Eric Ripert | Avec Eric

Market Table Dinner Social Photo Contest - Updated

eric ripert — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 04:46:56 +0000

Thank you for your entries. Our Market Table Photo Contest is officially closed, and the winners will be announced shortly. Please join us again for the next Dinner Social in December.

In order to further create an interactive dinner party we have set up a photo contest. It is always nice to capture the memory of a great experience with a photograph. We want to see what you can do and what you have made! So during the party, take plenty of pictures showing the dinner you have created. After everything is cleaned up and the guests have left, post your photos in our gallery and please feel free to share a short story or description of your dinner party with us and others.

Lou Manna, a wonderful food photographer and I will look at your pictures and choose our three favorites entries, each of which will win an Olympus Stylus 1030SW camera, which is the camera I use. We will be looking for beautiful photographs of enticing and elegant food. Be sure to look at the food photography tips we have posted on the site if you need some extra help or advice. The contest ends November 17th, we cannot wait to see what you will post.

Read the full contest rules.

Market Table Wine Pairings

eric ripert — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:13:51 +0000

Wine can be more than just something to drink with a meal – it can complete a dish. I like to pair a different wine for each part of the meal: the canapés and appetizer, the entrée and the dessert. By moving from wine to wine you create distinct pairings – it gives your dinner a simple sense of elegance and allows each dish shine individually.That does not mean you should have to spend a great amount of money or look for a precise vintage or winery. It also does not mean you have to follow the traditional rules – you should drink what makes you happy and what you think your guests will enjoy the most. But if you need some guidance, I have chosen wines that I think would complement the meal.

Market Table Planning

eric ripert — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:09:26 +0000

When you prepare for a large dinner ahead of time, it’s easy to enjoy your company on the day of the party. When I put together the menus, I try to put together dishes that could be partially prepared ahead of time so that on the day of the party you will only have a few things to do rather than be stuck in the kitchen for most of the day. Dinner parties are about being together with people you enjoy and sharing food with them. They should be fun for everyone – including the host.

Market Table Dinner Social

eric ripert — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:04:30 +0000

For our first Dinner Social, I have put together a market dinner - a meal made with the bounty of the fall harvest that you can find at your local farmers’ market. Summer is over and it is time to celebrate the Autumn with rich, seasonal foods like pumpkin soup and duck. These are foods that warm a house while you are cooking and create a comfortable, inviting atmosphere for a dinner party.

Dinner Social Intro

eric ripert — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:00:02 +0000

I believe that the act of preparing, eating and sharing food should be at the center of our lives - not only feeding our bodies but our emotional and spiritual needs as well. One of my favorite things about cooking is sharing this experience with good friends and family. As it gets cooler, a simple and elegant home cooked meal is the perfect excuse to gather together to enjoy the bounty of the Fall harvest. The markets right now are a fantastic source of inspiration with all of the amazing fruits and vegetables available. A great dinner party does not have to be complicated - good, simple ingredients and clear organization are all you need to create a wonderful meal to share with loved ones. I want to show you how dinner parties can be fun for everyone - not just your guests!

For the next several months, as the weather gets colder and we need company more than ever, we are going to host a series of collective dinner parties that celebrate the season. I invite you to join us in Dinner Social.

Step 1 - The Menu

For each dinner I will create a dinner menu using the season's freshest ingredients. It will include two canapés and three courses (first, main and dessert) and I will also suggest wine pairings for each stage of the meal. I will write for you a step-by-step plan that will allow you to enjoy the party rather than working at the stove for the whole time. It is not going to be too complicated. It will be an easy way to combine wonderful, fresh ingredients and simple techniques to create an elegant meal for you, your friends and your family.

Step 2 - The Dinner Party

Even if I cannot be with you, I invite you to virtually share your dinner party experience with me. This way we can all see how the same menu can lead to such unique experiences.

Step 3 - Share The Experience

I invite you to join in this experience and document your party. After your individual dinner party is over, return to the site and share your highlights. I hope that you will post pictures and write about your experiences here on the site through our new gallery feature. There will even be a food photo contest that I hope you will enter. Submit your favorite picture of the beautiful food you have prepared and you could win something special.