 tablespoons of canned pumpkin.
Already, I can see a difference in Sammy's health. His coat is softer and more shiny, he's got more energy and a cold that he just couldn't seem to kick has finally gone away.
Check out www.drharveys.com for more information!
Lately, I've really been focusing on streamlining and cutting back on things that I don't necessarily need. I think a lot of us have been doing that - getting rid of what we haven't used in a while or don't want or need any longer. Not only have I been doing this in my apartment, but I've also done it at my warehouse.
I realized that I've held on to a lot of things that I no longer needed, and I was taking up space unecessarily. But, the items I was looking to get rid of weren't garbage..they just weren't useful to me any longer.
My office discovered the organization Material for the Arts, based in New York City (www.mfta.org). They distribute donated items to the public schools' art programs, cultural centers and other arts organizations who could defnitely use the supplies. We sent rolls of fabric (leftovers from tablecloths, curtains and other items), rolls of paper, paper flowers, glass cylinders and many other items that I no longer needed to their warehouse.
Since then, I've received dozens of letters from NYC public schools, after-school programs, theater groups and even individuals who've been able to put these things to good use. The Pan American Interational High School auctioned off some items to purchase much-needed athletic equipment while students at P.S. 212 in Queens made Mother's Day gifts out of the things they received.
It's an incredible organization that's doing a lot to help keep the arts alive in spite of these difficult time, and I encourage you to support them in any way that you can.
Everyone searches for the perfect summer lunch for afternoon guests, for me it is my friend Susan Mason’s tomato pie. Heirloom tomatoes are in season and I can't think of a better lunch to round up the end of summer. Susan’s tomato pie paired with a green salad is a simple and satisfying lunch even when temperatures rise. Below is Susan’s recipe, as well as one for balsamic vinaigrette. Be sure to check out her book Susan Mason’s Silver Service, which includes the tomato pie recipe and many delicious others, as well as event and catering tips.
Susan Mason’s Tomato Pie
Serves 6 to 8
9-inch pie shell, baked
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
4 tomatoes, peeled and sliced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 ounces white cheddar cheese, grated
4 ounces cheddar cheese, grated
½ cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 350° F.
Spread the pie shell with Dijon mustard. Layer the sliced tomatoes, salt and pepper, and cheddar cheese in the pie shell, ending with the cheese.
Mix together the mayonnaise and Parmesan cheese in a small bowl. Spread on top of the pie. Bake for about 20 minutes until bubbly. Let cool. Serve at room temperature.
Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon light brown sugar
1 garlic clove, crushed through a press (optional)
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
Whisk the balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, garlic, salt, and pepper until mixed. Gradually whisk in the olive oil until smooth.
Getting organized is something that can be difficult to do, but is extremely necessary! Whether it is taking a day off work to get errands done, grocery shopping or throwing a party, I think a schedule is the best way to make sure everything gets done. If you have a “smart phones” like a Blackberry or iPhone, you will find either a calendar or to-do list. Most of the time the calendar will also have an alarm that goes off at a set time, making remembering your plans much easier! Having a simple wall or desk calendar can be very helpful as well. If you are someone who enjoys and uses technology often, a calendar on Outlook might be more beneficial to you instead. If you want to get really into it, you can even color code your schedule based on what it is – a plan with friends, an errand for the house, or something work-related. It allows you to see how you’re spending your time!
When recording your plans and figuring out dates, I recommend writing down not only what it is that you are doing, but also the time and even location. When your schedule gets busy, it is sometimes difficult to recall who you were supposed to meet where or if it was at 12pm or 2 pm. Do you have any other ideas for organizing your schedule?
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