Birthdays are a wonderful time in life. Getting dressed up, sharing the day with friends, and loved ones. Freebies for your birthday are a lot of fun. You will gain all year access to great deals, reward programs, and freebies for your birthday for food and beauty.
23rd SAG Awards honoring the best in film and television will be a night of red carpets, awards, toasting, and dinner. The elegance at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall with17,100 square feet of the red carpet, attendees (247 actors, 525 performers, and 700 staff), and dinner.
The dinner menu created by Wolfgang Puck will feature the top ingredients. Dinner is a twist on surf and turf with chicken and salmon as proteins. The salmon preparation is Green Tea Marinated Salmon with Bulgur Wheat, Tofu, and Sweet Soy. You can enjoy the Green Tea Marinated Salmon the recipe is here. The chicken dish is Spiced Chicken with Moroccan Couscous and Saffron Aioli. The final touch roasted acorn squash with toasted farro topped with Lolla Rossa lettuce, almonds, and cider vinaigrette. Stars like Lily Tomlin, Viola Davis, and Ryan Gosling will dine in elegance.
Dinner Service
The room will bring the feel of elegance with a theme of black. The draperies will be black with chains. The floor covered with black carpet. The stage floor covered with Formica. The ceiling graced by chandeliers and chains gracing the beautiful tables for the celebrities.
The tables will carry the elegance with CJ Matsumoto & Sons nature inspiration with the every changing textures found in nature. This is simply setting the mood with tiny lights creating a varied spectrum of color playing off the structure of the 300 white rose arrangements. Creating this decor takes the following:
12 craftspeople working countless hours
Over 3,000 blossoms and blooms of cymbidium and dendrobium orchids
More than 2,000 stems of miniature white calla lilies
At least 1,000 stems of Star of Bethlehem
Over 900 stems of Aspidistra
Approximately 5,000 stems of Equisetum, spotted leaves, galax leaves, and various grasses
An evening of Toasting Champagne and Wine.
The evening service will include Fiji Water, Sterling Vineyards, Champagne Taittinger, Dove Chocolates, and Chopin Vodka and Clase Azul Tequila. The cocktail this evening the “The Outstanding Performance.” This drink includes Chopin Potato Vodka with cucumbers, aloe water, elderflower, and lime juice, and each glass is topped with a lemon peel. The other cocktails for the evening include: The Actor Goes To, The Classic, and Fix It in Post. There is plenty of alcohol to toast the evening wins, achievements, and honors of being nominated.
How much will it take to wine and dine the SAG audience?
15 gallons of agave nectar25 bottles of aloe water
12 bottles of elderflower liqueur
25 fresh cucumbers
22 fresh lemons and oranges
2 pounds of fresh jalapeños
This grocery list has the top ingredients for the evening. The SAG Awards will be an evening of elegance of food, talent, fashion, and entertainment. Who do you think with be taking home a SAG? Post your response here with #4ChionStyle.
Following the Oscars® celebrities like Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Viola Davis, and Casey Affleck will gather at the Governors Ball. This year the top in the food, pastry, and design gather to showcase their talents. This year is a “Magical Transformation.”
Wolfgang Puck Oscars® Governors Ball
Chef Wolfgang Puck (23rd consecutive year), chef to the celebrities, will continue this year with whimsy and Hollywood glamour. He has a few traditions coming back with new additions. His executive chef works side-by-side with 300 chefs and 600 waiters to make sure that this evening goes off without a hitch.
New menu items will include Moroccan spiced Wagyu short rib topped with a parmesan funnel cake; taro root tacos with shrimp, mango, avocado and chipotle aioli; gnocchetti with braised mushrooms and cashew cream; lobster corn dogs; made-to-order sushi, custom poke bowls and an array of shellfish; plus selections of Puck’s signature dishes such as smoked salmon Oscars®, chicken pot pie with shaved black truffles, 2,600 lb. ice raw bar with poke, sushi and shellfish, truffle popcorn, and baked macaroni and cheese. The bite-sized hors d’oeuvres and small plate entrées will pass throughout the evening.
The cocktails and spirits the Oscar® winners and the guests will enjoy the evening theme. Piper Heidsieck champagne poured from Oscar® themed Magnum and filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola wine. There will be three cocktails designed for Oscar® Gold that includes Hillhaven Lodge (director Brett Ratner’s Beverly Hills mansion’s name) Whiskey. The perfect combination for dinner and celebration.
What is dinner without dessert? Pastries prepared by the pastry team of Kamel Guechida, Monica Ng and Jason Lemmonier will make sure plenty playful innovative desserts for the evening celebration. This will include the much sought after 24 karat gold chocolate Oscar® statues, macaroons, lava cakes, seven flavors of gelato and sorbet, vanilla and red velvet waffles and Takoyaki cake balls. The chocolate buffet includes; caramel cappuccino Oscar® lollipops, Oreo cookie s’more domes and chocolate bonbons in “movie theater flavors” like Sour Patch Kids, Red Hots, and Goobers. A perfect ending to a night celebrating.
The Academy’s Governors Ball will be held in the Ray Dolby Ballroom at the top-level of the Hollywood & Highland Center. Event producer Cheryl Cecchetto (her 28th year producing the Ball) along with her Sequoia Productions team will create a place to accommodate the expected 1500 guests from Oscar® recipients, nominees, and show presenters. The guest will enter the Ball, and “will transition from a dazzling sea of red to a tricolor motif of eye-popping gold and red on an infinite blanket of white. The unique design of the space has been meticulously created to celebrate Oscar® gold,” said Jeffrey Kurland.
Mark Held of Mark’s Garden Academy Awards
Academy Awards Governors Ball floral arrangements by Mark Held of Mark’s Garden. He has provided beauty for the Governors Ball for the past 22 years. The room and tables filled with beautiful white and red roses and magnolias. This will bring the final touch of glamor in the decor.
Cynthia Erivo Oscars® Governors Ball
The Governor, Kurland, works closely to oversee the menu, décor, and entertainment. This is Kurland’s eight year as the Governor. He is a costume designer and Oscar® nominee. Award-winning singer-songwriter Cynthia Erivo is performing at the Governors Ball.
This year’s party is the celebration that is a Magical Transformation for Oscar Gold winners and guests. The 89th Oscars® will be presented on Sunday, February 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre, and televised live by the ABC Television Network.
Following the Emmys® celebrities like Tracee Ellis Ross,Lily Tomlin, Elisabet Moss, Tituss Burgess, John Lithgow, and Denis O’Hare will gather at the Governors Ball. This year the top in the food, pastry, and design gather to showcase their talents over three evenings at the Governors Ball. This year’s theme is “Golden Grandeur.”
2017 Governors Ball (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images)
“The 2017 Governors Ball and Creative Arts Governors Ball events will set the gold standard in terms of elegance and environmental sustainability – verifying the two concepts can be compatible,” said Governors Ball Committee Co-Chair, Barbara Cassel. The evening decor will be contemporary and dazzling. The elements of the evening include recycled, repurposed or bio-degradable.
2017 Governors Ball (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images)
The decor will use eco-friendly paint, all plants turned into mulch after the event, and the linens, tables, and equipment reused for future events. Sequoia Productions will make sure this is a zero waste evening.
Chef Joachim Splichal and Patina Catering (22nd consecutive year) serving a three-course meal. Executive Pastry Chef Frania Mendivil, brings the Golden Grandeur theme to the pastries masterfully. They will showcase produce at the peak of the season while using culinary sustainability. Patina Catering partners with L.A. Kitchen, a local nonprofit that believes no food go to waste, as well as donating food waste from the celebrations to local farms as compost for the next season of crops.
The menu includes:
2017 Governors Ball Last of the Heirlooms (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images)
First Course
Last of the Heirlooms Local heirloom tomatoes, dinosaur plum, red quinoa, charred leek vinaigrette, balsamic jelly, basils, and sea salt.
2017 Governors Ball Pan Roasted Filet Mignon (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images)
Main Course
Pan Roasted Filet Mignon Mission figs, asparagus, purple marble potatoes, roasted red flame grapes, creamy horseradish purée, and whole grain mustard sauce.
2017 Governors Ball Alunga Brown Bar Dulce de leche (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images)
Dessert
Alunga Brownie Bar Dulce de leche, roasted cherries, and cherry gel
Main courserecipe for your evening glamorous party:
2017 Governors Ball Recipe (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images)
For the Beef:
Season the beef with salt and pepper, and sear in a pan with 2 ounces olive oil, until caramelized on all sides. Place in oven, and cook to an internal temperature of 128 degrees. Remove from oven cover with foil and let rest 5 minutes. For the Red Wine Sauce: Sauté the 4 tbsp finely chopped onion over low heat for 2 minutes, then pour in the red wine. Add the smashed garlic and thyme, raise the heat, and cook until the wine is reduced by half. Remove the pan from heat and stir in butter, followed by the mustard. Season with salt and pepper.
For the Grapes:
Arrange grape clusters on a baking sheet. Drizzle with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast in a 450-degree oven about 15 minutes, until skins are crisp, and grapes are slightly softened. For the potato purée: Bake the potatoes until cooked through, peel and pass through a strainer or food mill, and place in a sauce pot. Add cream, then add just enough milk to achieve a loose potato purée, then add butter, horseradish, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
For the Garnish:
Coat asparagus with olive oil and grill the asparagus over high heat for 5 to 8 minutes and cut into thirds. Wrap the purple potatoes in aluminum foil with a light coating of olive oil, salt and a branch of fresh thyme, then bake in a 325-degree oven until cooked, about 20 minutes.
To serve:
Spoon the horseradish potato purée onto the center of the plate. Slice the beef, and place 2 slices on each plate. Pour some red wine sauce over the beef. Garnish each plate with figs, purple potatoes, asparagus and a cluster of grapes. Sprinkle parsley on top.
2017 Governors Ball Sterling Vineyards (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images)
The evening will have exclusive drinks, wines, and a custom bottle of Sterling Vineyards’ new luxury Cabernet Sauvignon, IRIDIUM. Fuji water will keep the guest hydrated through the evening with their exceptional water and custom straws.
2017 Governors Ball Ferrari Trento Vinyards (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images)
Sterling Vineyards presents Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc, and Napa Valley Chardonnay. The Guests entering the Governors Ball will enjoy flutes of Ferrari Brut Trentodoc. Ferrari Trento Vineyards is organic certification awarded, keeping with the eco-friendly dinner. Charles Joly designed a signature Emmy cocktail featuring The Hilhaven Lodge Blended Straight American Whiskey. The signature Emmy® cocktail, Created in partnership with renowned director and producer Brett Ratner, is a balanced combination of Hilhaven Lodge Fireside Whiskey, Absinthe, spiced pear liqueur, and fresh lemon juice. Throughout the evening, attendees will enjoy the Diageo Luxury Brands collection.
Emmys® 2017 Governors Ball Table Setting (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images)
This is the country’s largest sit-down dinner for 4,000 Emmy winners, nominees and entertainment luminaries. The evening will be glamorous after the Creative Arts and Primetime Emmys®.
The 69th Emmy Awards will telecast live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, Sunday, September 17 (8:00-11:00 PM ET/5:00-8:00 PM PT) on CBS. Stephen Colbert will serve as host.
Food is a sensory experience that should carry to the table setting. The menu, setting, and food should coordinate together to say exactly what you are serving. You want the food to present in an atmosphere that tells the same story.
Presenting your food is achieved by setting the proper tableware in the correct location for the meal experience. This provides for efficiency, geometrically pleasing, and effectiveness. Your simple table setting should be as follows:
Spoons and knife placed right of the plate 1″ from the edge of the table.
Soup spoon furthest from the plate
Teaspoon in the middle from the plate
Dinner knife to closest to the plate
Forks placed left of the plate 1′ from the edge of the table.
Do not distract from the visual appeal of the food
Textures can help with the sensory dining experience
When serving your dinner remember that it is a sensory experience from start to finish. The setting prepares the diners for a sensory dining experience.
Memorial Day is the first celebration of the summer holiday. Many spend their time at the poolside, beach, or picnicking. Food, family, and fun are key to this holiday.
This holiday celebration to honor those who have served and lost their lives protecting America. This holiday started shortly after the Civil War. We deeply appreciate the sacrifice of many and their families. This traditionally was known as decoration day. As a child I remember going to Almo, Idaho (a small town near the City of Rocks & Burly Idaho) to clean up the family cemetery and decorating the graves for Memorial Day.
Enjoying family traditions and recipes during Memorial Day weekend creates a connection between ourselves and those who went on before us. We all have those tried and true recipes that come with no recipe card. It is fun to create your own traditions and recipes for the holidays.
This Memorial Day our menu will include Ciabatta and Cherry Almond Bundt Cake. It is one last time before the summer heat to get a few great bakes created. Ciabatta is a great, simple bread to start learning to create your own loaves of bread. The bread created by Arnaldo Cavallari, a miller,in Verona, Veneto, Italy in 1982 as a response to the popular French baguettes. This is a perfect bread for transportation.
Place flour, yeast (on the right side of the flour), and salt (on the left side of flour) 1 1/2 cup water in mixer bowl. Begin mixing on low. When the dough begins to form drizzle remaining 1/2 cup into the bowl and raise mixer to the next level up. Mix the dough for 5-8 minutes. You will know it is ready when it is stretchy and smooth.
Place dough in a square plastic container (enough room for bread to rise) with side oiled with olive oil. The square container assists with keeping the bread the proper shape for baking. Place lid on top. The lid keeps the dry skin from forming while bread rises. Raise dough until double in size about 1 1/2 – 1 3/4 hours at room temperature.
Dust a workspace well with flour (the dough will be sticky). Allow for it to naturally fall out of the container onto a floured surface. Coat the top of the dough with more flour. Handle the dough very carefully, don’t pat back down. You want to keep as much air as possible in the dough. Cut the dough lengthways into 4 equal sized loaves. Slightly stretch each piece lengthways and place on oiled baking trays. Let rest 30-45 min on a baking sheet.
Pre-heat oven 425 degrees. Baked bread 25 min. until golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped. Cool completely on wire racks.
You can make your own maraschino cherries (make two days in advance)
1 pint of sour cherries
1 cup maraschino liqueur (possible substitutes are Amaretto, Grand Marnier, or contact your local store for assistance)
Bring liqueur to a simmer. Turn off the heat, and add the cherries, stir, let cool, and pour into jars. Refrigerate. Make these a day or two before using. Cherries last for months.
1 Cup all-purpose white flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 cup unsalted softened butter (do not microwave)
3/4 white sugar (pulse slightly in the food processor before measuring)
Zest of 1 lemon
1/8 cup plus 2 tsp. finely ground almonds
3 large eggs
Pre-heat oven 350 degrees. Fluff flour and baking powder until well mixed in a bowl. Add all ingredients except the cherries to the mixer bowl, mix on medium speed for 2 minutes. Lightly fold cherries into batter. Place in a well butter bundt pan. Bake 25-45 min. When cooled and cake starts to pull from sides of pan remove from pan to cooling rack. Finish with Ganache and toasted almonds (place sliced almonds in a warmed pan and toss lightly until golden brown) on top.
In a heavy saucepan, bring heavy cream to boil. Turn off the heat. Add chopped chocolate pieces and let it rest until melted (this is key). Use a rubber spatula to stir the mixture until all the pieces are melted. Pour it into a room-temperature bowl, cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate ganache until it is firm.
The weekend meal included trout almondine, roasted garlic green beans, ciabatta bread, and cherry almond cake. A nice pinot noir is served with the meal.
May your holiday be filled with great memories and remember your lifestyle is worth the best.
