Founder Files: Ham & Biscuits, a Kitchen Fire & Great Vases
Tad and I went to a party for Amor Towles’s new story collection, Table for Two, at his home in Manhattan. He served two plump, beautifully glazed hams next to a basket of fresh biscuits—reminding me, an over-planner, that keeping it simple is often the best way to go. So let’s plan a ham and biscuit party right now:
On the Menu
On the Table
At the party, I talked to another author, who I won’t name, otherwise I’d be justly accused of name-dropping. We were talking about throwing parties and he told me that he and his husband used to host what they called Fridays at Home. They opened their house every Friday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. to whoever on a long list of friends could make it. Around 8 p.m., they’d take a headcount to see who was still around and then they’d order takeout to feed them. And they often played something called (I think) the Complaint Game, where everyone had the stage for 1-2 minutes to lodge a complaint about life. Who doesn’t love a chance to complain, especially with an audience! (The most common gripe? People meandering on sidewalks and subway stairs while texting.)