Food Tag: Gourmet Soiree

Inspire. Create. Write. TM

Ever since I stepped into the chaotic world of social media in April, Gourmet Soiree has been so supportive and she always makes time to share out my content. So I'm here to return the favor in appreciation. Join me as we Glimpse into her fun-filled, adventure-driven & talented lifestyle.

Gourmet Soiree is a retired event planner on the quest for authentic people, places & pairings. 

Writer & Dead Poets Society member

Carpe diem. 

~"Make your lives extraordinary."~

1. What is your favorite cuisine? 

• Italian

2. The best place to get supper in the city where you live? 

• Nando Milano Trattoria, Chicago Wicker Park neighborhood 

3. Favorite chef ? 

• Chef Alessio Vullo @ Nando Milano Trattoria Chicago 

4. How do you take your coffee/tea? 

• Coffee with a little non-fat milk; green tea to pep up for a workout. 

5. What cook book do you use the most? 

• “Mastering the Art of French Cooking”, Julia Child

6. If you could open your own restaurant what type of food would you serve and what would your restaurant be called?

• I know the restaurant life is truly 24/7 so I would strive for more balance. I would love to cater some select upscale events that involve sailing (with a covered boat option in case of inclement weather) and dessert on the lanai in Maui. 

7. What’s on your pizza?

• I don’t eat pizza very often as I’m in training for some red carpet events.  
• If I do I am a classic Pizzeria Uno gal, Chicago deep dish with sausage and green pepper 

8. Favorite cooking utensil? 

• Whisk 

9. What is your favorite home cooked meal?

• Chef Alessio’s Signature dish: Cavatelli al PISTACCHIO e GAMBERONI 
• House made cavatelli with tiger prawns in pistachio cream

10. 3 ingredients you can’t live without?

• NA

11. The most interesting food you have eaten? (Changed from “weirdest”)

• I have eaten some very interesting Hawaiian food that included poi, food from a traditional emu and amazing volcano wine that is so rich from the soil of Kilauea volcano. 

12. Describe your perfect desert

• My perfect “desert” is Mojave Desert, near the Joshua Tree ;) 
• My perfect dessert is one of the first ones Chef Alessio named after me: “La Linda Diplomatica”. It was so interesting and inviting, and of course an honor to have food named after me. 
• It is light and creamy with chocolate and Chantilly crème; a lot like American Boston cream pie, but no crust. 
• La torta diplomatica è un fantastico dolce tutto italiano. Questo dessert, molto particolare, si compone di strati di pasta sfoglia croccante e pan di spagna, alternati da una deliziosa crema, chiamata appunto crema diplomatica (o anche crema chantilly all’italiana), che nasce dall’unione di due creme altrettanto buone, ovvero lacrema chantilly e la crema pasticcera. 

13. You can invite anyone over for dinner, who would it be?

• Marilyn Monroe, Arthur Miller and Alfonzo Words

14. Do you have any food traditions in your culture/family?

• I have been invited to a wonderful Christmas Even Italian dinner tradition with 10 courses, shared family style and paired with wine and toasts to the new year. The portions were sharable but not massive, so I never felt too full or forced to eat too much. (love that mélange!) I’m American, but it’s been a great joy to be invited to this tradition for the last 2 years. I will never forget it and I do feel that it set up an amazing year!

15. Is there any food you won’t ever eat? 

• I don’t like crab and prefer not to eat it as a Cancer. 

Quick Fire

Juice or Fizzy Drinks 

Fresh squeezed juice, especially guava. 

Chicken or Beef 

Eat in or Go out 

Indian or Chinese 

Sweet or Sour

Chocolate or Strawberry 

Popcorn or Chips 

Baked chips

Cake or Pie

Cream or Ice cream

Skittles or M&M’s 

Food Board for Alessio Vullo @ Nando Milano Trattoria Chicago  

Salute & Aloha!

Follow the Delectable Decadence

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

~Be Kind to One Another~ Ellen Degeneres

Movie Tag: Akasha Garnier

Inspire. Create. Write. TM

Ohayo!
~Happy Friday Dance~

You have no idea how elated I am to introduce you to my next guest. She's absolutely one of the most unique souls I've ever had the privilege of knowing. Funny, charming, beautiful, epically talented & so so humble. I love following her adventures every single week without fail.

Meet Akasha Lin Garnier 

Akasha first started writing Gothic stories to entertain her Halloween guests in St. Paul, Minnesota. She went to college in Minneapolis where the radio station nominated her to be Production Director and “The voice of WMMR”. Akasha enjoyed a wide range of musical influences from The Beatles, The Who, Prince, U2, Pearl Jam, The Replacements and house music. She then honed in on a show featuring dance music hosted with her honors’ writing classmate. Fortunately, the first PR proposal she ever wrote said ‘Yes’! Voila, First Avenue of “Purple Rain” fame sponsored her award-winning radio show. Akasha continued to round out her writing, PR and producer skills in alternative radio, event and video production, then travel from sea to shining sea.

Akasha’s proud of her work as a writer, producer, and actress; she balanced branding work as a writer and producer in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, London, Paris/Cannes, Maui and Hawaii. She excels at helping clients shine with 15 awards/accolades since 2007.

Akasha also enjoys giving back through her Promo Partners 

The main partner right now is The Who’s Charity: Teen Cancer America and her Italian family’s Fantastic Restaurants; Nando Milano 

As well as Helping people balance business and creative skills as amplifying their brand value. Akasha will celebrate the book’s release in a few select cities, and then finish negotiating her travel thriller series for release in best-selling book and film form.

Akasha was invited to write a motivational book based on her branding expertise, love of travel and ability to inspire with the right blend of business and creative skills: Secrets to Shine Through the Noise has a soft release June 27 with a large release mid-August 2016. Her travel thriller novel series will be announced shortly after that.

1. What is the worst Apocalyptic scenario you have seen in movie/TV show?

• “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” Poor CGI, villain and pacing. Awesome Wonder Woman intro…we want more! 

2. What’s your favorite genre?

• I love a wide range of movies from film noir and Hitchcock classics to gripping adventures like Star Wars, Indiana Jones and The Firm to timeless classic like Jane Austin and Shakespeare. 
• Do you believe in happy endings? Certainly. I believe in putting dreams into action and that hard work, planning and passion all pay off! :-) I believe love is looking in together in the same direction (not just gazing into each other’s eyes). [Looking in same direction inspiration by Antoine St-Exupery.] 

3. Which movie represents the best love story? 

• “Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain”, (“Amelie”) I admire the melange of Parisian adventure, love and hope. It also certainly helps that I had a summer in Paris when it came out so I saw it in French in Paris and La Rochelle (of Three Musketeers fame). (My French is good, but I am always striving to improve and continue to use my French and Italian languages.) Seeing this movie in French and the way it used locations to explore character and fantasy truly inspired me! I strive to use settings in a similar in my own novels and screenplays now. 

4. Which movie was the Best representation of a book? 

• L.A. Confidential by James Ellroy The book to film adaptation was a stellar representation of storytelling with vintage glamor, inspired performances, history, beauty and LA brought to life on the big screen. 

5. What do you consider a “binge-worthy” TV series? 

• Not a fan of binge-watching TV since I’ve so many writing goals to accomplish over the last few years. For relaxation, I prefer sailing, traveling, wonderful dinners and pairings, films and stimulating conversation.

6. Do you get emotionally attached to characters? 

• Sometimes, if they are well done. 

7. Do you get emotional while watching TV Series or Movies? 

• Yes. 

8. If you had to choose a main character from a TV series/movie to come save you, who would you choose? 

• The Dark Knight. 

9. Which movie/TV series centralized around one of your favorite cars?? {Herbie, Supernatural, Back to the Future… Haha} 

• “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” My first crush on Chicago, with intriguing story-telling and use of the city to reveal character. (I believe it’s a hot red 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California.) 

10. What’s your favorite mythical creature / monster from movie / TV series? 

• Mermaids. 

11. Who’s your favorite director? 

• Francisco Ford Coppola and Christopher Nolan 

12. Do you prefer older movies, or movies with a lot of CGI? 

• I prefer movies with great stories, settings and adventures that are not too predictable. 

13. Which Indie Movie is your favorite & why?

• "The Ususal Suspects” and “Memento”. Both are such a great ride for the audience! The films used character, storytelling and twists in a fresh way and invite us to see them again. I saw both of them at a formative time in my writing career, and love to see them again today. 

14. If you had just One message, One Golden nugget to share with other Adventurers/Writers out there. What would that be?

• Believe in your stories and plan for success. Inspiration is so important, but we do need to understand the field and our brand…plus do the work. :-) 

Hahaha, "Obtain magic ring"

Sign up to Akasha’s A-List for special offers, invitations, and inspiration

via her Website

Follow her Amazing Journey on:

Twitter

Instagram

Vimeo

You can catch Akasha this weekend at the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series
Where "the ACWS will make international history with Chicago as the Cup’s first freshwater venue. To give some perspective, the Cup is the oldest trophy in international sport (since 1851)." #FirstOnFreshWater #Chicago

Chicago Shine

WEB

TV: NBC

FACEBOOK

TWITTER: @americascup & @acwsChicago

INSTAGRAM: @americascup & @acwsChicago

APP: America’s Cup

Akasha's Favorite Travel Quote


ORDER #ShineThroughtheNoise by

@AkashaGarnier

amazon.com/Secrets-Shine-…

~Be Kind To One Another~ Ellen Degeneres