When Sarah Magid introduces readers to her delectable book, ORGANIC AND CHIC, she tells the story about grocery shopping with her 3-year-old son. When he asked for a box of Twinkies, Sarah told him they would go home and bake better ones themselves. The experience was “yummy, healthy and happy.” She spent that summer experimenting with her son on all kinds of “junk food gone good.” The result is a delicious journey through cakes, cookies and other sweets that taste as good as they look. Her fantastic cookbook is a feast for your eyes and your sweet tooth. Each recipe balances delicious flavors with organic ingredients. Sarah Magid has a custom cake business based in New York City.
A must admit, right off the bat, that I was addicted to The Real Housewives of NYC on Bravo. The show was fantastic and even though reality shows tend to seem staged, planned and fake, I think this show gave an accurate and interesting glimpse into the lives of women in New York City. One of the standout women on the show was “The Countess.” No matter what craziness was circling around LuAnn, she kept her head held high and her wits about her. When I heard that she was coming out with a book on class and etiquette, I knew I had to have it. Class with the Countess: How to Live with Elegance and Flair did not disappoint!
This book is the perfect go-to guide for anyone with simple questions about fashion do’s and don’ts, conversation killers, and tips for throwing a great cocktail party.
In an era when women are running around flashing skin, backstabbing and gossip is the norm and being polite is a foreign concept, it is a refreshing twist to read about living a graceful and elegant life.
The Countess even blogs! Her blog is as informative and entertaining as her book, with insight and guidance into the elegant life.
Here is a sample from the book on mistakes people make when dining in restaurants:
- Taking your coat, umbrellas, shopping bags, and briefcases to the table. Check them when you enter.
- Putting your phone on the table. Leave it on vibrate and keep it out of sight.
- Use your inside voice. You don’t want to disturb others, and you certainly don’t want people to eavesdrop. You never know who is listening.
- Calling out or snapping your fingers to get the attention of your server. If a quiet “excuse me” or a subtle gesture doesn’t work, ask a busboy or the maitre d’ to send your waiter over.
- Your purse belongs on your lap, the floor or on an empty seat.
- Picking up anything you drop. Just get the attention of the waiter or busboy and ask him for a replacement fork or whatever has fallen.
- Brushing crumbs or stacking plates. That’s what wait staff is for.
Tip: Despite what your mother told you about keeping your elbows off the table at all times, it is acceptable between courses. Leaning forward a bit on your elbows shows that you are listening with interest.
It’s the beggining of summer, but you wouldn’t know if you lived in the northeast. I don’t remember June being this rainy and cold. New York Magazine has a number of essays on the topic of memorable summer flings. The contributing writers are quite impressive: Darin Strauss (Chang and Eng, More Than it Hurts You); Kate Christensen (Trouble, The Epicure’s Lament); John Wray (Lowboy); Geoff Nicholson (The Lost Art of Walking, Bedlam Burning); Rivka Galchen (Atmospheric Disturbances) and more!
So even if you aren’t enjoying the warmth of the summer sun, you can at least enjoy a summer escape through the pages of New York Magazine.
Book Review | Administrator July 1, 2009 | 
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