Last weekend I had the great pleasure of hosting one of my favorite cookbook authors, Yvette van Boven, for a little cocktail party to celebrate her newest book, Home Made Summer. Her books are works of art…amazing recipes paired with photography, illustration, story telling and humor in the most magical way- they’ve been such a source of inspiration for me.  This is the third book in her Home Made series and we got connected because we have the same publisher (Abrams/Stewart, Tabori & Chang.)

Yvette and her husband Oof Verschuren (who took all the gorgeous photos in the book) are creative collaborators who split their time between Amsterdam and Paris. They were in the U.S. for a few weeks on a book tour and I feel lucky that The Forest Feast was one of their West Coast stops! We hosted a group of local food bloggers, writers and friends on a warm Spring afternoon on the deck. Yvette made treats from her new book- Chaneterelle Pate, White Bean Hummus, Feta & Olive Cake, and Financiers. Plus her delicious Pimm’s Cup cocktail with strawberries, mint and cucumber, and a refreshing Mint Lemmo cocktail mixed with Prosecco. I made a couple appetizers from my blog as well, like my Eggplant “Tacos” and Guacamole Deviled Eggs. We tasted the goods and Yvette signed books as the sun went down behind the mountains.

Congrats, Yvette and Oof, on a gorgeous new book! Come back and visit the woods anytime! 

xxx Erin

Papercut lettering illustration at the top is by Yvette van Boven. Photo of the group of 5 of us, and the one of me in the chair are by Oof Verschuren.