Simply divine: a guide to easy, elegant, and affordable entertaining

209 Pages·2011·23.853 MB·English

by  Vanderpump, Lisa;Varney, Jason

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ENTERTAINING/COOKING
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“In all my years of entertaining, I’ve learned simple I
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is better, and usually much more beautiful. That’s really what
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life is all about, isn’t it? The simple and the divine.”
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Y

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ISA VANDERPUMP’S unique mix of sparkling glamour and down-to-earth style has made her a favorite to
watch on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Whether she’s hosting a family gathering or running her popular Los I
Angeles restaurants, Lisa makes elegance look so easy. Now Lisa shares her tips and tricks for creating the per- V
fect gathering, including more than 75 of her favorite recipes—tailored to fit any kind of mood or occasion. Lisa
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shows that entertaining doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated—and that the most important part of any get-together
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is to enjoy your family and friends. With Lisa’s recipes and guidance, every day can be . . . Simply Divine!
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LISA VANDERPUMP is originally from London, and currently lives in Beverly Hills with her hus- $27.00in U.S.A.
$29.00inCanada
band Ken and her Gigolo (a.k.a. Giggy the Pomeranian). She owns and operates two of the hottest
£17.99inU.K.
restaurants in Los Angeles: SUR in West Hollywood and Villa Blanca of Beverly Hills. She also ISBN 978-0-7624-4451-9
writes a monthly column in Beverly Hills Lifestylemagazine. Visit her at www.lisavanderpump.com.
Visit us on the web!
www.runningpresscooks.com Printed in the United States 11/11
RUNNING
PRESS
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LISA VANDERPUMP
A Guide to Easy, Elegant a n d Affordable Entertaining
. . .
Photographs by Jason Varney
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T H I S B O O K
I S D E D I C A T E D
to
my grandmother Nanny Kay...who has sadly passed
and is still so ver y missed—a woman who lived her life
with elegance, grace, kindness, and style,
and who encouraged me to be the best I can be.
You will forever be in my heart.
© 2011 by Lisa Vanderpump
Photographs © 2011 by Jason Varney
Published by Running Press,
ISBN 978-0-7624-4451-9
A Member of the Perseus Books Group
Library of Congress Control Number: 2011937765
All rights reserved under the Pan-American and
International Copyright Conventions
E-book ISBN 978-0-7624-4522-6
Printed in the United States
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Digit on the right indicates the number of this printing
This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by
Cover and interior design by Frances J. Soo Ping Chow
any information storage and retrieval system now known or hereafter
Edited by Jennifer Kasius
invented, without written permission from the publisher.
Food preparation by Carrie Purcell
Typography: Piel Script, Requiem, and Whitney
Books published by Running Press are available at special
discounts for bulk purchases in the United States by corpo-
Running Press Book Publishers
rations, institutions, and other organizations. For more
2300 Chestnut Street
information, please contact the Special Markets Depart-
Philadelphia, PA 19103-4371
ment at the Perseus Books Group, 2300 Chestnut Street,
Suite 200, Philadelphia, PA 19103, or call [phone], Visit us on the web!
ext. 5000, or e-mail [email protected]. www.runningpress.com
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CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION: At Your Service . . . . . . . . . . .7
CHAPTER 1: Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
CHAPTER 2: Presentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
CHAPTER 3: Cozy Days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
CHAPTER 4: Sexy Days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
CHAPTER 5: Days to Impress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
CHAPTER 6: Holidays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111
CHAPTER 7: Sunny Days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133
CHAPTER 8: Lazy Days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .151
CHAPTER 9: Darling Days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .169
CHAPTER 10: Chubby Days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .189
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .204
INDEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .205
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AT YOUR SERVICE
INCE I OPENED my life to the cameras for The Real Housewives of Beverly
Hills, certain truths about me are now well-known: I was brought upin London. I married
my husband of 29 years, Ken Todd, when I was 21. I am the mother of two beautiful chil-
dren, Pandora, 25, and Max, 19. We have lived in the English countryside and the south of
France, and now reside in Beverly Hills, California. We’ve owned 26 restaurants, bars, and
clubs; our newest are Villa Blanca in Beverly Hills and SUR in West Hollywood. I have
been writing for Beverly Hills Lifestylemagazine for the past three years (I have a deep pas-
sion for writing, as you will soon see!). And I am in love with a very sexy beast, my
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Gigolo, an adorable Pomeranian whom I call “Giggy” for short.
Of course, now everyone wants to know my secrets. Fair enough. I’ll tell you. I’m
afraid they’re not very interesting. My life has been pretty conservative (rare for a House-
wife, I know!). Even though I was a child actress, I’ve never had any of the scandalous
problems that sometimes come of it—perhaps because I managed to stay away from the
naughtiness, or perhaps because I just never got caught . . . I did have a fortunate upbring-
ing, but when I left home, my parents didn’t give me a penny. I worked two jobs to sup-
port myself.
So, what are my secrets? How did I do it—get from there to here? By taking risks,
staying focused, never giving up, and working my rear off! I have always been a working
mum, and my business is a very needy baby—open 16 hours a day! Aside from the restau-
rants, I also write and work on my skin care line, Epione. I’m a workaholic. I love working.
And to me, if you’re passionate about it, it’s not really work. One of my mottos is: “Find
something you love to do, and then you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”
LISA VANDERPUMP ˜ Simply Divine
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When I got married, I taught myself to cook and found that I had a feeling for
food. Ken and I have made food—the selection, preparation, and serving of it—our life’s
passion. And I’m delighted to share that passion with you.
But first, back to my secrets. How do I keep it all together? (And thank you for
saying that, Darling, but it’s all smoke and mirrors. More on that later . . .) Sorry, it’s not
plastic surgery (unusual for Beverly Hills, I know!). I get up early and get my arse on the
treadmill every single day. This kind of work I really don’tlove. Would I let you get up there
for me if I could? You bet I would! But it has to be done if one is to stay healthy, and being
healthy is very important to me. Do I hate that in LA I’m surrounded by 6-foot-tall Ama-
zonian supermodels? Of course. Do I hate that I have to back out of the bedroom so my
husband can’t see the dimples in my butt? Yes I do. When I see him reach for his glasses,
I think, “Oh, thank goodness, his eyes are going just as I am starting to fall apart!” I try to
concentrate on my positive physical attributes—which are slowly diminishing even as you
are reading this. But let’s not focus on that now . . .
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Make yourself indispensable
to your loved ones.
—Lisa Vanderpump
I will tell you my biggest secret of all—the one I’m asked to divulge more than any
other. How have I stayed happily married for so, so long? It did help that I married my best
friend, someone who makes me laugh, and “got” me from the word go. But how did I keep
him—especially with all those supermodels sauntering into our restaurants? The same way
I have kept my children close to me. It works for boyfriends, girlfriends, even my beloved
furry friends. The trick? MAKE YOURSELF INDISPENSABLE TO YOUR LOVED
ONES.Make them believe they cannot live without you, and they won’t want to.
I’ve always thought it sad when I’ve heard people complain about taking care of their
husband or children. It’s an honor to be a caretaker—especially in the kitchen. I’ve never
Introduction ˜ AT YOUR SERVICE