I briefly interned at a magazine called Angeleno while Aron and I were living in Los Angeles–it was a great professional experience, but most of all it was a fun distraction from academia and graduate school. I was often tasked with attending Hollywood parties and PR events and writing coverage from the perspective of a guest. Aron and I walked the red carpet behind Danny DeVito and Ryan Seacrest (to the puzzlement of the photographers), gawked at Halle Berry at the post-Emmy Awards HBO bash, and mingled with the Beach Boys at a runway show. Mostly, we stood as close to the kitchen door as possible to catch the first catering trays as they started their circuit around the room. Classy!
I felt like I was reliving a bit of my Los Angeles excitement when I was invited to meet Kelly Ripa and Tom Colicchio at a “Party Ready” event last week. Sponsored by Electrolux, the event–about learning some kitchen tips to be ready for hosting a party at a moment’s notice–was hosted to benefit Ovarian Cancer Research. A great cause, an afternoon with with Kelly Ripa (and her sky-high heels), and lunch prepared by Tom (whose restaurant Craft might be one of my first post-pregnancy date-night requests)–plus a town-car pick-up? Twist my arm.
Some fellow bloggers and I started with some mocktails (for which I was grateful) before Kelly and Tom made a charcuterie and cheese plate, a dish of broccoli rabe and pasta, roast chicken, and dessert of mascarpone and orange peel. One of my favorite moments was learning that Tom always has mascarpone in his fridge (wow) and–besides eating it on toast with marmalade almost every morning (again, wow)–he often pairs it with fruit for an easy dessert. Each dish was brought over to us, along with a wine pairing that I just stared at longingly, as Kelly made inevitably charming banter, and then we were left to mingle over cookies and snacks from Colicchio’s sandwich shop, ‘Wichcraft.
Ever the classy one, I stashed some of the cookies in my bag to bring home to Aron.
If you’re interested in Electrolux or their efforts to help raise awareness and support for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF)–an organization that funds research to find a method of early detection and, ultimately, a cure for ovarian cancer–you can follow the linked text or participate in the “Are You Party Ready” challenge at Kelly Confidential. Electrolux will donate $1 to OCRF each time someone participates. And just to be clear: my participation in the “Are You Party Ready” Campaign was sponsored by Electrolux who provided me with transportation arrangements to participate.
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