After the Countdown

On New Year’s Eve I was celebrating with my three-year-old great-niece Brielle, my mother and brother (Happy New Year!) watching the fireworks from atop the Stratosphere Casino, Hotel & Tower from my mother’s kitchen window. If I wasn’t such a wonderful aunt to stay in so my nephew Alex could go out, I would have hit up at least one of three great parties (A Vegas New Year’s Eve 2013) and sipped champagne all night. Instead I opted for a Ciroc Peach martini and some sparkling wine from Trader Joes that’s been in the wine fridge for a while.

New Year’s Eve would have been spent at Bagatelle Restaurant & Supper Club. They held a New Year’s Eve Gala hosted by Robin Thicke. I’ve been a fan of his since the Evolution of Robin Thicke album – 2006. It was a fashionable night with beautiful people.

Robin Thicke performs. Photo Credit: Carlos Larios

Robin Thicke with his gorgeous wife and actress Paula Patton. Photo Credit: Carlos Larios

Lucent Dossier. Photo Credit: Carlos Larios

The celebration kept going the next night at Hyde Bellagio at their “Lost Angles” party, a Tuesday night industry event. Common performed live with The Sayers Club on New Year’s Eve. Definitely a more relaxed night out full of celebrity.

Former mixed martial artist and UFC Heavyweight Champion Tito Ortiz and friends. Photo credit: Hyde Bellagio

Lil Jon parties in a VIP booth with friends. Photo credit: Hyde Bellagio

I love Las Vegas.

Adrienne xo

 

Any Reason is a Good Reason to Celebrate

I love the company of friends. I will find any reason to have a get together, and Chinese New Year made finding an excuse to celebrate easy. I tend to plan in my head weeks in advance what will be on the menu, who to invite, what I will wear, what music will be playing in the background, etc. In my mind, my gathering will look and feel like I hired David Tutera, then reality sets in and I am running around last-minute buying candles, flowers/plants, decorations, food, wine and spirits.

For this party, James and I had a buffet of Asian inspired dishes. Here is the menu and links to the recipes.

• Asian Baked Crispy Chicken Wings – a mixture of two recipes from Korean American Mommy and Bin the Kitchen (who adapted his recipe from Korean American Mommy. I added the following to the original recipe: orange juice & zest, honey and ginger to taste and corn starch)
• Asian Beef Ribs – Chicago Defender
• Marinated Thai-Style Pork Spareribs – Epicurious.com
• Steamed Vegetables  with white rice – Livestrong.com
• Lemongrass Chicken Stix with a mixture of soy sauce, Sriracha hot chili sauce and chili garlic sauce for dipping  (Trader Joe”s, Thank you Adrienne)
• Vegetable Gyoza (Thank you Blaze and Jay)
• Veggie Balls (we opted for BBQ sauce, mix of Sweet Baby Rays and Trader Joe’s All Natural Barbecue Sauce) – Epicurious.com
• Mikayawa Mango and Chocolate Mochi (Trader Joe”s or online at Mikayawa.com)

Asian inspired buffet

James & Adrienne

Rei Bollozos "I'm the only Asian in the room xo"

Adrienne & Jeff Pearson

Ryan Slattery & Adrienne

Blaze Gusic

Michael D Cook-Wood & David Castillo

My mom (Patti) and sister (Carri) are so silly

Mom & James with Stephen Stocks in the background

Patti trying sake for the first time

A2 & A1

Mochi is not my mother's favorite

Patti DOES NOT like Mochi (lol)

Carri & Ryan laughing at my mom

In the end, all that mattered was the love and laughs that was shared. What excuse do you use to have a cocktail party?

Thank you for reading.

Adrienne xo

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• A Shopping Guide to Trader Joe’s (thedailymeal.com)