Dinner Chez Herman
It’s not just dinner. Dinner at Herman’s is always special, because of the food, the friendships, and the memories we build (and now, we are building them in his new home!).
We all have friends that go back decades, and for those friendships, I am so grateful. I met Herman and Isabel when I had my dream job during college with American Airlines. I was a flight attendant in my single days, and I could not have had a better way around the world than flying for work, laying over in Paris for 30 hours, and coming right back just to go fly out to Miami, London, Honolulu and back to Paris again! Certain places of work create certain mini societies, and within those, you find your “tribe”.
Fast forward a couple of decades later, and it so happens that Herman and Isabel are both incredible chefs, not by trade, but for fun. When we meet up, we have amazing meals, great wines, and fantastic if not, ridiculous conversations (in a good way).
Herman is not only an amazing friend, but he happens to also be one of our BHAUS clients. He recently purchased a charming home that needed a little love and care, and he surely is doing it right! I could not be more excited to come and enjoy an amazing evening with friends at his new immaculate home, with that “je ne sais quoi” that emerges from an intentional juxtaposition of vintage and modern design and furniture.
The entertaining area, with its cozy fireplace and doors that open up to the patio, showcases an eclectic array of vintage furniture that perfectly complements the homeowner’s cherished collection of drinks. Tasteful photographs of dear friends, along with some books, adorn his vintage find. A striking mid-century modern lamp casts a warm, inviting glow over a captivating vintage poster of Bitter Monomelli, who seems to guard the carefully curated bottles below, adding an air of whimsy and charm to the space. Although the home doesn't have a large footprint, its layout is perfectly balanced, offering an ideal indoor and outdoor environment for California living. It features immaculate hardwood flooring, a soft white paint scheme throughout, and a guest bedroom equipped with a dream built-in that can accommodate a vast collection of cookbooks and travel journals!
We set off on a warm August day, late in the afternoon, towards this charming home that backs onto an idyllic reserve in Southern California. The home is surrounded by mature trees that sway to the rhythm of chirping birds—it's truly idyllic and dreamy. Our host had prepared the quaint outdoor patio for us, where we enjoyed amazing appetizers of seasonal fruits drizzling with reduced balsamic vinegar, a well-curated charcuterie board with meats and cheeses that combined, were an amazing explosion of flavors in our mouths. We sipped on our gin and tonics while he continued preparing the main course, sipping on his aperitif, Atoast with club soda (it is made here in Southern California, from California strawberries!).
Menu for the evening:
Cocktails in the patio, fresh figs with blue cheese and prosciutto, and of course, a charcuterie board with bread, meats, and cheeses
Pan-seared ripe peaches over toasted ciabatta with burrata, arugula, and reduced white balsamic (I could have had this the whole night and would have been happy!)
Main course with sides: Caramelized butter nut squash , roasted tomatoe salad with burrata and reduced balsamic & Croatian olive oil, and a red wine braised short rib that just melted in our mouths!
Dessert: a decadent personal chocolate lava cake
We paired the meals with a rich, full bodied Stags Leap Cab, and a smooth Sunstone Merlot Reserve 2020.
The night could not end without a sumptous double shot of espresso made in his stylish and sleek Italian Bezzera espresso machine, because who needs to sleep?
Cheers to great friends, great food, and homes we love!
