Shells & Champagne Dinner Party

Would you believe me if I told you I woke up craving pasta with clams and decited to throw a themed dinner party, bought everything (including flowers, ingredients) and did it all on the same day? Well, July is my birthday month and I'm one of those people who celebrate all month long lol so I thought, why not?

Well, when you live in Memphis and decide to host a dinner party called "Shells & Champagne," you might find it a little harder to get all you need when it comes to... well "shells". But you better believe I made it work, by the end of the night the house was filled with the tantalizing aroma of pasta with clams, oysters on the half shell, shrimp cocktail, and—of course—copious amounts of champagne. Here's how it all went down.

The prep work began after I set up the menu. Super easy to do, I made it at Canva. I had this idea of using some clementines that I had at home and incoorporate them in the flavors and the decor.

Off I went to Trader Joes, got all the flowers and then picked up a huge order of clams and oysters from The Fresh Market. I definitely got way too much but I had no idea of what would an appropriate amount be.

First thing I did was make the flower arrangements and set the table.

Time to start cooking... my kitchen turned into a scene from a cooking show—minus the professional skills and my camera crew being my phone and a broken tripod.

The hardest part of the whole meal was definitely shucking the oysters. I know, I should have watched one or two youtube videos, but I suffer from a desease that tells me I can do (and figure out) anything by myself and oh boy was I wrong. I ended up with so many little cuts!

Clams and pasta were simmering, oysters were chilling, and shrimp cocktail was... well, mostly being taste-tested by Theo.

As the champagne cork started popping, the seafood spread took center stage. We kicked things off with shrimp cocktail, avocado shrimp sauce and of course, the oysters which, if I do say so myself, was the perfect balance of zesty and succulent. Watching the boys faces as they slurped them down was pure entertainment.

Finally, the pièce de résistance: Linguine alla Vongole, AKA pasta with clams. It was a hit, despite the fact that I might have been a little heavy-handed with the garlic. (Pro tip: There’s no such thing as too much garlic. Ever. You can get the recipe here.

As the evening wore on, the champagne flowed freely (from one of my hands to the other), and so did the laughter. We toasted to family, to good food, to being together always and to surviving the week without losing our minds (this one on Caleb and I lol). The playlist was a mix of summer hits and classic throwbacks (I've been obsessed with the Ella and Louis album and that was on repeat), with a spontaneous dance-off breaking out in the living room.

By the end of the night, the seafood was devoured, the champagne bottle was empty, and my home looked like a mermaid’s birthday party gone wild. The cleanup was daunting, but worth every delicious, bubbly moment.

Hosting a "Shells & Champagne" dinner party was an absolute blast. It was a reminder that the best moments in life are the ones filled with good food and just the right amount of chaos. So, if you’re considering throwing your own seafood soirée, do it. Cheers!

Linguine alle Vongole aka Pasta with Clams

This pasta was sooo packed with flavor and so easy to make!

Enjoy the recipe:

Linguine alle Vongole (Linguine with Clams):

Ingredients:

• 1 packet of linguine

• 1kg (2.2 lbs) fresh clams, scrubbed clean

• 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

• 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

• 1/2 a bottle of dry white wine (I used Pinot Noir)

• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

• Salt, to taste

• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

• 3 tbsp of Butter

• Lemon wedges, for serving

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Clams:

- Place the clams in a large bowl with cold water and let them soak for about 20 minutes to remove any sand. Drain and rinse them well.

2. Cook the Linguine:

- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the linguine and cook until al dente according to the package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water and then drain the linguine.

3. Cook the Clams:

- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.

- Add the garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) and sauté until the garlic is fragrant and lightly golden, about 1-2 minutes.

- Add the clams and pour in the white wine. Increase the heat to medium-high and cover the skillet. Cook for about 5-7 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally, until the clams open. Discard any clams that do not open.

4. Combine Pasta and Clams:

- Add the drained linguine to the skillet with the clams. Toss everything together, allowing the linguine to soak up the clam juices. If the pasta seems dry, add some of the reserved pasta cooking water, a little at a time, until the desired consistency is reached.

5. Finish and Serve:

- Stir in the chopped parsley and butter season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

- Serve immediately, with lemon wedges on the side for squeezing over the pasta.

Enjoy your Linguine alle Vongole! Buon appetito!

Hosting an Italian Summer Dinner in Memphis ? Why Not! 🥂🐟🦞🦐🍝

Living in Memphis, they’re known for the BBQ, but every now and then, I like to mix things up a bit. So, when the itch for something Mediterranean hit me, I thought, “Why not host a Sicilian-inspired seafood dinner right here in my backyard?” Picture this: the warm (actually insert ONE HUNDREAD DEGREES HOT) evening air, twinkling fairy lights, and the tantalizing aroma of fresh seafood mingling with the scent of a Southern summer. It was an ambitious idea, but hey, if you’re going to dream, dream big, right?

Hosting an Italian Summer dinner in my backyard

Setting the Scene

First things first: transforming my backyard into a Sicilian paradise. This involved a trip to every home goods store in Memphis and a slightly alarming number of Amazon and H&M orders (DON'T TELL CALEB). Of course I had to keep a monotone vibe because hello, it's my fave, but I had a vision for this tablescape that involved me closing my eyes and pretending I was in Italy by the sea. The idea was to make a sunset dinner and end the night with desserts under the stars. Stringing up fairy lights was a bit of a challenge (note to self: buy a taller ladder next time), but the result was a magical, twinkling vibe that would have made even the stars jealous.

The Menu

Creating a menu that balanced authenticity with what’s available in Memphis was a bit of a culinary adventure. I settled on a spread that included:

• Antipasto Platter: A selection of olives, burrata cheeses, marinated vegetables, and prosciutto. Because nothing says “Welcome to Sicily” like nibbling on an antipasto while pretending you’re overlooking the Mediterranean.

• Summer Salad: A delightful mix of greens with a clementine sauce that deserves it's own moment to shine (you can find the recipe here)

• Roasted Fingerling Potatoes: Fingerling potatoes in pesto. Do I need to say more?

• Grilled Swordfish and Grilled Shrimp: Marinated in olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and a touch of oregano, this was the star of the evening. Grilling it in the backyard added that smoky flavor that made everyone swoon.

• Cannoli for Dessert: Because no Sicilian meal is complete without these crispy, creamy delights. Even though I'd love to claim I made them myself, I am unashamed to say I did not. I may have gone a bit overboard and bought a dozen, but they disappeared faster than you can say “buon appetito.”

The Drinks

To complement the feast, I served prosecco and white wine (no it wasn't Italian, I guess I didn't think of all the details after all 🫠). The wine and the prosecco were a hit and paired really well with the seafood.

The Mishaps

Of course, no good story comes without a few hiccups. The grill ran out of propane halfway through cooking the swordfish, leading to a mad dash to the store. It was so hot that I thought, why even bother? I'm sure if I stay here in this heat I'll cook faster than the fish. And finally the flies were definitely the main character of the night. But hey, it’s these moments that make for the best stories, right?

But honestly, hosting a Sicilian-inspired seafood dinner in my Memphis backyard was an unforgettable experience. It was a beautiful blend of cultures, flavors, and lots of laughter. Sure, it was a bit of work, but seeing my friends and family enjoying themselves made it all worth it. So, if you’re ever in the mood for a culinary adventure, I highly recommend bringing a bit of Sicily to your backyard. Just watch out for flies.

Here’s to many more evenings of good food, great company, and unforgettable memories. Salute!