"Elegance is not Consumerism" - Alex Hitz

Remember when we posted about Alex Hitz's wonderful new cookbook/memoir My Beverly Hills Kitchen? Alex is here in town this week to promote the book and host several events. One of the events was a dinner/dance at the Atlanta History Center. These exquisite images feature the table setting and flowers from the dinner/dance. Jane Douglas attended the dinner/dance and said it was a perfect evening - a beautiful setting, delicious food and great company - hosted by Alex, with a presentation and signed cookbook and dancing to top off the evening. Alex told me it was the first ever dinner/dance to launch a cookbook!

I went to hear Alex speak at a book signing on Thursday night and love his sentiment that to entertain well you must love to entertain and embrace the idea of being a gracious host. It's not so much about the perfect table setting or the perfect food (although that helps, and who wouldn't love to sit at the table pictured above and eat delicious curried chicken and red pepper tart cooked by Alex). It's about loving to entertain and loving to take care of your guests. It's about cooking with the best ingredients you can afford and entertaining with the prettiest china, silver, flowers on hand. But, Alex is quick to point out that "elegance is not consumerism" - amen! You can create an elegant setting and serve comforting, yummy food without breaking the bank...but do use the best you have in your house when you entertain. If you happen to have gorgeous silver that you inherited from your grandmother that's wonderful, if not be creative and set the table with care. Your guests will notice. This quote from the book summarizes Alex's style of entertaining:

...I entertain often, and I always try to give my guests what I find they really like: comfort food - nothing pretentious, trendy, or precious. As I have found with most things in life, simple is always best.

This is a truly original cookbook, full of recipes you will want to cook for your friends and family. I will be making the caramel cake for my mother's birthday celebration next week (at least that's what she told me at dinner last night).

You can meet Alex, buy a book and get it signed on Sunday(Oct 14) at 2pm at the Buckhead Barnes and Noble: 2900 Peachtree Rd.

To buy the book online - click here.

images via Atlanta History Center facebook page.

Flowers by John Grady Burns