My Annual "Sagitarian" Lunch
I always enjoy eating out, especially when it's with dear friends celebrating special occasions.
Every year around this time, I always host a "Sagitarian" lunch - a fun meal with several close colleagues and friends who all have one thing in common... a birthday in December. This annual tradition happened earlier this week at Le Pavillon, Chef Daniel Boulud's exquisite culinary oasis located in the heart of midtown Manhattan at the famous One Vanderbilt skyscraper. The setting of Le Pavillon Daniel Bould is an 11-thousand square foot space featuring cathedral ceilings and lush greenery with views of the city's bustling Grand Central Terminal. Attendees included Jane Heller, Susan Magrino, Kevin Sharkey, Darcy Miller Nussbaum, Judy Morris, and myself - the group's lone Leo. It was a wonderful lunch and a gathering.
Enjoy these photos.
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- Here we are with Executive Chef Daniel Boulud – it was so nice to see him and to have him recommend some of his favorite dishes. If you’re ever in New York City and want to treat yourself to a delicious meal, please consider Le Pavillon. It focuses on seasonal menus, seafood, and the freshest locally sourced ingredients.
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- Darcy Miller Nussbaum, who worked with me as Editorial Director of Martha Stewart Weddings for many years, is now a celebrations expert and entrepreneur. She brought everyone a bottle of champagne tagged with her creative illustrations of each of us. This is mine. Follow Darcy on Instagram @darcymiller.
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- Here is Jane Heller’s gift bottle. You remember Jane – she is my friend and banker.
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- Judy Morris has worked for me on my television shows and special projects for 30-years. Here is her bottle and illustration. Her Instagram handle is @judy.morris.3.
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- Here’s Kevin’s bottle. You know Kevin, my friend and our own EVP of Home at Marquee Brands. See lots of Kevin’s great photos on Instagram @seenbysharkey.
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- Susan Magrino is another good friend and my longtime publicist. Follow her on Instagram @SusanMagrino7. She was recently a guest on “The Martha Stewart Podcast.”
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- Peter Grant, who couldn’t attend the luncheon, is one of my longtime attorneys, but don’t worry, we’ll make sure he gets this fun birthday gift.
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- Right away, everyone admired Judy’s sweater – bedecked in fun sequence and button rosettes. It was designed by my neighbor, Andy Yu, and bought at the Village Winter Market in Bedford, New York – did you see my blog on the two-day event?
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- We all had a glass of Colcumbet champagne – some added Crème de Cassis, a blackcurrant liqueur, to make flavorful Kir Royale drinks.
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- Among the delicious dishes we enjoyed was this Oyster Vanderbilt made with John’s river oyster from Maine poached in chowder fortified with potatoes, leeks, crème fraîche, and hazelnuts with a parsley-seaweed crust.
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- Here is a winter chicory and black truffle salad with Heermance Farm Salanova lettuce, Italian chicories, sourdough “friselle,” hazelnut gremolata, king trumpet mushrooms, Brussels sprouts, and black truffle vinaigrette.
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- This is a Vidalia onion tart, served with dandelion, époisses emulsion, and thyme.
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- Also on the menu – fresh saffron cured hamachi, artichokes, ají dulce peppers, and mint rice crisp.
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- Here’s a fun photo I took of Chef Daniel, Jane, and Kevin. During the lunch, we all realized that if one were to add up all the years I’ve known each one of these Sagittarius friends, it would come out to more than 140-years.
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- This is a duo of yellowfin tuna with fennel pollen, socca crisp, and tonnato sauce, an Italian tuna sauce.
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- This bucatini pasta is served with shrimp, cuttlefish, tomato, parsley, and guanciale.
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- And this is grilled black bass with bok choy, basil, and a chili vinaigrette.
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- For dessert – an assortment of cookies including sablé Breton, Chamonix, and bergamot-black currant.
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- I gifted each of my December birthday guests a stack of this year’s New York Times Top Best-Selling books. I think I need a stack for myself.
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- Each stack of books was given with this Birthday sentiment. Jane, Kevin, Susan, Darcy, Judy, and Peter – happy birthday and may you enjoy reading every single work! And be sure to follow Le Pavillon on Instagram @lepavillonnyc.
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