Summer Lunch

I just had a perfect summer lunch at The Dutch in West SoHo. Accompanied by good friends and good conversation, the meal was topped off with my favorites...a soft shell crab sandwich, a side of cornbread, a zingy orange punch {yum!}, and a shared slice of salted lime pie {my absolute favorite dessert} 

Bites on a Budget

The 'Despaña' bocadillo (or sandwich) is a serrano ham and goat cheese sandwich with a touch of tomato-garlic spread – and it does not disappoint! The ham is cured to perfection, and the Ciabatta bread is crispy and fresh, with the right amount of firmness while remaining doughy in the right places. Pardis went for the 'Picante' (a Despaña best-seller and favorite of Carol Lim's!), a warm-pressed, melt-in-your-mouth bocadillo with chorizo, Mahon cheese, spicy Basque pepper, tomato and aioli sauce. All of this for a total of $9.25 each!

Everything is made from the imported products sold at the store. We only had the bocadillos, but there is so much more to discover, like croquettas, olives and all kinds of tortillas. I guess I'll just have to come back! 

 

DESPAÑA

408 Broome Street

New York, NY 10013

MAP 

My pick: the 'Despaña' 

Pardis' pick: the 'Picante'

Close-up of the 'Picante.' Delicious!

Proper (printable) Placement

Finally! a Printable Table Placement! Now I'm happy to know it wasn't only me that was unsure of what goes where. I'm pretty sure nobody notices when i make dinner parties but it always something I was curious about. 
See below how Mrs. Lillien's does it:


Perhaps you happened upon this little ditty I whipped up for TradHome - a piece in which I unfold the mystery behind the tabletop's unknown. After endless inquiries and plenty of polite requests - I've whipped up a proper printable placemat for your honorary table guests! With piles of elusive utensils, it's difficult to decipher - so I diagramed a proper place setting map to use as an advisor. These handy little guides make for a highly spirited table - I even included a little place card for guest names that the hostess can label. I invite you to print them out and use them to your hearts content - I hope you enjoy them one-hundred percent! Be sure to load your printer with good paper stock that's 11 x 17 - so that you can print out the proper-est placemat you ever did seen!
Download + Print Mrs. Lilien's Proper {printable} Placemat
Happy Weekending!

Summer Treat!

Cut up three lemons and two limes and add it into the blender with a 1/2 cup of water, 1/3 cup sugar, half a tray of ice cubes and a few mint leaves.

Blend and taste. Place in the freezer while you prepare the lemon cups.

Using the lemon halves you've already cup up, use a grapefruit spoon or knife to clean out the inside. This is easy enough with a grapefruit spoon that kids will love to help

They only take a few seconds to clean out

Slice off a small piece of the bottom so they can sit flat. When they're done fill them with the slush, overflowing.

and place in the freezer until you're ready to serve

Place in the freezer until you're ready to serve

Take them out when you're little ones but you for a summer treat!