READ THIS: THE HAMPTONS Food, Family, and History By Ricky Lauren Our Coverage Sponsored by Marcony Restaurant
Marcony is one of the premier Italian venues to dine at in Manhattan located at 184 Lexington Avenue between 31st and 32nd streets in the Murray Hill neighborhood. It is multi-level, offering two private dining areas, outdoor seating, and an intimate low-ceiling bar. Their stellar fresh seafood in particular is ideal for dining this summer and everything we have ever eaten at Marcony impresses us immensely. Equally breathtaking is the decor: painted white and blue with dark wood and chrome accents, the space suggests a small yacht cruising around the Isle of Capri, where owner Marco Pipolo hails from. Marcony has been highly recommended by Whom You Know:
and recently it has gained acclaim for its outdoor area, one of the best in Manhattan:
And, it was not lost on Peachy that it has one of the most amazing chandeliers in the city:
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If you are too busy to go to Italy this summer, you will feel like you went to Capri when you dine at Marcony on the island of Manhattan! We believe you will love it too.
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Ricky Lauren's latest masterpiece, and the first we have critiqued, is devoted to the practice of All-American culinary pursuits best celebrated by the seaside in summer that highlight health, beauty, natural products and variety of menu and best of all to Ms. I Earned a BA in American History, the reflections on the past in Long Island. Organized first by region in the order in which she lived in each: Southampton, Amagansett, East Hampton and Montauk and then by meal of the day from breakfast to dessert, this genius compilation is testament to the style that both she and her husband Ralph evoke in the classic American way, which never goes out of style. Whether you have great culinary skills or just so-so, the recipes vary from extensive to simple and are family-friendly. We are sure you can do the more difficult ones as the instructions are so well-written!
The photography in the book is simply amazing, and the personal touches that punctuate each segment make this work that much better. Of course, Peachy shares Dylan Lauren's love for bunny rabbits and Dylan if you are reading check out our column on that. There are also lovely watercolors that add charm and an ambiance that is quintessential of the great American summer of the Northeast, and many of these recipes we feel would work in New England seacoast towns as well. You should know that Ricky herself did the photography and the drawings which we think is remarkable not only because of the quality of the work, but also because others in her position are not always as talented or ambitious as she has been to take it all on! See her son David say so here, that she did it:
The core of this book is the culinary pursuits of course, and even Peachy who spends her life at a restaurant has even been inspired to try some of these stellar summer sensations. Ricky, you only needed to say Rising Tide Lobster Souffle (see page 32) to get our juices flowing! She tells us the secret to a successful souffle is to separate the eggs and whip the air, or "breath" into the whites. All of you that studied French at Miss Porter's with Peachy know that souffle is the french word for breath. (And you know Peachy was saving her babysitting money freshman year to buy Ralph Lauren penny loafers which decades later are still her favorite shoes, but since she made honor roll her Dad kept his word and paid for them.) Souffles can be sweet or savory, but in the festivity of the summer we can hardly think of anything better than LOBSTER to put in one! She also is smart to sneak vegetables in this as she does many other dishes and you know it is a challenge to eat as many vegetables as we are all supposed to every day.
Bravo Ricky!
Ricky is also a wizard of color and fantastic at getting many colors of the rainbow into many meals and we surmise that may have the dual purpose of health and style combined. Blue is a color that is used throughout the book as a background for food, because of course your blue food choices would be limited, however, we want to point out that back in the days when Peachy was writing term papers for science classes and the like, she did study a lot on color and with the color blue, at the time she was doing the research the studies showed that people ate with greater balance and control and did not overeat in blue kitchens as opposed to red or orange, when they ate more. The use of blue in this book is brilliant and naturally it is a summery hue, evoking the seaside. From the early settlers to the artists, the cultural highlights at the end of each chapter add a dimension that most cookbooks don't possess and certainly Ricky Lauren is someone that appreciates history we can tell. We of course liked the architect and author parts the best of these.
The overall feel of patriotism in this book appeals to us immensely, and there is a handy red grosgrain ribbon in it as a marker to find your favorite food ideas. The Spring Pea soup in this book is the brightest green soup we've ever seen and also the most appetizing-looking-those must have been some fresh peas! She certainly is creative-check out the Salmon, Spinach, and Mushrooms in a Puff Pastry Crust-the way they decorated the fish is so much fun! (page 172-173). The quintessential feast of summer is found on page 236: Ditch Plains Clambake. We think this should replace the turkey on Thanksgiving...one look at page 237 and you will be heading to your closest fish market (we suggest Dorian's) to replicate Ricky the best you can!
We're not going to tell you all of Ricky's ideas because the idea here is to get you to buy the book!
Whom You Know Highly Recommends THE HAMPTONS Food, Family and History by Ricky Lauren! It is exactly what you need for the summer, and it makes an excellent gift as well!
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From Southampton to Amagansett, East Hampton to Montauk, Ricky Lauren’s THE HAMPTONS is a lavishly illustrated and evocatively described journey through this culturally and historically rich region. “Over the years the type of food and entertaining we enjoyed reflected the atmosphere of the places where we lived at the time. Each locale inspired me to create a particular way of life, and this energized me to develop a direction of my own,” shares Ricky Lauren.
In THE HAMPTONS (Wiley Hardcover; $40; May 28, 2012), accomplished author, photographer, and artist Ricky Lauren shares more than 130 healthy, fresh, seasonal recipes – including the recipes most loved by her family, from Dylan’s Sunshine Salad and David’s Spring Pea Soup to Andrew and Ricky’s Chocolate Mouse, and Ralph’s favorite: Nana’s Rum-Laced Brownies. Ricky Lauren invites us to share her inspirations, tastes, and discoveries, through her gorgeous watercolors, personal snapshots, and inspiring food photography. With tips and advice on entertaining in true Hamptons’ style, THE HAMPTONS offers a loving – and delicious – portrait of a beloved family.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
RICKY LAUREN is an accomplished author, photographer, and artist, whose life with her husband, iconic designer Ralph Lauren, and their three children has been the inspiration for much of her work. The Hamptons is the fourth book in her very personal lifestyle genre, some of which mix memories with favorite meals and beautiful settings. Ricky Lauren: Cuisine, Lifestyle, and Legend of the Double RL Ranch is inspired by the Lauren family’s ranch in Colorado; My Island explores her experiences in Jamaica; and Safari is a photographic essay of her travels across the African continent. Ricky Lauren is also a psychotherapist and holds graduate degrees from Columbia University’s Teacher’s College. When not traveling to their family retreats, Ricky and Ralph live in New York City where they continue to enjoy sharing their lives with their growing family.
ABOUT THE PRODUCER
MELCHER MEDIA is an award-winning content producer and book packager that has conceived and produced projects for a diverse group of clients from MTV to the Smithsonian Institution. Since it was established in 1994, the company has broken the boundaries of traditional publishing with books that meld content and format in new ways. Recently, they helped drive innovation in digital books by producing the groundbreaking app Our Choice by Al Gore, the first full-length interactive ebook that The New York Times’ David Pogue called “one of the most elegant, fluid, immersive apps you’ve ever seen.” With over 160 titles to its credit, Melcher Media’s expertise at brand extension and skill at translating non-traditional media into both digital and print has propelled numerous books onto national bestseller lists and garnered them a number of industry awards.
ABOUT WILEY
Founded in 1807, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. has been a valued source of information and understanding for more than 200 years, helping people around the world meet their needs and fulfill their aspirations. Wiley and its acquired companies have published the works of more than 450 Nobel laureates in all categories: Literature, Economics, Physiology or Medicine, Physics, Chemistry, and Peace.
Our core businesses publish scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals, encyclopedias, books, and online products and services; professional/trade books, subscription products, training materials, and online applications and Web sites; and educational materials for undergraduate and graduate students and lifelong learners. Wiley's global headquarters are located in Hoboken, New Jersey, with operations in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Canada, and Australia. The Company's Web site can be accessed at http://www.wiley.com. The Company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols JWa and JWb.
THE HAMPTONS
Food, Family, and History
By Ricky Lauren
Wiley Hardcover | May 28, 2012 | $40 | ISBN: 978-1-1182-9327-0 | 256 pages
