Bonne Inspiration: David Stark

I am most certain everyone has seen the work of David Stark. David Stark is inspiration in his cleaver design palette  His ability to capture a client's whimsy and recreate it in a glamorous form is true talent. I really like his eye and wish I understood and wonder how he sees simple little things we use every day like wine bottles and newspapers - and then go on to create joy filled, fantastical and functional works of art. 

Recycled wine bottles amassed and pieced together create one giant wine vessel for 
a New York Event

The tiniest pit of these paper flowers were created by the David Stark team and is part of his

Pop Up Store in New York - Day 1 - 2

More green and yellow inspiration from The Stark Pop Up Store

The Palm Tree - The phone part of Pop Up Store

Newsprint Flowers  - Everything was for sale

A Wedding Reception  - Unexpected plaids - Chartreuse and Blue - White Benches

Giant Sunflowers  - Sunny yellow place cards mimic each other  -  The Chocolate Table Cloth is in in sync with the Sunflowers' Chocolate centers. 

Here's to Bonne Planning

Joanna

Big Day! Big Hair!

Exaggerate Your Look! You are the Star!

Wedding Day Hair - The first thing a bride concerns herself with - Here,  below are picks for everyone  - or maybe not - come see ten looks - Choose or be inspired to create your own look.  All these styles generously offered up by Moiz Alladina  - Le Coiffeur to Vogue and Elle Magazines. He has included inspiration as well as "how tos" to help you get each one of these designs along with detailed guidance.

So tell me  -- What beautiful woman are you?

Glitzy Jazz Babe

Saucy Pin Up

Dainty Elfin

Charming Mademoiselle 

Darling Grace Kelly

Innocent Vintage Romantic

Worldly Heiress

Earthy & Beachy Boho Chic  

or

Sophisticated Up Town Girl

???

VIA

Joanna

Joanna Weddings Cuisine Thursday - French Cuisine Rehearsal Luncheon

Le Jardin du Thé Menu

French Cuisine for The Bridal Luncheon or an Afternoon Rehearsal Luncheon

Here is a look at just some of what we have planned coming your way this spring 2011 on one of our Wedding Brasserie Menus.

Bon Appetite!

Pâté de Canard

Duck Pate with pistachio nuts, cornichons and mustard

Assorted French Cheeses

Cranberry compote, tea infused honey and warm baguettes

Blinis de Saumon Fumé

Tea Smoked salmon and crème fraiche and oestra caviar

Grilled Rosemary Prawns

Green peppercorns & blood orange vinaigrette

Salade Nicoise

Salad Le Jardin

Mixed baby lettuces tossed with candied walnuts and black fig vinaigrette

Un Mambo à Paris

Grilled ham and Cheese with a sliced avocado, vine tomato and spicy goat cheese

Croque Monsieur

White bread with layers of Gruyere cheese, ham and béchamel, topped with melted Gruyere

Quiche aux Legume

Spring vegetable tart with baby greens raspberry vinaigrette

Oeufs poachés aux asperges

Poached eggs with grilled asparagus on rye toasts and shaved parmesan

Tea Smoked Salmon Salad

Baby mache lettuce tossed with vine tomatoes, caramelized fennel and mustard vinaigrette

Sandwich au Merguez

Spicy lamb sausage with harissa and grilled onions


Beverages
Coffee (French Roast)
Espresso (Vienna)
Cappuccino

Café au Lait

Hot Cocoa
Tea (Marriage Freres Paris)
Ice Tea
Lemonade
Champagne
Wines
Beers
 

Look for more Wedding Springtime Menus next week!

Avec Joie!
Joanna

Tous Les Jours....

This season the models at the Dior fashion show exemplified the luxury of the Paris woman and her lips.  Big cosmetic names invariably make much about lips.  They have spoken -  and the bright coral lips and retro berry lips are Parisian women’s favorites.  Daytime and running around time you'll find American and Parisian women and brides love the "Au natural" look -  pale make up and faint pink lips.   For a wedding -  brides are choosing bright colors in the beginning of the fall and winter.  They are craving berried lipsticks and clear reds -the color is a standout - it makes one's teeth and skin more white, luminescent, translucent and natural.  French women wear very little makeup and what they do wear is applied to appear as a very natural unmade up look. Too much makeup, according to French women, makes you seem older and less refined.

From what I have learned women in Paris pay more attention to the exquisiteness of their lips  - and to such a degree that  - well they spend at least 20 minutes every day drawing a perfect lip line. (but did I tell you that it lasts all day)

One French makeup artist has been quoted as saying that Parisian women will use several lipsticks at the same time, and will not leave home until she makes her lips plump and solid.

Pay special attention to red lipsticks - not all reds are equal - for a great evening out and of course for a wedding, nothing draws more attention to a beautiful face than equisite skin and an unforgettable mouth. 

In Her Words – Mom’s Recipe for Holiday Eggnog!

Below is my Mother’s eggnog recipe (finally found it) as she wrote it - verbatim. I would look forward to this beverage every Christmas growing up in Arcadia together with my family. Years later as I entertained I would sometimes skip Mom’s handmade ‘nog and purchase Knudsen's own eggnog from the Gelson's cold case and then attempt to recall Mom's version as I poured whatever was plentiful from the cupboards into the Eggnog Pitcher.  Not this year – I plan to have on hand this Christmas Eve a big punchbowl full of Mom’s Recipe for Eggnog.  Here it is….

Beat separately the yolks and whites of six “fresh eggs”. Add ½ cup of sugar to yolks while beating and ¼ cup of sugar to whites after they have been beaten very stiff. Mix egg yolks with egg whites.

Stir in one pint of rich cream and one pint of really good Irish whiskey (Jameson) and 1 oz. of yummy Jamaican rum (Appleton Rum Estate VX Jamaican)  Stir thoroughly. Chill. Serve very cold with grated nutmeg on each cup.

This recipe makes five pints of eggnog or 2/ ½ quarts.  And of course don't forget the hand whipped cream on top.

Here are other found recipes Mom brought with her from Canada...

Mincemeat Pie

Canadian Shortbread Cookies

Plum Pudding and Hard Sauce &

Dad's Tom and Jerry Brew

More later….  Joanna

Mood Board Autumn Wedding 2011 - Orange = Festivity

Apple Chair Swag – Fdcraft.com

Edible Cocktails - Thedropbar.com

Front Door Greeting “The French Kiss Cocktail” with Orange twists

Garden White Canopies – Lator-ets.fr.

Green Plaid Linens & Custom Napkins – Fdcraft.com

Hair Simple and upsweep, elegant & timeless – Shopbando.com

Multichic’s Arcadia Rocks’ Glass

Honeymoon Scooter Reform School Rules’ Amish Made Scooter .

Snappy Slipper Orange Ilkat Chair – Urban Outfitters

Succulents & Fruits - Cacti, Citrus cymbidium, Elephant Leaves – Ojai Garden

The Cuff: By Kendra Scott

Vin and Fromage Bar - Pine Table – Frontgate

L’Orange - the color of Festivity!  - Here we've created a loose mood board for my Bride and Groom centered around the sexy color orange for inspiration.  The first element the couple wants to complete is an initial mood board  - Voila Ici! -  as an overview of the reception - and one of three mood boards to define the occasion.  The beautiful redheaded Bride and handsome Groom both architects want to be married at home or at least celebrate very close to home with the inclusion of family and friends.   Favorite foods are citrus - apples, oranges, and cheese and lots of Chardonnay.

Deferring most of the design and concept to the Bride and Groom ours was to interpret their "eye".  They want to add architectural design elements to their reception as a reflection of them as a couple and their profession (architects).  Taking their inspiration from great architectural designers they admire, and reflecting on their architectural principles they have begun designing their day.  They're resurrecting, reflecting and combining memories with their  hopes  creating their  “Dream Reception”.  Here are some of the elements:

Several ethnic bold-patterned slipper chairs for relaxation -  intimate and homey - unexpected  and later to be moved into the couple’s home as wing chairs in the dining and living room.

A French 6’ pine table will serve double duty as a “Vin and Fromage” tasting table” complete with a “Greeting Cocktail” -  ”The French Kiss” with Orange Twists; and French Aperitifs, mixers and garnishes, French cheeses and small baguettes.

Same pine table will double as a “The Scotch Bar” and offerings of candied pecans, dried fruit, figs, pineapple and hand make crackers.

Canopies and tents are to be ordered – and several custom made by a local sailmaker in small, large shapes and vintage shapes – the reception tent will be lined with a punchy small stripe fabric in the colors to match the slipper chairs.  The same fabric is to be used for the “The Ladies’ Vanity Tent”, “The Bride’s Canopy” and a "Children’s Tent".

Stylish and sophisticated, edible cocktails are to be created as well as cootie catcher for menus.

A local caterer will be serving up “in-season courses” and she will use locally grown ingredients as well. (Within 100 miles)

A few vintage and modern chandeliers in the space are being considered.

Lastly – in addition to wedding rings and earings, simple architectural gold cuffs for the Bride's wrist and arm have been acquired.

More Later....

Here's to Bonne Planning

Joanna

Signature Wedding Cocktail - Le Passioniste

I can't remember the occasion but I do remember there was a party, a beautiful home and a seductive drink called "Le Passioniste".  I remember the party home's terrace hung over a rocky beach and the mood was one of sensory overload - the view, the food, the company and the "drink" made the evening a memorable event.  For years I've dreamt of the "party cocktail" and just recently suggested it as a Signature Cocktail to one of my couples.  I thought it would make a great "Memory Making Cocktail" for their Ojai reception this fall.  Here’s the recipe – I hope you love it as much as I do.

Enjoy!

“LE PASSIONISTE”

You’ll need just a flair of ginger liqueur, then add the best rum & and the very best tropical orange and guava juice you can find.  Recommendations - make fresh squeezed orange juice and then combine with guava juice.

Use good Ron Zacapa Centenario rum - it is aged rum that can be found at your specialty liquor stores.

Use Domaine de Canton – for the ginger-flavored liqueur,

• 2 ounces orange-guava juice
• 1 1/2 ounces aged Ron Zacapa Centenario
• 1/2 ounce ginger liqueur Domaine de Canton
• 4 dashes of  orange bitters
• Ice

Ok Now -

For one cocktail combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker then fill with ice. Cover and shake until thoroughly chilled. Strain into rock glass.  Repeat for Cocktail #2.  Then together raise your glasses - look into each others eyes and say – with feeling!  A Votre Sante!

Paris Handmade Bride's Gifts: Suuz Designs – Colorful Beaded Necklaces

Shopping is fun - especially when it's for someone else.  I like wedding gift shopping for my brides and both wedding families; I'm always looking for unique gifts, food items, spirits, wine; you name it I love to hand pick treasures for my friends and clients. Today I am looking for Paris Handmade Bridal Gifts and my first stop of the day is the Etsy site where I discovered Suuz Designs and Susanne our "The Artiste Tous Jour".   After living on a tropical island for 10 years, Susanne now calls Paris her home and loves working with glass and colors.

Nearly 1500 Etsy shoppers can’t be wrong – Susanne is a brilliant artist.  She creates these magnificent beads in her Paris Studio  - then hand makes one of kind beaded necklaces - They are Breathtaking! 

Here's her  “Paris Studio”.  Impressive! 

I can feel the island vibe.

Now, take a look at Susanne's Creations

I'm set  - let's take a few home today...

Here's to Bonne Planning & Bonne Shopping!

Joanna

Historic Wedding Venue: Adamson House in Malibu, California

Facade Adamson House

Front Door Entrance

Great View of Front Entrance

This is the Back Patio

How about this Kitchen

Pool House Mural

The Malibu Tile

Side Patio

View up the Coast

Fountain Area and Wedding Site

If you've dreamt of a Spanish Countryside Wedding consider - This “work of art” beach house  built in 1929, in the Spanish Colonial Revival style.  The house was given to Rhoda and Merritt Adamson as a gift from her mother, May Rindge, the last owner of Malibu. The historic masterpiece beach house “The Adamson House” in Malibu is set on a beautiful ocean front property set high above the Pacific Coast Highway; and is adorned with sycamore lawns, a front courtyard, and a rear lawn by a star shaped fountain.

The brochure describes the view from the House - “From the balcony behold the breathtaking panoramic views of Santa Monica Bay. Listen to the surf as it crashes on the beach and see a bird’s eye view of your reception.”

The property is luxurious, historic and breathtaking and is open to all weddings and receptions outdoors. It is probably the most pristine of the historical properties I’ve seen and a perfect spot for a 200 guest wedding. The property boasts 13 acres of land above Surfrider Beach on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California.

The brochure invites one to “step back in time and experience a house that is 95% preserved, complete with the family’s belongings and furniture, just as it was when Rhoda and Merritt Adamson lived there with their three children during the 30's,40's and 50's.”

As the Adamson House is a National Historical Site and a California Registered Landmark, please consider one important item and that is there are no parties booked inside the home.  With a couples’ reception on the grounds, the Adamson House offers the option of “opening” the house for docent led tours during the cocktail hour. Weddings and special events are scheduled from April through October.

One suggestion, visit the property with your wedding planner. Visit the park, walk the beautiful ocean front property, and take a docent led tour of the house. Seeing this historic breathtaking “beach house” full of Malibu Potteries tile (see notes below), and hearing about the history of the last family to own Malibu is remarkable. 

Suggestions: At your wedding and during the cocktail reception, your guests can tour The Adamson House with an informative docent, while your wedding party is with your photographer.

Here are some more details to consider: The Adamson House is open to weddings from April to October. The cost to have a wedding on the grounds is not your average and one must consider transporting “everything” to the property – Oh! But the view!  The grassy area next to the iconic star fountain is probably where most of the weddings are held and with direct access to the beach.

A Bit about the Decor

The Adamson House is decorated in striking, unusual and valuable Malibu tile and there is a Persian style rug made entirely of Malibu tile. The hand painted ceilings, doors, cabinets, and frescos are the creation of two artists, Ejnar Hansen and Peter Neilsen. One cannot get away from the sight of and the details of hand forged wrought iron and the glow of colored and rondel glass windows.

The lavish use of exquisite ceramic tile, produced by Malibu Potteries (1926-32), is a hallmark of the house. The use of decorative tile has always been characteristic of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. Mrs. Rindge decided to utilize the unique red and buff burning clays that existed in the Malibu area, as well as an abundant supply of water from a spring in Sweetwater Canyon, to establish the Malibu Potteries. Beginning in 1926, a profusion of brilliant tiles flowed from this establishment to hundreds of residential and public buildings throughout Southern California.

The Adamson House is at:
23200 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265-4937

Here’s to Bonne Planning!

Joanna