Dishing With Serena Wolf of Domesticate Me!
Some people just seem to get it. Serena Wolf, author of the popular blog Domesticate Me! and host of the hilarious new YouTube show Cocktails and Confessions, is one of those people. Approaching cooking and cocktailing with a large dose of humor and a lack of fear, Serena’s one of our favorite sources for fantastic recipes without the fussy, perfectionist ‘tude. We talked with her about how she gets her party on.
What’s your entertaining style?
Rock and Roll?
Logan, your “roommate,” is sort of a celeb. Does he play a role when you’re entertaining?
Logan is a total diva leading up to our parties. In the week leading up to an event, he floods my inbox with “suggestions” (read: random finger foods he’d like me to make and 18 reminders that “EVERYONE LOVES PIGS IN A BLANKET!”) I accommodate his more reasonable wishes, but when it comes to the menu, I’m the boss.
To Logan’s credit, he’s an excellent co-host. He’s the funniest internet celebrity I know and his bartending skills are on-point. I know I can count on him to keep people entertained and get them nice and loose.
5 essentials for a party at home?
Ice, candles, a cheeseboard, twice the amount of booze you think you’ll need, and a good attitude.
Any favorite stores or websites to find inspiration, stock up on goodies, or for last minute pre-party purchases?
For kitchen basics, I’m a total Williams-Sonoma slut. For the occasional specialty/hipster item, I love Food52’s online shop and Fishs Eddy. Pre-party, you’ll find me at Murray’s Cheese and Party City, because unexpected piñatas and stick-on mustaches are always a good choice.
Do you like your parties to feel planned or off-the-cuff?
Nothing is worse than an overly structured party. But funnily enough, a lot of planning goes into pulling off the “relaxed” vibe. For dinner, I’ll choose family style dishes over plated meals. For cocktail parties, I’m all about the cheese plate and 3-5 finger foods, but nothing that has to be served piping hot.
Favorite cocktail to serve (or drink) at home?
I love me a good Moscow Mule. I gave my roommate copper mule mugs for his birthday and we’ve really put those babies to work. For parties, I dress them up based on the season. This past year I did a vat of Grapefruit-Rosemary Mules at my Christmas soirée and they were a real crowd pleaser.
When you arrive at someone else’s party, what’s the first thing you notice?
Their attitude. If the host is stressed, I feel stressed.
Is there one thing you can’t stop buying and collecting?
Paper straws. I have an embarrassing assortment. Do NOT follow my lead here. Have you ever used a paper straw? They get soft and stop working once they’ve been in any drink more than 10 minutes. But they look so damn festive in cocktails I just can’t help myself.
Any go-to apps you swear by?
Beef tenderloin crostini with whipped goat cheese and pesto. You can prep the individual components in advance, and then assemble at party time. People lose their sh*% over them.
Any tips for hostesses for when things don’t go according to plan?
Thanksgiving 2011, I was living in Paris and hosted 12 people. Due to a finicky French oven and poor planning, we didn’t eat until almost 1 a.m. Luckily, I bought out the wine store that afternoon, so people weren’t overly concerned. When they were eventually fed, the guests claimed it was the best meal they’d ever eaten. So, Rule #1: Get your guests blackout before dinner.
Kidding. Sort of.
I think the most important thing is to stay calm. Nothing good comes from crying, running with knives, or sweating in a party dress.
Any cookbooks or entertaining books you love?
Ina’s Foolproof is my go-to. Even though I can’t get past her timelines (Jeffrey will be home in 8 hours and there’s so much to do!), she’s a goddess. I also love my friend Anna Watson Carl’s book The Yellow Table, which includes full dinner party menus.
If you could party with one person – living or dead – who would it be?
Meryl Streep. I just think she’d be really fun to drink rosé with.
Get Domesticated: www.domesticate-me.com
Check Out Cocktails and Confessions YouTube.com Channel
