The Celebration Issue

Whether your party includes chocolate cake, music to dine by or kids helping in the kitchen, celebrating big and small moments enriches our lives and creates a more vibrant community.

According to research, people who cultivate a daily attitude of celebration and gratitude have more energy, less stress, are more likely to help others, exercise more frequently, sleep better and have improved physical health. Sounds like a good reason to celebrate.

I am definitely in favor of commemorating milestones. Why not take the time to acknowledge a special occasion, personal or professional? And if there’s a meal or snacks involved, I’ll volunteer to be on the food committee. From my perspective, that’s where all the action (and fun) is when it comes to celebrations, though I know not everyone shares that belief. With all the details involved in curating a gathering of any size, stress, not gratitude, may be the primary feeling for many hosts.

With that in mind, the Celebration issue offers a smorgasbord of helpful ideas for all occasions. If you have a wedding reception on the horizon, read what several area event planners have to say about current trends in food, venues and music. Speaking of tunes, have you given any thought to a soundtrack for your holiday soiree? Local chefs weigh in on the importance of setting the mood with the perfect playlist. If you’re in charge of dessert for an engagement or anniversary party, check out the recipe for Mary’s Double-Chocolate Cake – it’s sure to be a crowd-pleasing finale. Looking for a fun way to gather at the table this holiday season? Follow the 10 easy steps to create a grazing board, jam-packed with meats, cheeses, snacks and other nibbles, perfect for sharing a meal with your community. All this and more can be found in the pages that follow.

Here’s to celebrations and any reason to gather around the table with friends and family throughout the year. And here’s to the hard-working local farmers, artisans, food and drink makers who provide the culinary bounty for those occasions.

Lauren Titus, Editor

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STORIES & RECIPES FROM THE CELEBRATION ISSUE