Inspired :: Festival Flower Crowns

Lollapalooza is in two weekends, and I can't wait.  I've been dying to try this season's new trend, the floral crown, and Lolla is the perfect place to rock the flower crown.  Stay tuned for the DIY version next week, in the meantime here's the inspiration for next weekend's festival head gear.

 

 

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Epicurious Entertains Chicago Recap

This past Saturday, we had the pleasure of attending Epicurious Entertains Chicago.  It was a blast, we sipped on wine, cocktails, tasted chocolates and learned a thing or two about flower arranging and herbs.  The presenters included Katrina Markoff of Vosges Hout-Chocolat; Alpana Singh, Master Sommelier; Mike Ryan of Sable Kitchen & Bar; Mike Hines of Epoch Floral, and Chris Cerveny, Gardening Expert.

Some Epi-insights:
Alpana Singh
1. If you smell baking scents (nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves), it means the wine has been aged in oak.
2. Riesling is the perfect summer white, amen!
3. The thinner the grape skin the lighter the wine.  A thinner wine is more appropriate for summer.
4. Citrus whites (with green things: apples, limes, pears) are great to pair with Asian foods.
5. Reds should be chilled in the summer, to prevent it from heating up to room temp, and becoming too acidic.

Katrina Markoff
How  to taste chocolate:
1. Warm it up between your fingers
2. Smell it
3. Bite into the chocolate
4. Press it down on your palate
5. Eat it
6. With your mouth closed, inhale through your nose and 'chew  the air' and register the impression that makes on your palate.
 
Mike Ryan
Best Beer-Cocktail: Left Hand of Darkness
Ingredients: 1/2 oz clear creek pear brandy, 1/8 oz st. Elizabeth allspice dram, 3/4 fresh lemon juice, 1/2 oz simple syrup
Instructions: Shake, strain into goblet 

Best Herb-Cocktail: Last Dance in the Ica Valley
Ingredients: 2 oz Encanto Pisco, 3/4 oz fresh lime juice, 3/4 oz simple syrup, 2 sprigs fresh tarragon, 2 dashes grapefruit bitters
Instructions: Shake, fine strain, serve up.  Garnish with 1 tarragon leaf

Mike Hines
1. When you take flowers home put them in warm water, to break up the sap, after sharply cutting the stems (either angled or straight).
2. You don't need to add anything to the water, no plant food packets, but to keep the water from turning murky: avoid direct sunlight, and add a drop of bleach
3. Tulips are the exception to the warm water rule, they go in ice cold water.
4. The tighter the bouquet, the more friction it creates, preventing growth and keeping your flowers alive longer.
5. Tuesday and Fridays are the best days to shop for flowers.
6. Roses: remove the thorns and leaves (they will absorb the water and prevents water from absorbing into the actual rose).
7. Re-hydrate hydrangeas by sticking them upside down, blooms first, into a bucket of warm water for 30-40 mins.


Display created by Mike H. 





Vosges Chocolate Tasting - My favorite: Olio d' Oliva





Us at Epicurious Entertains Chicago

 Photos via Instagram {@PraveenMPatel}

Soiree :: Breakfast at Tiffany's Bridal Shower

This past weekend I was lucky enough to help throw a Breakfast at Tiffany's themed bridal shower for a friend.  We carried out the theme in the food, decor and with the little details which included: a Tiffany Box cake, lush florals, and Tiffany themed centerpieces: which included quotes from the movie and real Tiffany boxed with faux crystals.   The cake and cookies were ordered from a bakery in the suburbs, the flowers were ordered from Chicago Flower Company and designed by one of the co-hosts, we set up a Bellini bar, and catered most of the food from Birchwood Cafe.  We gifted the bride-to-be with a book of recipes, one from each guest, as she is a foodie.  For added ambiance we displayed a huge framed Breakfast at Tiffany's movie poster, had the movie silently playing in the background, and set up a Tiffany Box step-and-repeat complete with tiaras, pearls, and boas as props.  The favors were Frango mints in replica Tiffany Boxes, and displayed alongside the LOVE letters we featured here yesterday.

~ All photos courtesy of rivernorthLove

Wedding Trends....Send Off

After the cake's been cut and you've danced the night away with your loved ones, comes the send off.  Where everyone gathers to wish you the best and say goodnight.  Here are some of our favorite send off options.  Things to wave: ribbons and signs.  Things to blow: bubbles.  Things to throw: confetti, flower petals, and balloons.  Things to depart in: a car or a boat (a la Juliette & Peter's wedding in Love Actually).  And things to light: sparklers and fireworks (like the ending in My Best Friend's Wedding). 

{Best Wishes signs}

{Bubbles}

{Ribbons}

{Sparklers}

{Balloons}

{Flower Petals}

{Confetti}

{Fire Works}

Wedding Trends... Flowing Flowers

We all know one way to trim any wedding budget is to limit the florals (both the type and the amount).  But looking at these stunning beauties, I think splurging on flowers is the way to go.  From the full blooms to the lush flowing displays, these floral arrangements bring instant glamour to any event.

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