DISHING with Carla Hall of ABC’s The Chew
Top Chef finalist, cookbook author, host of ABC’s The Chew, and host of this years James Beard Media Awards: If there’s something big going on in the food world, Carla Hall is likely playing a starring role. We talked with the inspirational chef and television personality about how she likes to eat and entertain at home, in the hopes of catching some wisdom-crumbs.
Do you cook or entertain at home? What’s your entertaining style?
I love to entertain at home. It tends to happen during the summer months or holidays when The Chew is on hiatus and I have downtime in Washington, D.C., where I live. My style is casual, with everyone in the kitchen while I cook, and Matthew (my husband) overseeing the wine and playlist.
What are 3 essentials to throwing a perfect party?
- Timing is everything: Make sure hot things are hot, cold things are cold.
- Setting up a beverage station: It’s easier to have one featured mixed drink, and then just beer or wine.
- Make sure that you’re part of the party, not stuck in the kitchen. That means you need to have a menu where a good portion of the recipes can be prepared ahead of time
Do you have any favorite NYC Stores or websites that you turn to for inspiration?
Fishs Eddy, Sur La Table (I love the way they set tables), Eataly. Cooks Illustrated is a really great website for recipes and equipment; they test everything.
What are 3 things that are always in your fridge?
Pickles, mustard, lemons.
What’s your favorite dessert?
I like a bar, where people can build their own dessert. One of my favorites is a shortcake bar, with a variety of berries and fruit and whipped cream.
What’s the first thing you notice when you walk into someone’s party?
The layout, where they chose to put the bar, where everything is. That probably comes from my time as a caterer.
Any entertaining rules you live by?
Stick with the tried and true. Don’t make your guests your guinea pigs.
Have you ever witnessed a major party disaster? Any advice for a host in a jam?
I usually go with the flow, anything can be fixed. A host should give his/herself a break – and so should the guests. People tend to put really high expectations on themselves. They should try to remember that they’re there to have fun.
What’s the best host/hostess gift you’ve given or received?
The best that I gave was a flight of honey. The best I’ve received was an assortment of different salts. A terrific gift is something that person is going to use.
