I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas celebration. I certainly did! Christmas 2009 was celebrated with my dear friend Ali and her family at their home uptown in Manhattan. Ali and her husband Mike send their children to the same school as my son so over the years now we've celebrated Christmas, 4th of July, birthdays and First Holy Communions together. They have a beautiful townhouse that is just made for entertaining and they are always so generous in opening their doors for celebrations and summer barbeques.
Ali is the most amazing hostess and cook and always makes it look so effortless and beautiful. They love having a full house; invitations to their get togethers are coveted and I always love being their guest.
We spent early Christmas Eve at a cocktail party at the home of another school family and then off we went to Ali and Mike's. We began celebrating with a champagne cocktail of bubbly mixed with strawberry puree and a platter of cheeses and foie gras. It went down a treat and then we were off to bed before Santa made his appearance!
Christmas morning began with a traditional English breakfast of sausages and eggs - did I mention Ali is English? - and then the main meal preparations began.
With Christmas carols playing in the backgound, Ali prepared yet another outstanding meal. It was started off with langoustine in a Mary Rose sauce (I'll never be able to go back to simple shrimp cocktail) and proceeded to roast turkey, ham, roasted and mashed potatoes, stuffing, brussels sprouts, glazed carrots, sausages wrapped in bacon, gorgeous cranberry sauce and creamy gravy. It was all so delicious that I could have eaten 3 plates but I didn't want to seem like a piggy!
After a short break we indulged in a dessert of chocolate cake with raspberry sauce topped off with a dollop of freshly whipped cream.
We all just about passed out while finishing the evening watching Elf. Another year over, another Christmas celebration and there's nowhere else I would rather have been.
Thanks again, Ali and Mike!
