The Heart of the Table | Seasons & Celebrations

For Mother’s Day: Experiences Over Things

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I wish every day was Mother’s Day. We don’t need an excuse to honor the most special women in our lives, or bask in love ourselves. Moms come in all shapes and sizes… whether they are your Mom, someone else’s mom, a best friend who acts like your mom, or a neighbor who's mom to the whole block.

Whatever the case, here is my suggestion for a better Mother’s Day: Get mom (or persuade your loved ones to get you) an experience rather than a thing. There are so many ways to spend time together, but to my mind, doing it over good food and art is the absolute best way to go about it. You’d be amazed at how many foodie fests are happening in your own backyard!

A Desert Oasis Culinary Retreat

As for me… I found a really cool event out in Phoenix. Food Nirvana happened the last week of April, so for me, it was kind of a belated birthday treat. Attending was a happy accident. As part of our reservation at our hotel, I received complimentary tickets to one of the events. I chose the Rosé Parté, an event housed in the famed Wrigley Mansion overlooking the city of Phoenix on one side and Camelback Mountain on the other.

The views were breathtaking, even in 100° plus heat! The festival featured all types of vendors with tastings of rosé wines and champagne. Local restaurants offered delicacies that included foie gras mousse wrapped in cigarette-shaped tortillas, displayed beautifully in what appeared to be a garden of grass with edible flowers on the end of each roll.

The Master Charcuterie

There were individual deconstructed blood orange cakes, pastries of all shapes and sizes, and a Bloody Mary bar that rivals any I’ve ever seen. The Nirvana version of a charcuterie board was assembled on a gigantic dining table (which had to seat 20 or more) and laden with cheeses, meats, and the most gorgeous loaves of bread.

I tasted the Pâte à Choux, filled with salmon and topped with caviar, alongside a tri-colored beet terrine. Oh, so special! Yes, I even saw celebrity chefs! Robert Irvine is cute, and as well-muscled in person as he is on TV. His dish consisted of a corn husk laid onto a plate, topped with beef short rib, splashed with the sauce, and topped with an avocado cream and crunched tortilla chips.

I had a blast and encourage you (with or without your Mom) to attend a food and wine festival if you get a chance. It is a HAPPENING! But seriously… Mom is really the most special person on Earth, and if you need any food or entertaining advice to help her realize that, I am here.

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