a bite of the big apple

after nearly 12 years in manhattan it is only fitting that the 12th supper be a new york theme! in a city that never ceases to amaze these suppers have continued to surprise and impress me.

for this momentous evening marking one full year of monthly meals, i asked my friends to take inspiration from this town, whatever that might mean, to guide and encourage them. apples themselves could be the main ingredient, and seemed fitting both with fall looming and the bounty of all the new crops cropping up at every farmers market, as well as the impending jewish new year around the corner, when we eat apples and honey to toast to a sweet year ahead.

i decided to take inspiration from the best of new york and cure my own gravlax, so my preparations for the evening began three days earlier. unlike many great things in new york this fish could NOT be rushed.

the night of the supper, while josh was by my side mixing up manhattans, i put my culinary skills to the test and did my best making his granny's classic apple, raisin, almond strudel. she said the first time it wouldn't work but they would eat it anyway, and she was right!

sarah and dillon arrived with a lovely and light spinach, pecan, fennel and apple salad. ami brought a new friend and a beautiful salad of corn, peas and parma ham. more baked goodness arrived and erin and jack came with an apple brie tart, and april brought apple turnovers. andrew arrived, better late than never, with a lovely bottle of wine, in addition to the bottles lauren had come with earlier.

once again awed by the friends who came, the contribution they made and all that we shared together that evening.

what an amazing end to this year of eating in together, and yet it's only the beginning...