Eddie Zaratsian's Book Launch at Restoration Hardware

We were honoured and proud to be part of Eddie Book Launch who is a great talented friend of ours and deserves all the success he has had. Thank you Marianne for always making us looking fabulously fabulous with your photo art work!

Eddie Zaratsian's book launch was held at Restoration Hardware, The Gallery Beverly Boulevard, in West Hollywood. The extravagant night had more than 500 guests celebrating the release of Zaratsian’s first book, Custom Florals and Lifestyle. Eddie Zaratsian personally signed copies of his book and mingled along with guests, snapping images and discussing the process behind creating the masterfully designed flower arrangements from his new book. Guests enjoyed hors d' oeuvres by Good Gracious!, cocktails by Tallarico Vodka, champagne by Moreno BHLV Sparkling Wine and music by the Society Band. Marianne Lozano Photography captured the most memorable moments of the night.

Some of the GG team having fun before the party Meto, Joanne, Jim, Suzanna and Georgina.

The Delectable Menu:

MAIN
tray pass throughout event

Lobster Deviled Quail Egg

lobster deviled quail egg

with micro green on petite cucumber

Smoked Chicken Taco

smoked chicken with artichokes

 in a in a petite crispy lace parmesan basket

Mushroom Polenta

fluffy polenta squares topped with cremini,

shitake and porcini mushroom with herbs

Beef Steak Tartar

beef steak tenderloin tartar with capers,

red onion, parmesan, lemon zest with touch

 of olive oil served on grilled crostini

Chicken Tempura Sriracha
chicken tempura Sriracha
with red quinoa salad

Bloody Mac and Cheese

petite mac and cheese cupcake

 with an injection of house made tomato sauce

Yukon Potato Caviar
roasted Yukon potato filled with crème
fraiche American sturgeon

Green Onion Shallot Tart
pinot noir balsamic glazed
caramelized shallot topped with shaved
 green onion served on a puff pastry shell

Prosciutto Basket Melon Ball
baked prosciutto basket filled with honeydew
melon ball with basil and ricotta lemon

LOVE Artisan Organic  Market Experience
served with

grilled garlic olive oil multigrain and

 country ciabatti toasts, herbed lavosh bark

creamy burrata with olive oil and sea salt

and Yarra Farm Feta

with

*  heirloom corn succotash

*  fava bean, baby kale, shaved brussels sprouts

*  shaved gold and orange beets with edible petal

To book your next event send us a message here.

1920's Wedding Inspiration Shoot

We recently had the wonderful opportunity to collaborate with amazing photographer Jasmine Star and a host of talents for a 1920's wedding inspiration shoot for Brides.com. Designer Lindye Galloway created a divine setting in the already gorgeous and sun-filled Marion Davies House in Malibu. We love the soft gold color scheme, comfortable yet elegant vintage seating and sea-inspired details, like the glittering scallops in the altar backdrop.

Fabulous gold scalloped altar backdrop

Beautiful and creative seating

Adorable tea cart with hors d'oeuvres

Potato caviar on heavenly golden tray

For the hors d'oeuvres, we chose elegant, classic favorites from the 1920's with a fresh, modern twist.

Potato Caviar

Curry Chicken Salad

Grilled Shrimp on Cucumber Round with Bloody Mary Gelee

Lobster Quail Egg on Crostini

LOVE Martini

Sparkling Rhubarb Fizz

Curry chicken salad in champagne coupe and grilled shrimp

Lobster quail egg on crostini

LOVE Martini (left) and Sparkling Rhubarb Fizz

Cheers! Fun backdrop by Laura Hooper Calligraphy

What fun it was to be a part of such a beautiful shoot. Many thanks to Jasmine Star and all our creative partners!

Photography: Jasmine Star
Design: Lindye Galloway Design
Production: The Bridal Bar
Invitations and Paper Goods: Laura Hooper Calligraphy
Florals: Peony and Plum
Rentals: Found Vintage Rentals
Wedding Dress: JLM Couture
Tuxedo: Men's Wearhouse
Hair and Makeup: Reign of Beauty

Top 10 Foodie Holiday Gifts

At GG!, we believe it's as much fun to give a foodie gift as to receive one. Foodie gifts are joyful, full of color and flavor, creativity, invention and imagination...and they hold the promise of wonderful meals to be savored and shared with family and friends.

Here are a few of the gifts we've added to our holiday lists this year!

Himalayan Pink Rock Salt and Custom Grater

From the foothills of the Himalayas, this salt gets its pink speckled color from the natural richness derived from iron and other minerals. Natural and pure, it is unrefined with no additives. Packaged with a custom grater to grate fresh at the table. From Sur La Table

La Tourangelle Roasted Walnut Oil

Add a little something special to your winter dishes, salads, baked goods and vegetable sautes with the rich, roasted flavor of La Tourangelle walnut oil. This French favorite is now handcrafted in California...and it's good for you, too! From Sur La Table 

Flora Springs Holiday Helper Red Wine

 A "must have" wine to get you through the "must dos" of the holidays. Whenever you start to feel stressed, just relax and pour yourself a glass of this Bordeaux blend with juicy strawberry, rhubarb and white pepper aroma and bright flavors of raspberry, blueberry, baking spices, clove and coffee. Mmm...and we adore the label art custom-designed by artist Wes Freed. Send an email to theroom@florasprings.com to purchase.

Nuance Wine Finer Aerator

Four functions, one amazing invention. Serving wine gets a whole lot simpler with the Nuance Wine Finer Aerator. Danish designers combine an aerator, filter, non-spill pourer, and stopper into one do-it-all instrument the size of a fountain pen. From Wine Enthusiast

Who Wants Seconds?
Sociable Suppers for Vegans, Omnivores &
Everyone in Between
by Jennie Cook

Our fabulous friend Jennie Cook has just released a book to delight foodies everywhere, featuring her fantastic recipes and fun illustrations. I was brought up with the English TV show, THE GOOD LIFE, and Jen certainly lives that life, taking care of the earth and cooking with what nature brings us...and always with LOVE.  From Barnes and Noble or your local bookstore.

Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist

by Tim Federle

A clever tribute to literature, Tequila Mockingbird is the cocktail book for the literary obsessed. Combining beloved classic novels with witty humor and delicious drink recipes, some of the charming recipes include Vermouth the Bell Tolls, Gin Eyre, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margarita, Bridget Jones’s Daiquiri, and more. From Barnes and Noble or your local bookstore.

Littlejohn's World Famous English Toffee

Littlejohn's created their fabulous English toffee (possibly the BEST in the U. S.) for the elite of LA back in 1924 and according to their slogan, they've been "handcrafting smiles" ever since. They have many more mouthwatering confections - fudge, chocolate covered pecan toffee, old-fashioned favorites like divinity, honeycomb and much more - made from scratch daily right in front of you. If you're in LA, get on down to the World Famous Farmer's Market now. From Littlejohn's Candies

Everyone knows some of the best gifts are hand-made with love. Last, but not least, from the Good Gracious! kitchen, we have some sweet and savory ideas for you.

GG! Shortbread

Delightfully chewy and buttery, we like to use our nutty shortbread as our special calling card all year long. It's perfect with a cup of tea or a glass of egg nog!

GG! Bacon Jam

Our hearty bacon jam is perfect with crostini and aged white cheddar with crystal salt. And it looks fabulous packaged in a classic white jam pot.

Christine Holiday Cookie

Our Florentine-style holiday Christine cookie is crispy with just a hint of chewiness and comes from my dear friend, Christine. Her original cookie features dark chocolate and walnut pieces, but for this festive variation, we've added the colors and tastes of the holidays with white chocolate, cranberries and peppermint candy. Enjoy!

Wishing you all a FABULOUS holiday filled with Food, Fun and Love...Cheers!

Food, Fun and Wine!

At Good Gracious! we LOVE having the opportunity of pairing wine and food.  Our client had an Open House on the 60th floor of a high-rise in Los Angeles and wanted a little something more than networking with music. We decided to create a California Wine Journey for their guests to enjoy, with wines on three floors paired with food in each area.  We had a wine expert available in each area to share added knowledge and enrich the experience.

We hope the selections below will inspire you to explore and savor the fresh tastes of the golden state this holiday season.

Laird 2010 Pinot Grigio/Carneros

Organic cheeses with ciabatta toasts and fig preserve

California Organic Artisan Cheeses

Cowgirl triple cream

Humbold Fog

Laird 2010 Pinot Grigio/Carneros

Goat milk feta

Cabot Clothbound cheddar

Fiftyrow Cabernet Sauvignon 2008/Napa Valley

served with grilled garlic olive oil ciabatta toasts and fig preserve

Mac and Cheese Lobster Martini

signature creamy lobster mac and cheese with gratin topping

Laird 2010 Pinot Grigio/Carneros

Deconstructed Sushi Salad

center cut ahi tuna tumbled with ginger-chili soy

served with rice with wakame wasabi nori,

pickled ginger and spicy micro herb salad

Trione 2008 Russian River Syrah/Russian River Sonoma

Deconstructed Sushi Salad

Fava Bean Pappardelle 

house made pappardelle pasta with fava bean pesto,

asparagus, snow peas, ricotta lemon olive oil swirl

topped with shaved parmesan 

Curran 2011 Grenache Blanc/Santa Ynez Valley 

Grilled Lamb Lollipops

grilled local Petaluma rack of lamb with aromats

olive oil + tiny theme stems

served with golden cauliflower mash

Palmina Savoia 2009/Santa Barbara County

Smoked Fresh King Salmon

whole apple chip house smoked fresh wild king salmon

served with pink peppercorn tartar

Westerly Pinot Noir 2010/Santa Rita Hills

Baby Gem Blueberry Salad

baby gem lettuces, organic goat milk feta

local organic blueberries

edible flower petals and poppy seed vinaigrette

Palmina Savoia 2009/Santa Barbara County

Tobin James 2009 Rock N Roll/Paso Robles

Taco bar with guacamole, pico de gallo and black beans

Corn Succotash

Taco Bar

carne asada 

Tobin James 2009 Syrah Rock N Roll/Paso Robles

pork carnitas

MYV Zinfandel 2010/Paso Robles

seasonal local fish

Daou 2012 Chardonnay/PasoRobles

together with

- tres pico de gallo made with heirloom tomatoes

red, verde and combination of yellow and orange tomatoes

cilantro, cucumber, garlic and red onion

- crushed black beans

- guacamole

- house made tortilla barks of sesame, cheese, spices

Corn Succotash

grilled white and yellow corn, vine ripened tomatoes and

peppers succotash with baby kale

Blackberry Pavlova

Strawberry Cheesecake

Blackberry Pavlova

petite meringue with a crisp outside and soft center

topped with orange cream and jewel of fresh blackberry

2007 Far Niente "Dolce"/Napa Valley

Selection of Cookies

selection of signature citrus, fruit, nuts and chocolate

Strawberry Cheesecake

stemmed strawberries swirl of brown sugar cheesecake

2009 Westerly Apres Le Vin De Paille/Santa Barbara County

Chocolate Pot au Creme

little pots of rich custard sealed with a layer of chocolate ganache

flakes of Monterey Bay sea salt

2007 Far Niente "Dolce"/Napa Valley

Trio Chocolate Truffles

white chocolate dried cranberries and buttery macadamia nuts

milk chocolate with toffee brittle

dark chocolate espresso mint

Justin 2009 OBTUSE/Paso Robles

We would like to acknowledge that Liquid Party Works were very instrumental in helping us with the selections of wine…It was a FUN time making our choices!

CHEERS to Food, Fun and Wine!

GG Loves a Fiesta!

Our wonderfully versatile Martha Perez is changing hats at GG, now working her magic as Executive Event Specialist, focusing on creating fabulous Latino weddings, parties and corporate events. She has an eye for beauty and extensive knowledge of the different traditions of each region of Mexico and has been adding spice to the Good Gracious! experience for nearly 25 years.

We love the Latin culture...the colors, the creativity, the food. And with the announcement of Martha's new role, it's the perfect time to look back at the special parties we've designed and catered over the years—weddings, quinceaneras and Latin-themed corporate events. A fiesta is the perfect way to celebrate the best moments in life with family and friends!

Our multi-talented Martha

Colorful dessert bar for Disney

Gorgeous wedding fountain

Trio of Mexican delights: flan, churro & watermelon agua fresca

Unique, fun chair decor

Fabulous colors everywhere you look

Sweet 15

Adorable cake

Shrimp ceviche cones

Ross and Lauren's fiesta rehearsal dinner

We love the Day of the Dead graphic and papel picado!

For more fiesta inspiration, visit our new Latino events page on the Good Gracious! website.

Equality...LOVE that!

We at GG! are so excited by the flurry of same-sex weddings in California.  It has been moving and exhilarating to see the pure joy on couples' faces as they finally say "I do!" Three cheers for equality and LOVE!

As couples begin to plan the weddings they have always dreamed of, we offer some inspiration with a look back at two gorgeous weddings with different styles and many wonderful personal touches.

With a fabulous backdrop of sea and sky, Valerie and Sue's wedding at the Adamson House was simple and elegant, studded with a riot of fall colors—magenta, poppy, copper, wine, violet and peach—from the stunning florals atop the cake and scattered on the grass to the brilliant sequined linens on the tabletops. It was a true celebration of love and family, perfectly capturing the couple's warmth, joy, sense of adventure and excitement for the future.

The beauty of love at the Adamson House

A backdrop of sea, sky and flowers at the ceremony

All the warmth of family

A centerpiece commemorating the couple's family ties & love journey

We love the sequined tabletop!

The gorgeous wedding cake from Sweet Lady Jane

PREVIEW

Scallop Lemongrass

grilled fresh scallops scented with a lightly curried lemongrass

served on sugar cane

Smoked Chicken Parmesan Cradle

smoked chicken with basil, lemon aioli

Ahi Tuna Tartare Cone

seared ahi tuna tartar in sesame wonton cone

Shots of Green Gazpacho Shrimp

gazpacho of roasted tomatillos, cucumber, jalapeno, cilantro

served with rock shrimp in shot glass

Chicken Caesar Salad Cone

grilled chicken Caesar salad in petite baked cone 

Mac and Cheese Cupcake

creamy macaroni cheddar cheese cupcake

with a panko gratin crust

Chicken Brie Zucchini Purse

grilled herb chicken tossed with creamy brie,

zucchini and roasted fennel in golden phyllo purse

BEGIN

Yellow and Green Zucchini Carpaccio

very thinly sliced yellow and green zucchini topped with

baby arugula salad, grilled hearts of palm, roasted pine nuts

lemon olive oil dressing and shaved parmesan

MAIN

Black Pepper Crusted Beef Tenderloin and
Pan Seared Scallops

medium rare beef tenderloin medallion crowned with
melange of shitake mushrooms and leeks
duo pan seared scallops with chimichurri and spinach
crushed potatoes and three color baby carrots

Kevin and Dennis always knew they wanted an ultra chic, sophisticated, but fun wedding..."think Cary Grant goes to the Vanderbilt's for the weekend."  With only six weeks to plan, we helped them put their stylish stamp on everything, literally, with a signature Devintini drink and monogrammed dance floor and fabulous details like the whimsical appetizer library and a mirrored table laden with gorgeous crystal escort cards.

Ceremony at sunset

The glittering escort card table

Selections from the appetizer library

PREVIEW

Beef Roulade
medium rare beef tenderloin ribbon
wrapped around enoki mushroom
baby watercress and gorgonzola mash

Caprese Salad Skewer
fresh mozzarella, basil, yellow and red pear tomato
aged balsamic glaze

Apple Wood Smoked Salmon Phyllo Basket
fresh salmon smoked with apple wood chips placed in
hand-made phyllo basket topped with chive and creme fraiche

Chicken Salsa Tortilla Spoon
five spiced crushed chicken with oven charred salsa
topped with avocado jalapeno crumbs on edible tortilla spoon

Cremini Mushroom Risotto
pan roasted cremini mushroom filled with chianti stained risotto
carmelized pear and bleu cheese

FROM THE APPETIZER LIBRARY

Oyster Shooters

baby oysters with vodka, horseradish, cocktail sauce

tabasco, lemon and chopped parsley

Shades of Green Crudites Box
small white box filled with shades of green crudites of
endive, green bean, snowpeas, green pepper,
green zucchini and asparagus
green goddess dipping sauce

Spanakopita
wilted spinach and feta
wrapped in golden phyllo pastry

Grilled Shrimp Cocktail Chimichurri
grilled shrimp and chimichurri sauce in small cosmo shot glass

Tiny Tapas Tray
herbed bread sticks, skewer marinated olives, bocconcini
rosette of prosciutto and roasted peppers
carafe of olive oil balsamic

Drunken Tomato Zatar
small black cube filled with currant tomatoes and splash of vodka
dusted with zatar spices

BEGIN

Soup and Salad Dynamic Duo
Caprese stack of burrata cheese, heirloom tomatoes,
basil and aged balsamic with
the perfect sip of smokey tomato soup
grilled smoked cheese and sun-dried tomato pesto panini

MAIN

The Love of Beef
Guinness-braised English cut beef short rib
beef tenderloin medallions
wild mushroom demi glaze
mashed potatoes and haricot vert bundle

Grilled Black Cod
fresh Pacific black cod on a bed of
white bean tomato stew with spinach
haricot vert bundle 

INDULGE

The Love of Cookies and Strawberries
hazelnut shortbread, florentine brownies, coconut macaroons
sugar heart cookies and thumb print cookies
chocolate-dipped and plain strawberries

Sticky Toffee Pudding
petite pyramid sticky toffee pudding topped with spun sugar with
creamers of creme anglais and caramel sauce

Demi Tasse Tiramisu Chocolate Cup
espresso soaked sponge layered with mascarpone cream with
chocolate chunks in small chocolate espresso cup
dusted with cocoa

Dark Chocolate Truffle Crocumbouche
dark chocolate ganache with hazelnut praline covered with
dark chocolate formed into a crocumbouche tree

Vanilla Bean Rice Empanada
arborio rice poached with vanilla bean and mango puree
wrapped in a crispy tortilla dusted with cinnamon sugar

The elegant tent designed as a forties supper club

Dance floor with fabulous custom-designed crest

Deco-inspired detail

The Love of Beef

An exquisite cake fit for the Vanderbilts

First dance!

Here's to making your wedding day fabulous and delicious! Check out our Pinterest boards for more inspiration.

Valerie and Sue's wedding photos by Paul F. Gero Photography
Dennis and Kevin's wedding photos by Will Henshall, Brilliant Studios LA