Govino: unbreakable wine glasses

For those who wouldn’t dream of drinking wine in anything other than crystal, Govino has created an unbreakable glass that was developed for wine salespeople on the go. Though not actually glass, the BPA-free polymer feels like it, and will not take away from the drinking experience. The wine glass measures 4.4 inches in height and holds 16 ounces, the champagne flute is 5.3 inches high, and holds 8 ounces. Practically a steal at $12.95 for a pack of 4; for those who throw large parties outdoors the 36 or 72 packs will come in handy. Available on the website.

outdoor LOUNGING

Comfortable seating makes being outdoors even better.


Gardenhouse: an artist’s touch
Photographer Cheryl Maeder and artist husband Gary love to scour flea markets and antique stores and update their vintage finds in vibrant colors and modern fabrics. This refurbished gold metal settee, seen above, is just one example. It can be used indoors or out, and has Sunbrella canvas cushions and pillows which flip to black patent leather on the reverse. Check the website to see their other finds. While you’re there, see Cheryl’s photography which also keeps with the “vintage gone modern” concept, featuring Dreamscapes of soft-focused beach scenes and sweeping landscapes. Decorate your weekend house with both! All the pieces can be purchased through the website and can be shipped throughout the US.

oh, so comfortable: Royal Botania

If it’s total relaxation you are looking for, and have the space, this set from Royal Botania is for you. I recently spotted FOLD at ICFF, where I road-tested it and can assure you it was absolute heaven-on-earth. The outer piece is moulded out of material which is scratch resistant and requires minimal maintenance. Deluxe, all-weather cushions come in 13 basic colors and 36 premium color and pattern options. Choose the pieces you need to suit your space, from $1,300 per setion (plus cushions). Check out the flagship store located at 394 Broadway between Walker and White streets in Tribeca where you can do your own testing.

eco chic from Seasonal Living

The Nest Day Bed is the bean bag for the future. The exterior fabric is made completely out of recycled plastic water bottles, hand woven on traditional looms, and double bagged with polystyrene beads. This cushy pool-side lounge is resistant to the effects of salt water and chlorine and guaranteed not to fade, split or crack from exposure to the sun. It requires no special maintenance; dirt rinses away with a squirt of the hose. Best of all the lounge is 100% recyclable and free of toxic residue. $2,000. Check out Seasonal Living’s other outdoor items, such as their eco-cement planters. The Column Planter and Soho Planter’s concrete is a mix of natural sands and hemp-like grass, available in weathered grey or chalk white. These planters can also work as table side coolers with removable zinc liners. Party time!

On the Table

At the recent tabletop show at 41 Madison, there were goodies galore. My friend Frank and I explored the showrooms top to bottom to see the latest collections from Lenox, Dansk, Rosenthal, Guzzini, and more. Our timing was perfect—as we hit the brand new Michael Aram showroom there was a cocktail party just starting. So, while viewing the latest designs, we got to see the Aram serving trays in action. Frank kept diving into the grilled cheese with pulled pork, but my attentions were focused on the tea smoked chicken salad on wontons. Turns out, Michael Bick of Some Things Fishy Catering, Ltd was on the scene, and was generous enough to share his recipe. The combination of the spices were refreshingly unique (and exceptionally delicious), and the fried wontons lent a nice crispy edge. Michael recommends using lapsang souchong tea for its smoky qualities. If you don’t have a smoker, you can use a wok or large casserole pan with lid. Chef Cathy Shambly has some great step-by-step photos on her blog, Showfood Chef, that take you through the process. I once did a fish cooking class at the Institute for Culinary Education, and we smoked salmon in a similar way, using 2 roasting pans. Totally worth the effort! Photo above, Michael Aram’s Olive Branch napkin holder keeps things neat! See more photos of my tabletop picks and the party food here.

Tea Smoked Chicken Salad by Michael Bick

2 chicken breasts, raw

Marinade:
1 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup mirin
1/4 cup sesame oil
1 TB Nori Kome Furikake rice seasoning
1 tsp Shichimi Togarashi

Smoke Mixture:
1/2 cup loose leaf tea
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup rice

Sesame Aioli:
2 large egg yolks
2 TB dijon mustard
2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
2 TB yuzu juice
1 3/4 cups soy oil
1/4 cup sesame oil
1 TB soy sauce
1 TB Linghams sweet & spicy hot sauce
1 TB Nori Komi Furikaki rice seasoning

Salad Mixture:
1 red bell pepper, diced small
1/2 red onion, diced small
2 jalapeños, seeded & minced
2 inch-long piece of fresh ginger, peeled and minced
2 tablespoons pickled ginger, minced
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves, minced

Marinade: In a non reactive bowl, mix ingredients together and marinate the chicken breasts for 1 to 2 hours.

Smoke Mixture: Combine ingredients and place in a stovetop smoker. Follow directions on smoker and smoke marinated chicken for 8 minutes. Remove from smoker and finish cooking in a 350 degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes. When cool, shred by hand (this is a big pain but worth it).

Sesame Aioli: Place yolks, mustard, garlic, juice, in blender. While blending, drizzle in both oils, until thick and mayonnaise-like. lt may need more oil. Season with soy, sweet chili, and rice seasoning.

Salad: Combine shredded chicken with all prepared vegetables. When you are ready to serve toss with Sesame Aioli.

Seen @ High Point Market

I recently visited North Carolina to see the latest at the High Point furniture market and was pleased to see artists and manufacturers using recycled materials in a variety of creative ways. It was also nice to see furniture still hand-made in America—tasteful, and sturdy. Photo left shows re-used Brazilian truck tarps from Grace and Blake covering benches and ottomans, photo right is a glimpse of some of the offerings from Busbin, who design and manufacture pieces of modern, yet classic furniture that can be handed down to the next generation. It was fun to get out of the city for a week or so, see more photos from the trip here.

For the Birds: Bird Feeder for your Window

Have the joy of watching small birds gather right where you can see them. This globe, made of recycled plastic, sticks right to your window. The double-sided suction cup uses carefully selected materials, so it will stay on the window through the hottest and coldest temperatures. Designed by Urban Butik. $19.95.

Artful support: Japan

In support of the relief efforts for Japan, MOLO has added a big red dot to their felted wool hobo bag in a special limited edition of 50. Show your support for $150, by calling the Molo studio in Vancouver (+1 604 696 2501). The full proceeds will be donated to support Architecture for Humanity’s reconstruction efforts. This bag can carry a heavy load and doubles as a lantern with an energy-efficient LED light. This Friday, April 8th, 3.11 Project presents a silent auction taking place at Openhouse Gallery, from 6 to 9 pm, featuring NYC’s and Japan’s finest talent. The exhibition will feature more than 50 artists, displaying multimedia installations, painting, photography, and sculpture. It’s your chance to own some impressive art for less. One hundred percent of proceeds goes to Japan Earthquake Relief Fund via the Japan Society. See more information about the art at this link. 201 Mulberry Street. RSVP at rsvp@foundationworld.com

Share the Love Party

I always like to make a big fuss when it comes to my birthday. This year I hosted the post-Valentine’s Day “Share the Love” party which featured a menu of savory treats disguised as cupcakes, lollipops and flowers. The color pink was woven into the theme, with other shocking pastels, which made for an atmosphere of pure gaiety. My friend Derek and I worked for three days shopping and preparing the food. Nima helped inspire the cocktail, named The Blush, which I made ahead of time in pitchers, and topped them up on the scene. See photos of the food and decoration from the party here.

THE BLUSH
1 part Vodka
3 parts Pink Lemonade
.5 part Lillet
.5 part Aperol
1 part Cranberry Juice
La Fee Orange Bitters to taste
To serve: Fill a glass halfway with mixture, then fill with Prosecco.

eco Smart Fire: the instant fireplace

It’s the time of year when people long to sit gazing at a flickering fire. Eco Smart Fire has designed a line of freestanding fireplaces and grates that can be put inside a space without the need for ventilation or a gas connection. The steamlined models are fueled with eco-friendly bio ethanol, an alcohol made from sugarcane, potatoes, bananas, beetroot, and cereals. Check out their website to see a huge array of really sensational designs to make your space all warm and toasty.

Dressed for Dinner with Kuhn Rikon

The Cook & Serve stainless steel pot will not only look great on your holiday table, the neoprene sleeve keeps food warm while protecting the table’s surface. Comes in 2-, 3-, and 4-quart sizes all with tempered glass lid, with slipcover sleeve in red, orange, chartreuse, or royal blue.

A gift for the organizer: Stelton Paul Smith Collection

I fell in love with Paul Smith's Dot collection as soon as I laid eyes on it. I am definitely not alone, because since then I am seeing these colorful bowls all over the place. For instance, the kitchen at the Kips Bay Showhouse this year featured them along the fireplace mantel (photo). I can think of a ton of uses—on a desktop, a bathroom, dressing room, or in the kitchen. The exterior is made of brushed stainless steel, the interiors are enamel-like without the fragility. They range from $59 to $79. Buy it online at Unica Home. See more photos of my Kips Bay Showhouse’s favorite rooms here.

A gift for the decorating diva: Hats OFF to Mary McDonald

Once hat designer, now interior designer extraordinaire, Mary McDonald has come out with her first book, Mary McDonald Interiors: The Allure of Style. The book is loaded with beautiful objects and tons of design ideas for tieing rooms together. I like how the book is divided into in themes, like the Theater chapter, which features the Hollywood homes that have been boldly color-coordinated and artfully accessorized in moods of: Classic, Graphic, Obsession, Exotic. The book is truly a visual feast.

Harry and David Pop Up Orchard

For their 75th anniversary, Harry & David are celebrating with pop-up stores in cities where they do not have a retail presence. I got to meet designer Matthew Goodrich (seen here with me as the other pear), who, along with David Rockwell of The Rockwell Group, was responsible for the green design. See more photos of the space here, and be sure to pick up some delicious salsas (love the pepper and onion relish) and other holiday goodies before they skip out of town. Fifth Avenue near 22nd Street.

Halloween Brights

Happy-colored tableware from French Bull is available for your Halloween entertaining needs. Choose from the large Orange/Pink bowl ($24), small bowls ($7) in orange or black, or round black-and-white tray ($24). Best of all, it’s on sale! To receive the 20% discount on anything in the store (except sale items) enter the term: FBSPOOKY in all caps.

Great Gifts for the Home

Whether you want to spruce up your place with a new accessory or bring a gift to your host on the next visit, head over to Alex & Lorenzo, a cute little boutique on 1048 Lexington Ave between 74th and75th streets. Owner Kristen McLaughlin has packed the store with a delightful selection of items screaming with character and style. I could not resist this turquoise tray (photo), which had the added benefit of being the exact size as my ottoman. It’s great to use indoors or out. I plan to use it all summer long to dress up my gatherings.

Ellen's TV Show on Oprah.com

I am participating in a contest on Oprah's new channel to get a TV show. SAUCE! is the name of the show. Please click on the link to access the 3 minute video. The show will feature the talents of the Hip Hostess NYC, a top chef and mixologist to create the ultimate party. We demonstrate a cocktail and recipes for sauces and how to display your dishes in the most creative way. Cocktail brands, special food products, tableware, glassware, appliances, and anything that contributes to creating a party will all be showcased. Plus the most creative recipes of chefs and mixologists will form the body of the show.
PLEASE VOTE and VOTE OFTEN!
You can vote more than once...the more votes the better!
Spread the word...TV land needs a show like this to celebrate all the creative minds out there!
Thanks for your consideration.

Telling Time

QlockTwo tells the time, not by using numbers, but by using words. I love the understated, minimalist design by Biegert & Funk, who have attached the piece together with magnets, so it appears to float off the wall. It’s available in stainless steel and 5 fun colors: black ice tea, vanilla sugar, cherry cake, frozen blackberry, and lime juice. Check out the website, and see how it looks in each color in English, then for fun, switch to the 9 other languages: German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, French, Danish, Russian, and Arabic. The clock spells out the time in five minute increments, and has a dot in each corner for every minute in between.

Hanna Tonek Bonnet CERAMICS

In keeping with the theme of creating new by taking from the past, I came across Hanna’s ceramics at the recent ICFF show. I loved how she took traditional patterns, but used them in inventive ways, by placing them on the inside of vases and cups, and adding drips and hot pink velvet flock to the outsides. She has also done a series of brooches, which are meant to hang on a wall. Everything in the collection has a fresh, feminine, fun appeal. There is a store in Soho carrying some of the pieces called Clio.

ICFF: inspiring, cool, fabulous + fun

The International Contemporary Furniture Fair, held this past weekend at the Javits is something I look forward to every year. I don’t know what I like more, seeing all the fantastic new design or attending the myriad of events centered around the show. The combination is a definitely a delightful Design O.D. There were so many amazing things, I could not possibly include then all in one post, so stay tuned for the ongoing series of my picks from the show. Seen here: The oversized serving dish from Fornasetti, spotted in the Barney’s showroom during the elegant exhibiton and event. This is on my wish list. A blue cocktail, generously served at the Artemide showroom party, and Gandia Blasco’s blue light display on the rooftop at the Gansevoort Hotel. Click on this link to see more event photos.