Drinks

A FOOD52 Cocktail Party

February 28, 2012

We're lucky to have such a great team behind us. Our developers, photographers, recipe testers, and longtime community members make FOOD52 what it is. To thank the hard workers and our friendly encouragers, we got everyone together for a little celebration last Wednesday night. We made five party snacks from FOOD52 recipes and one of our favorite cocktails, the Moscow Mule (get the recipe below). 

Some of our photographers were in attendance, but we gave them the night off. Here's a peek at last week's party, captured with iPhones and Instagram.

Cocktail Party Prep  Fig and Blue Cheese Savories
Left: Some of the FOOD52 team prepping away. Right: TheRunawaySpoon's Fig and Blue Cheese Savouries ready for baking. 

Shop the Story

 

Prep Talk  Flank Steak
Left: Some more prep talk, and pitchers full of Moscow Mules -- we made the ginger syrup from A Tribute to Woody (Homemade Ginger Ale Float) by inpatskitchen. Right: We assembled mini versions of Flank Steak on Texas Toast with Chimichurri by sdebrango

 

Copper Ice Bucket  Kristen and Turtle
Left: We set up the bar with a very fancy copper ice bucket. Right: Kristen, saran wrap, and a turtle -- we can't have a party without them.

 

Snacks  Cupcakes
Left: We also served up AntoniaJamesCrispy Spice-Brined Pecans, and the winning Yoghurt & Spinach Dip by shayma. Right: Amanda's kids made mini cupcakes for the party, which reminded us how much we love that Chocolate Dump-It Cake recipe. 

 

Table   Table 2
We finished setting our tables just before the first guests arrived. The final additions to our menu were cured meats and Paprika-scented Manchego Chorizo Puffs by Half-Buzzed Hostess.

 

Party  Party
Two busy rooms full of friendly faces.

 

Walker and Tad  Addie
Left: Amanda's son, Walker, took a short break from greeting guests and serving cupcakes with his dad. Right: Mid-party, Walker's sister Addie decided to add a fun accessory to her ensemble.

 

Almost gone  Cupcake service
Left: Those savouries and cured meats did not last long. Right: Some people were lucky enough to have mini cupcakes hand-delivered to them by Walker and Addie -- what presentation!

 

Empty table  Late-night Scones
Left: An empty table is a sign of a successful party. Right: At the end of the night we treated ourselves to the scones mrslarkin brought. (And happily ate the rest for breakfast at the office the next day.)

We referred to Amanda's Essential New York Times Cookbook for the cocktail recipe. Here it is:

Moscow Mule

Serves 1

1 1/2 ounces vodka
4 teaspoons fresh lime juice
6 ounces ginger beer (make your own by mixing 1 part ginger syrup with 3 parts soda water)

Fill a tumbler with 4 or 5 ice cubes. Pour in the vodka and lime juice and fill up the glass with ginger beer. 

(We made a giant batch and garnished ours with wedges of key lime.)

 

See what other Food52 readers are saying.

  • ChefJune
    ChefJune
  • Lori Lyn Narlock
    Lori Lyn Narlock
  • Stacey Snacks
    Stacey Snacks
  • allysahn
    allysahn
  • testkitchenette
    testkitchenette
I'm a freelance food and prop stylist, writer/editor, and video producer.

13 Comments

ChefJune March 20, 2012
just seeing these photos now. What a lovely, fun evening it was! Amanda's home is one most of us New Yorkers aspire too -- and what a great kitchen! Addie and Walker are adorable and charming. And it was SO much fun to meet the people behind many of the monikers here. BIG thanks to all those who made the party possible, not the least of which was the Hesser/Friend family. xoxo
 
Lori L. March 4, 2012
Oh, how fun! Wish I could have been there. Thanks for sharing the photos and recipes.
 
Stacey S. February 29, 2012
Moscow Mule is my fave drink!!!! No one drinks this one! (or so I thought!). Looks like a fun time.
 
allysahn February 29, 2012
Looks like a great party. Moscow mule's are one of my very favorite drinks for a cocktail party. Everyone loves that ginger kick!
 
testkitchenette February 28, 2012
I was so sad to miss this! It looks like it was so much fun with amazing food (and people of course). A sort of spontaneous trip to India made it so I had to miss this celebration.
 
mrslarkin February 28, 2012
Glad you enjoyed the scones! My favorite moment of the evening: Walker and Addie working the coat check. Well, that and standing next to the picture of tripe lady in the dining room trying to act cool, thinking "omg i'm in Amanda Hesser's apartment!"
 
Bevi February 29, 2012
:-))
 
wssmom February 28, 2012
Looks like it was fun!
 
Rhonda35 February 28, 2012
So sorry to have missed this! Looks like a great time was had by all - esp. the kiddos. I bet the newly-white kitchen makes it seem brighter and bigger. xo
 
EmilyC February 28, 2012
Love the behind-the-scenes pics -- looks like a great party -- and not surprisingly, the food all looks great. I also really like the white cabinets in Amanda's kitchen, which are new if I'm not mistaken...
 
Amanda H. February 29, 2012
You are a careful observer! Glad you like the kitchen's new look. I'm going to do a before and after post about it ... eventually. Just got a new butcherblock today. Slowly but surely coming together.
 
Devangi R. February 28, 2012
I loved the pics..esp loved the turtle and the little charmers!
 
Sagegreen February 28, 2012
Addie's hat really does take the cake!