Former ballerina Jessie-Sierra Ross – the voice behind the “Straight to the hips, baby“Blog – knows a thing or two concerning the art of presenting something beautiful.
Growing up, she wrote, she loved helping her mother bake and watching icons like Julia Child and Martha Stewart create culinary magic. As her profession as knowledgeable dancer progressed, she found that this role complicated her relationship with food – she describes feeling like she needed to reject decadence in what she ate, but she continued to develop one Appreciation for the plating and artistry of a well-prepared food table.
Retiring from skilled dancing gave her time to devote to cooking and hosting parties, where she found a recipe for fulfillment. Now she shares this recommendation in her book: “Seasons around the table: Effortless entertaining with floral table decorations and seasonal recipes” (Schiffer, $36).
“I want you to move away from the idea that entertaining at home is a thing of the past, that it is something reserved for the generation of grandmothers who have taken outdated etiquette courses and inherently know the difference between a dessert and a salad fork,” she writes. “Entertaining at home isn’t about being perfect and doing everything. It’s about having the best time possible with family and friends.”
For a Hanukkah tablescape, she advises specializing in a color palette of blue and yellow-orange. Add fresh flowers akin to roses, purple lisianthus, aster, Queen Anne's Lace and millet. Add detail and texture with blue table runners, dreidels and chocolate gelt – and delicious food classic latkes with sweet or savory toppings.
New Year's Eve cocktails? Focus on light whites with accents of green and gold, in addition to flowers akin to roses, hydrangeas, willow branches and greens. Use vintage cocktail glasses, candles, and a lot of champagne, says Ross.
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