I was really excited when I got this invite in my mailbox the other day. I am a big Architectural Digest fan, so sounded like a fabulous after work event. I knew I wouldn’t have to go along alone, b/c for the men that aren’t design lovers…Scotch is a pretty good incentive. Right? Well, doesn’t do anything for me. I digress…I was excited, and the cross town trek was well worth the fabulous evening.

First of all, I got to swoon over all of the fabulous and beautiful, little gourmet treats from the famed caters at Callahan Catering. Talk about creative.

This was just some of the tasty delights that floated around the showroom on lucite trays. There were also pomme frites, fish and chips (frites and cod in newspaper cones), artichoke “lollipops”, nori cigarettes with chicken and wasabi, tuna tartare ice cream cones, mini milkshakes, mini (like really mini) ice cream cookie sandwiches, and the list goes on…I was completely blown away at the presentation of all of these teeny-tiny appetizers and desserts. The presentation was knock your socks off amazing. Props to the people at Callahan.

In addition to the tasty treats and endless scotch and wine, Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams were there to speak in person. They introduced their new Spring 2011 collection. They have a really great custom lamp program they’ve just launched. There are over 270 combinations of lamp design options in a palette of 14 colors. The fabulous editor of Architectural Digest was there as well. She is such a lovely woman, and has lead a really amazing career. The most interesting part of my evening was my hour long conversation with a 70-ish year old man. He is a native New Yorker, Wall Streeter turned designer, and full of fabulous stories. He spend much time in his earlier years in the presence of Philip Johnson and Paul Rudolph (an Auburn Graduate). He had some pretty interesting first-hand stories of both of these men. He is fond of the both the Harvard and Yale School’s of Architecture. He had a lot to say about the New York “way of life”, and definitely voiced his opionin (both good and bad) of how the city has evolved. And the craziest thing he told me, his first apartment was $40 per month, and that was expensive at the time. What? Are you kidding me. What happen to those deals? Now it’s like one-hundred times more. After the event, we hopped on over to one of my favorite, eclectic hotels in the city to grab a bite to eat. Oh, I should mention…though I talked a lot about the food. I only managed to sneak two of the teeny-tiny delights into my mouth. Between the conversations, there wasn’t much time to actually eat anything. So I was starving.  12 o’clock lunch was long gone. We hit up the Crosby Street Hotel for Burrata Mozzarella with heirloom tomatoes and balsamic fig reduction. It hit the spot, and of course I was mesmerized the whole time by all the fabulous little design details. Everything down to the pencils at the front desk are thoughtfully considered! I am seriously considering checking into this hotel for a weekend “stay-cation” someday soon. It’s 12:10am, and the 5am alarm clock is soon to ring. Lights out for me. Night!

images via: callahan catering

There is just something about these sweet little confections that scream take me to France. They are the most delicate, scrumptious cute-little desserts under the sun. You know I hear in France they are sometimes even found in McDonalds. Now, that might be the only thing that could get me to convince me to make a dining purchse at McDonalds.

via french macaroons

The whole chit-chat and “blahdblah” about breakfast being the most important meal of the day. You should NOT and DO NOT skip breakfast, etc, etc. Well folks, I am guilty I am one of those people who they are talking to. I know it is important, gets your metabolism started for the day and jogs your brain to get in its best a-game mode, but I sometimes forgets, do not quite feel “breakfast excited” at the wee hours of the morning before work, or just simply do not have time. But on the occasion that is not the case, this is the ultimate go to breakfast. It is a 3 ingredient quick-fix: all you need is some yogurt + an apple + a handful of plain oats:

Now that is what I call a yummy, quick-n-easy breakfast start to any day!