I must start by directly addressing the readers of this blog. Over the past few days, I have received more comments than ever before on one post, more kind words and encouragement that I expected, and a ticket to advance to Challenge Three of Project Food Blog. I’m at a loss for words, which is rare- But I really cannot properly convey my gratitude. Your support is empowering! With that said... Let’s party! Context: About a year ago, my mom moved her belongings a few streets over to a charming new abode. Nestled in the rolling hills, it came equipped with a large deck, fruit trees, a rustic barn and rectangular paddock. Naturally, like the horsey family we are, our two equine companions came along to reside in the backyard. This sprawling scene of crisp leaves, alfalfa, white fences, an overflowing fig tree and the biting breeze of Fall is the inspiration and perfect excuse for a dinner party. The theme of which I’ve chosen to call Rustic Luxury.

Rustic Luxury is a paradox, kind of like country living in the middle of Silicon Valley. But this is where we are blessed to live, and we love it. As my mom perfectly phrased it last night, our rustic country living is a luxury. Who doesn't want space to run and play?

Guests: A total of seven guests relaxed, conversed, reminisced, and of course, heartily dined. Although not all are blood related, I consider each and every one of them part of my family. It dawned on me today how lucky I am to be able to do that. Before we get too far with this, though, I have a confession to make: Cooking for guests makes me really, really nervous. I get stressed. Uptight. Rushed. Frantic. I can cook for myself all day long; Maybe it’s the fact that all of these people are counting on me for a meal. They come at my request, they’re hungry, I promised food, and now I must deliver. What if I screw everything up? What if it tastes horrible? What if everyone stands around watching me because they’ve gone from hungry to starving? They’ve finished off the appetizer, and they’re bored? However, the counterpoint is this: I love having friends over. I love the practice of gathering together for a meal. The enlightening conversations and ab-tightening laughs offset the effort, planning and execution in every possible way. I believe that food shared is food that nourishes both the body and the soul. And besides, the mad dash makes everything much more exciting. If we could count on a thing like entertaining to be predictable time and again, would we really keep on doing it, time and time again? Would it really interest us? Menu: I served a medley of dishes that turned out to compliment one another perfectly: 3 kinds of hummus (Classic; Sun-dried Tomato; White Bean with Cashews and Mint) with Herb-rubbed Pita Chips, Spicy Swordfish Kebabs with Zucchini Medallions, Forbidden Rice Salad with Dried Cranberries and Orange Zest, Grilled Asparagus, and a Fig & Almond Tart with Mascarpone Cheese for dessert. I started early and took my time all day prepping, cooking, table-setting, and organizing. I had fun experimenting with flavors, designing a table scape and documenting everything with ample photographs. When it was finally time for the guests to arrive, I was able to relax. All that was left to do was to grill the kebabs and asparagus. Easy! I’ve learned a lot from this meal. I’ve learned that I am capable of collecting myself and calmly hosting a dinner party. I’ve learned how to think ahead, plan ahead and do ahead in the context of being a hostess with the mostest. But I’ve also learned how to just give up a little and let things happen. I can't possibly control every minute detail. This is quite a revelation for me.

Without further ado, here is the night in photographs:

(Tabletop Tip from a rookie: Choose one object and design around it. For me, it was the candle holder. The more rustic elements like the picnic table combined with the silver and crystal accents really brought the theme together.)

Sneaking a peek at the Stanford game:

Homemade bread from Susan:

This evening was greater than I could have hoped. It was comforting and intimate, and to my delight, every dish was devoured. I couldn't get enough of the hummus myself. Stay tuned for recipes in the next post!

A special thank you to my amazing Mom, without whom this event could not have run so smoothly. Thanks for teaching me how to be an expert entertainer, just like you.