Holiday party at my house
On Wednesday, I hosted my annual Cantitoe Farm holiday party. This is a celebration of the season for all of those who work at the farm and for those provide their expert services. We were also joined by some of my friends and neighbors. Once again, I asked Chef David Malbequi to help me out in the kitchen. His food creations are quite delicious and my guests were quite happy. I wish all of you a very merry Christmas and a prosperous and healthy New Year!
- Christmas cookies, decorated by TV’s Dani Fiore, were a very big hit at the annual Cantitoe Farm Christmas party. Personally, it is heartbreaking to see the head of a gnome chomped off, when it took 30 minutes to decorate!
- Panettone is the Italian Christmas cake – it was not the favorite at the party – everyone wanted more rich, more different.
- On the other hand, this mocha buche de Noel was a very big hit! It was a delicious confection from Greenberg’s www.wmgreenbergdesserts.com on Madison Avenue in NYC.
- These ginger snaps were made by editor, Ellen Morrissey, and they were scarfed up immediately!
- Different gingerbread cookies – everyone loved them.
- Chef David Malbequi made this mushroom quiche with a black pepper pate brisee crust – very popular.
- A triple cream French cheese was rich and runny.
- Our new Niman Ranch ham from Costco, glazed with brown sugar and cognac, served with fresh slices of pineapple.
- I made fresh rhubarb sauce and fresh macintosh applesauce to serve with the potato latkes.
- These mandarins and kumquats are from my own greenhouse.
- My secret ingredient for superior latkes, or potato pancakes, is beer and this year I used Stella Artois.
- Betsy, my stable manager
- Jessica and Carlos
- Betsy and Linda, my farrier
- crispy latkes with creme fraiche and applesauce
- Blini with sour cream and caviar
- Brioche bread pudding
- The fireplaces glowed nicely.
- Glasses of wonderful caramelized cauliflower soup garnished with crispy croutons
- A very happy group
- Chhiring
- Shaun
- Alfredo
- The potato latkes are fried in just a bit of safflower oil – they are crispy and tender.
- Cheddar biscuits were great with ham.
- Wilmer and Gelbu
- Carlos and Sharkey
- Fernando and Alfredo
- Shaun and me
- Here I am with Chhiring.
- And with Alfredo
- Carmine and Mike
- Dr. Elizabeth Kilgallon – my large animal veterinarian, Linda, Betsy, and another guest.
- Dominick and Bruce
- Gyurme, Chhiring, and Pete
- Vivaldi found a cozy chair.
- Dolma and me
- One of my trees
- What a happy little girl
- Chewang and me
- Pete and me
- Purba and me
- Gyurme and me
- Fernando and me
- Wilmer and me
- Alfredo and me
- Gelbu, me, Dolma
- Michael, Laura, and Spencer
- Laura, Phyllis, and me
- Dr. Marty and Francesca
- Phyllis and Francesca
- Spencer loved the cats and spent a long time with vivaldi the cat