THE LATEST FROM FRAN BERGER
Home Entertaining
Recipe for a Warm-up: Bloody Mary Soup
A new food memory: try my friend’s recipe for this delicious Bloody Mary Soup. A few years ago, on what in Southern California is considered a “cold” winter day, a friend of mine asked me if I wanted a Bloody...
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Outdoor Dining for (almost) anywhere.
Just because it’s a little chilly outside doesn’t mean you can’t have your party outdoors. I’m not talking about freezing weather. Let’s be sensible! And – yes – I know: “chilly” weather in California isn’t the same kind of “chilly”...
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Is it time to update your cookware?
Celebrate the New Year or a New Home with new non-stick cookware from All-Clad and Staub. Maybe you’ve moved. Maybe you’ve remodeled. Maybe it’s the New Year and it’s just time. Whatever the occasion, it’s time to take a look...
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Another Year with Sophisticating Living
What I’ve learned about sophisticated living – and how I’m taking it to the next level in 2018. A friend of mine is fond of saying, “We only get one ticket to the big dance. Make it count!” I get...
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How about a New Years’ Day party?
An excellent way to balance a great NYE party is an excellent NYD Open House. New Year’s Eve is a great time to celebrate, don’t you think? What better time to party than to ring in the new year? And...
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Recipe for a Quick Pickle
An easy “pickle” recipe that’s great for home or as a gift. I had a great Bloody Mary at Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa, and they served a simply wonderful vinegary/garlicky green bean as one of the vegetable garnishes...
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Tips for Wrapping Presents for the Holidays
Isn’t it time to change up your Christmas wrapping skills? I was always the gift wrapper at my house while growing up. The rest of my family thought it was a big chore, but I loved it. I turned every...
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A New Holiday Party Idea for your New Year’s Celebration
Start a new tradition for ringing in the New Year with an Open House! One of the best times of the year to have a party is New Year’s Day. I’m not talking about New Year’s Eve – the one...
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Holiday Home Entertaining Tip – Stocking Stuffers!
A fun update for an ancient holiday tradition. I think one of the most fun and endearing holiday traditions is Christmas stockings. When I was a kid, it was a way to get a lot of candy. By the time...
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Holiday Appetizers: hors d’oeuvres and finger foods, yum!
Tips for making your holiday appetizers truly appealing. Planning a holiday party? Start with all the ones you’ve seen – the good, the bad, and the ugly. Why remember the bad and the ugly? Because, we don’t want to do...
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Holiday Favorite: Easy Prosciutto Asparagus Wraps
Finger Food Idea – prosciutto wrapped asparagus – it’s EASY Everyone has a favorite holiday appetizer: finger foods for the Christmas office party, New Year’s party, or any other gathering. After twenty years in the restaurant business, I’ve collected all...
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Time Management for the Holidays
My Top 5 Tips for sane and safe planning during the holidays. This is one of my favorite times of the year, I can plan all the holiday parties I want and not go crazy. It’s the one time of...
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The Perfect Holiday Gift Guide for Women
All you have to do is think about what you’d want as a present. We all want to give the perfect holiday gift to our friends – especially our girlfriends. Last week, I posted a holiday gift guide for our...
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The Perfect Holiday Gift Guide for Men
Don’t settle for predictable – get an early start and go for the unexpected! One of the most difficult things to do is to find the perfect holiday gift for the man in your life. Maybe you’re thinking, “OH, it’s...
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Setting up a home bar? Keep it simple!
10 Simple Tips for setting up your home bar for a holiday party. Home bars do not have to be and, quite frankly, should not be complicated affairs. I mean, unless you’re a professional bartender, why go out and get...
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Hosting a Stress-Free Holiday Party is easier than you think!
The best part about a Holiday Party is a Relaxed Host – seriously! I’ve seen it more times than I care to remember: I attend a party or gathering, and there’s a host who looks like she’s been put through...
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Healthier drinks for the holidays?
Two KEYS for healthier choices from your holiday libations. I’ve been a home entertainer all my adult life. My friends have always thought of me as an expert at entertaining guests and throwing good parties – just ask any of...
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The Making of an Elegant Halloween
The easy way to make your Halloween Party an elegant event. If you know anything about me, you know that I love this time of year. It’s the best season for home entertaining. The absolute best time to have parties...
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How to Prevent a Holiday Party Nightmare
Five things you can do RIGHT NOW to prepare for any holiday gathering – for the rest of the year! The whole group was coming to my party. I was so happy that I found myself literally grinning from ear...
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The Delicate Etiquette of the Last drop of Wine
Some customs just make the whole art of entertaining that much more fun! When I was very young, my parents were pretty serious about teaching customs and manners to me and my siblings. We learned how to be polite and...
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