follow up to our New England Clam Bake

I've received so many inquiries on how our clam bake went that I thought I would share a few photos and some thoughts from the night.

It was one of those iconic Seattle summer days - warm, without a cloud in the sky, and a soft breeze to keep things bearable for us true Northwesterners.  

such a beautiful view from the roof top deck of our houseboat

Our guests were greeted with a breezy summer cocktail and seafood inspired appetizers.

Our 'summer in a glass' drink was made with
Cranberry juice, Malibu Rum with Coconut
Liquer, and topped off with Prosecco

Appetizers included this lobster mac 'n cheese
(check out the lobster crackers Laura made)

While the guests soaked in the sun and views on top, we (ok, it was really Laura and Shannon) were busy with our boil, which was carefully balanced on the side deck. 

our outdoor kitchen where, at one point,
four people were cooking and plating 

our boil consisted of mussels, clams, craydaddies
(as Shannon likes to call them), chorizo, corn, potatoes 

such a fun table to decorate
(don't you love how the bibs pick up the color of the mirror?)

The night ended back on the roof top deck, this view, and a berry crisp

I have had the good fortune of working along side Shannon and Laura before. We co-chaired my daughters' (and their childrens') school auction. That was an enormous undertaking and through careful planning, consistent communication and hard work we produced a spectacular event that raised over $500,000. 

Working in a committee can sometimes be challenging, but with these ladies, it is effortless. Hosting this Clam Bake was no exception. 

with Laura Kosinski and Shannon Manley - two amazing ladies!

Until next time,

la chasse au bonheur

new england clam bake

If you know me at all, you know I love to entertain. It doesn't take more than a soft breeze to get me in gear. So when my daughters' school auction needed some dinner themed donations, I jumped at the chance to host a New England Clam Bake (keeping in theme with the auction). Joining me as host are my co-chairs, Shannon and Laura.

It's been fun scouting local venues for hosting this type of a dinner. Wanting to be on, or near the beach, we looked at some charming VRBO properties and historic sites offered through Seattle Parks and Recreation.

charming waterfront VRBO property

The beach house at Golden Gardens can be rented for events

But in the end we found a charming house boat on Lake Union. With stunning views of the Seattle skyline as a back drop (and 80 weather), this will surely be the perfect spot for our guests to sit back and enjoy a lovely evening.

If you're looking for a fun idea for a casual party, I encourage you to host a New England Clam Bake. It's pretty easy to pull together and creates a festive event perfect for connecting. Here's our menu:

starters

lobster mac 'n cheese

jumbo shrimp in cocktail sauce

Chesapeake Bay crab cakes

first course

chilled melon with mint soup

entree

traditional boil with

clams, mussels, crawfish, chorizo, potatoes, corn cobs

 dessert

berry crisp with vanilla ice cream

bevies

specialty drink (lemonade, Malibu rum, coconut liquor, prosecco)

lemonade, dry white wine, beer

If you feel compelled to find your own beachfront home to host a New England Clam Bake, this beautiful 3.77 acre property on 400' of waterfront on pristine Case Inlet is on the market. 

until next time.

la chasse au bonheur