Host a Labor Day Wine & Cheese Picnic

Labor Day weekend is finally here which means that we are approaching the end of Summer.  Personally I say "Good Riddance!," after the sweltering summer we have endured in DC this year, but of course I know that not everyone echoes my same sentiment towards summer.  In fact, most  people are probably mourning this time of year because it means that we are back to school and summer break is over.  In an effort to try and savor the last few weeks of summer, I thought it might be fun to host one last summer fete before officially turning the page to Fall. 

Today's post features a simple and delicious cocktail party idea for enjoying those last few summer days, with an assortment nibbles and delicious wine that can work in almost any setting. Here is how I went about creating this Labor Wine & Cheese Picnic:

Food & Beverage Details

For this spread I opted to keep it simple, since it is a picnic after all and who honestly wants to transport a ton of food for a cocktail hour?  For this delicious summer cheese board, I opted for Trader Joe's new Jalepeno and Honey Chèvre topped with thin slices of fresh jalepeno and garnished with a drizzle of honey.  To accompany this sweet and savory chèvre, I selected a current obsession of mine at the moment, Jasper Hill Farm's Clothbound Cheddar.  I swear, cheddar is making a comeback and this particular cheese is the primary reason!  To serve with these cheese, I selected an array of nuts (Virginia Peanuts, Spicy Crunchy Chickpeas and Chili Lime Roasted Almonds), a fabulous Spicy Plum Chutney and a small basket of Rosemary Crisps.  

To drink, I opted for a crisp chardonnay by Napa Cellars and garnished each glass with a few fresh currants.  The perfectly chilled wine with notes of apples, baked pears and a lemony acidity, accented by the tartness of the fresh currants, created the perfect balance for this outdoor spread.  

Entertaining Essentials

In an effort to create an homage to the final days of summer, I started by covering this picnic table in one of my favorite white picnic tablecloths/beach blankets.  For a pop of fresh floral color I opted to include four small bud vases filled with red roses that flanked the cutest wine basket which held three american flags.  For serveware, I choose to keep the color scheme fairly neutral with this olivewood cheeseboard and these white hors d'oeuvre plates.  I then added pops of gold to accent the table using gold cheese knives and these fabulous wine tumblers. I selected cocktail napkins from Caspari's summer collection to incorporate an additional pop of color and summer flair to complete this look.  

Summer may be coming to a close, but there are still a few more weeks to enjoy one of the most celebrated seasons of the year!  Happy Labor Day everyone!

Creating an All-in-One Hors D'oeuvre Platter

I'm constantly evolving and fine tuning my entertaining style.  Of course I love trying new recipes, hosting different groups of people and on occasion, even coming up with different themes for some of my get togethers.  While the party presentation is certainly important, it's equally (if not more) important that I create a sound, efficient and effortless (in appearance), operational process for every gathering. As a hostess the last thing you ever want to do is spend the party running around and looking frazzled.   Your guests have come over to spend time with you, so you need to make sure that you do just that.

In an effort to minimize the time I spend clearing a cocktail/hors d'oeuvre spread before serving dinner, I have developed an all-in-one hors d'oeuvre platter.  This platter is made up of all of my favorite go-to cocktail party foods with the added benefit of only having to serve and clear one dish!  I am really kicking myself that it's taken me so long to figure this out.  Fab summer veggies, hummus, two different cheeses and even those tasty cocktail nuts can be served on one platter! Less time making trips to the kitchen to add and/or clear food means more time with your guests.  Cocktail parties made even easier!  What's not to love about that?!?

See below for full details on this All-in-One Hors D'oeuvre Platter.  

Food Details

• Trader Joe's Herb & Garlic Brie
• Trader Joe's Formaggio Lagorai (mild, semi-soft cow's milk)
• 34 Degree's Poppy Seed Crisps
• Watermelon Radishes
• Mini English Cucumbers
• Sugar Snap Peas
• Endive Leaves (Red & Green)
• Organic Red Grapes
• Purple and Orange Carrots
• Marcona Almonds
• Fresh Dill
• Lemon Hummus (garnished with fresh thyme)
• Red Pepper Hummus (garnished with chili flakes)

Wine Details

• Napa Cellars Syrah Rose (*A perfect pairing with this spread and time of year)

Entertaining Essentials

• CB2 Large Cuatro Platter
• CB2 Marta Tasting Glasses
• World Market Event White Wine Glasses
• Caspari Emerald Damask Cocktail Napkins
• Sur La Table Cheese Knives

New Years Day Cheesescape (plus a few entertaining extras)

Let's face it, starting those healthy New Years resolutions the morning after you have been up super later drinking champagne and singing Auld Lang Syne. My personal recommendation for this morning?  Invite your friends over for a few New Years Day nibbles!  For me, a cheesescape is an easy last minute party spread that I can whip together in no time.  Below are some ideas for how to go about putting together your New Years Day cheesescape.  

Cheesescape Details

• Cheeses: Humbolt Fog by Cypress Grove, Midnight Moon by Cypress Grove, Vermont Creamery's Roasted Red Pepper Spreadable Goat Cheese, Jasper Hill Creamery's Alpha Tolman
• Preserves: Dalmatia Fig Spread
• Fruits: Dried (Apple Juice Infused) Cranberries, Fresh Blackberries, Fresh Comice Pear Slices
• Herbs: Fresh Oregano and Lime Leaves
• Crackers/Crisps: 34 Degrees Natural and Poppy Seed Crisps, Whole Foods Rosemary Crostini
• Cured Meat: Sliced Chorizo (each slice cut in half and rolled) 
• Nuts: Gourmet Marcona Almonds

When I was a kid, my parents (like many) would go out on New Years Eve. To help make New Years special for my siblings and me, they would get an assortment of hats and noise makers to surprise us with in the morning on New Years Day.  This was always one of my favorite traditions during this time of year.  

Since we are ringing in the start of 2016 (and I am clearly still a kid at heart), I would recommend incorporating a few festive decor items that aid in creating a celebratory vibe while serving up this cheesescape. 

A Few Extras

• Meri Meri "Snap Bang Pop" Party Poppers
• Meri Meri "Happy New Year" DIY Banner

As you can see, I am not perfect and my "Happy New Year" banner is still a work in progress.  Luckily, I have a bit of time to get my act together before my guests arrive.  I hope you all had a wonderful New Years Eve.  I know I did and I can't tell you how much i'm looking forward to sharing another fun and delicious year with you all on Redefining Domestics.  Happy 2016 Everyone!!!!

Tips for Making a Delicious Holiday Cheesescape

Tis the season….For attending and hosting holiday parties!!  Over the years I have hosted my fair share of holiday parties with an array of themes, menus and guest lists.  One common element from my parties over the years has been the inclusion of a holiday cheesescape.  It's a party food that is really easy to make and always a crowd pleaser.  Today I wanted to include a few tips/ideas for how to assemble a unique, delicious and festive cheesescape that your guests are sure to love!

Think Outside of the Box

In addition to my classic assortment of cheeses, I also like to include a cheese that has a homemade touch.  This recipe for Goat Cheese Bites from Martha Stewart is fabulous!  Really easy to make and I love that you can coat these bites in an array of flavors.  For this spread I have opted to use chopped fresh chives, but other great flavor ideas include chopped dried cranberries, pistachio pieces, fresh cracked pepper, etc.  For those of you who are curious, here is a list of the other cheese included in this scape: 

• Cypress Grove's Midnight Moon
• Cypress Grove's Truffle Tremor
• Vermont Creamery's Double Cream Cremont
• Uniekaas Yodeling Goat Gouda

Add a Little Luster

The holidays are all about sparkle and festive decor.  Opt for a cheeseboard that suits the yuletide season, like my metallic cheese board pictured in this post (similar here). 

Go Seasonal

Pomegranates and figs are in season right now, making them easy to find in most grocery stores.  Since these seasonal fruits pair beautifully with an array of cheeses, they make for perfect additions to any holiday cheesescape.  In addition, during the holidays certain food companies release limited edition flavors, like Virginia Chutney Company's Cranfiggy Chutney, which is absolutely fabulous and quite festive.  Capitalizing on the array of unique seasonal cheesescaping acoutrements during this time of year will really help you to create an outstanding finished product.  

Festive Color Scheme

Be mindful of the overall color story on your cheesescape.  Subtle touches of red (pomegranates, chutney, figs and even cured meats) and green (fresh chive encrusted goat cheese bites and an assortment of fresh herbs) can really help you to achieve that festive and delicious holiday cheesescape.  There are so many fabulous natural flavor options available in stores that can really help to bring a holiday-esque aesthetic to your cheesescape, so definitely keep this aspect in mind when assembling your board.   

Cheesescaping in San Francisco

This week I am in San Francisco with my husband, visiting my sister and brother-in-law for my 30th birthday.  The trip so far has been beyond fun and packed with plenty of activities (see my instagram page for additional updates), including a cheesescape!  Creating a cheesescape in a new city was fantastic because not only did it yield a tasty cocktail hour for the evening, but it forced me to explore the area in order to come up with a scape that was both representative of the area but also interesting and of course delicious. 

First Stop

Prior to this trip I had done a little research on places (restaurants, cheese shops, etc.) that I wanted to visit at some point over the course of our stay in San Francisco.  In addition to my own research I also made it a point to ask a local (my sister) what places she would recommend that I visit.  One of the places she recommended that I visit was Mission Cheese Shop.  

Upon arrival, I knew immediately that my sister had given be a great recommendation because the store was packed.   I managed to make it up to the cheese bar where I was able to talk with one of the store's cheese associates about the types of cheeses they offered and what I was looking for.  The cheese associate graciously let me sample a number of cheeses and did an excellent job of selecting 4 cheeses that fit the flavor profiles I had been in search of.  After my visit to Mission Cheese, I headed to the closest Whole Foods Market for a few additional cheesescape essentials and then I was on my way back to the house to get to work.

Cheeses

• Mt. Tam by Cow Girl Creamery (CA)- cow's milk, triple cream.  Flavors include: cultured butter with hints of white mushroom. 
• Sofia by Capriole Dairy (IN)- goat's milk, soft.  Character: silky to the tongue, marbled with ash, delicate and sweet.  
• Classico Reserve by Tumalo Farm (OR)-goat's milk, hard.  Flavors include: slightly sweet brown butter, nutty flavor and has a hint of honeysuckle in the finish.  **Recommend not pairing this cheese with any crackers or fruits.
• Clothbound Cheddar by Cabot Jasper Hill (VT)- cow's milk, semi-hard.  Flavors include: deeply savory and slightly tangy with a caramel sweetness to finish. 
• Mimolette (Boule de Lille) (FR)- cow's milk, semi-hard.  Flavors include: buttery, caramel, nutty and salty.

Cheesescape Accoutrements

• Pig & Squirrel's Dried Apricot and Shallot Compote
• Dried Tart Cherries
• Fresh, Thinly Sliced Granny Smith Apple
• Fig and Almond Cake
• 34 degree's Rosemary Crisps and Carr's Original Water Crackers
• Fresh Savory Herbs
• Board Garnishes: Edible Flowers and Fresh Lemon Leaves from the lemon tree in my sister's backyard (only in California!)
• All served on this Nambe Cheeseblock with Knife and Spreader

Cheesescaping in a new city was so much fun!  I learned about a fabulous local cheese shop, had the opportunity to try a variety of new cheeses and it gave me a chance to give back to our very generous host and hostess.  While I am totally envious of my sister's lemon trees, there are still so many new cheesescape ideas and additional accessories that I am looking forward to incorporating in future boards when I return to DC.