Wednesday, November 17, 2010

My Foodie Holiday @ Barneys!!

Hey there! A couple of months ago I got an email from Lee Schrager asking if I'd like to be a part of his cookbook launch party and partnership with Barneys New York. Lee is the beautiful mind behind the South Beach Wine & Food Festival and the one here in New York as well. He always donates the proceeds to charitable causes and his events are like an all-out celebration of food, wine and the city. I just love that the one in New York has the Burger Bash in Brooklyn!!! Anyway, Lee's new book The Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival Cookbook is now on sale and filled with recipes from the events and behind the scenes stories as well. Funny thing, I don't think I'm in the book, but I was way too excited to be invited to join some major names in the windows at Barneys, so I of course said yes.

Ok, so fast forward a couple of months and the Simon Doonan designed windows are up! Here I am outside the big event ...
That's Rachael Ray on the left and Martha Stewart on the right. My picture is actually above and between them ...
Can you see it? It's a total click-and-enlarge, but I'm in good, sweet and delectable company next to cake maven Sylvia Weinstock and Top Chef Just Desserts host Gail Simmons. Pretty cool! Here are some more pics of the windows ...
I took these pictures and then did a few interviews on the red carpet. With the breaking news of the royal engagement of Prince William, everyone wanted to know what I would make for the wedding. I opted for the groom's cake, red velvet all the way! Here I am talkin' cocoa ...
Right when I was about to head into the party, I ran into my girl, Alex Guarneschelli ...
Alex is a hard working chef and every time I see her she is all smiles. Doing the restaurant, her television shows, she's a mommy ... so much and she's always such a joy to see. We said our hellos and I headed inside to enjoy the launch party for Lee's book.
That's Marcus Samuelsson, he has a new show starting on Martha Stewart's Sirius channel and Russell Simmons was his first guest.
Super packed right? Look who I ran into ...
It's Anne Thornton, the host of Food Network's newest show, Dessert First. I watched her drizzle maple glaze on a pie last week and silently cursed the woman lol. I told her I can't watch if I'm close to my pantry. Her show makes you want to cook ... and cook something baaaaaaad :-). My bestie Natina came from Chicago to celebrate the night with me ...
I actually had her on Cooking for Real with me. It's an episode called "Girls that Grill" and I blogged about it on a post I called "Really, where did January go?". It was nice to have her here to celebrate! The party was actually plenty of fun and not the stuffy affair you might expect, most of it owed to the DJ ...
That's my long lost text-buddy Beverly Bond! Back when I was in radio we kept in touch here and there with just basic hellos and kindness among two women in the biz. We lost touch, but we've both been busy. She founded Black Girls Rock and just a week ago a show she produced for her movement aired on BET to record-breaking ratings. Check the Black Girls Rock page on BET (Warning before you click link:music plays automatically on homepage). Pretty cool to run into her again and say hi. So happy for her!!! Ok, I'm off to lunch! Enjoy the day!

15 comments:

Mo Diva said...

There is so much Coolness going on in this post. I loves it. And you look gorgeous Sunny!

jen @ one curly fry said...

Okay – first thing first. You look wonderful!! What a beautiful dress!

The event sounds like it was SO much fun! And you know I’m quite the dessert gal – I think you need to introduce me to Anne Thornton so I can be her taste-tester! LOL! Maple glaze on a pie...Mmmm!!! I’d be in heaven…

Can’t wait for the South Beach Food and Wine Festival! This will be my first big festival and I’m coming solo! I’m counting on you and Lys to keep me in line :) LOL!

tamilyn said...

Looks like a fun party! You look hot in that dress!

The window was a tad freaky with Mario's head on a platter...

Tunisia & Chris of NoVa said...

Hello Sunny!! My hubby and I check your blog a few times a week. Either he or I will check it and come home and share what's going on with you----like we know you personally. HA!! That's to credit your personality and your humble approach at life. You have a gift that you have chosen to share with the world. Thank you for your warm spirit in a world where it's so easy to be so cold. Sending love and support your way!

Holly said...

Sooo excited you posted pics from the Barneys event!! It looks like the launch party was yet another incredible Lee Schrager creation! You looked fabulous - I LOVE your necklace!! I'm hoping to get into the city to see the windows in the next few weeks :-)

Mary | Deep South Dish said...

Oh no Sunny don't do this to me. I need a whole new bookshelf due to my INdiscretionary buying of multiple cookbooks lately and I am STILL waitin' for my girl Sunny's book. I'm first in line for THAT one! Anyway, love your dress, and you look FABulous as always! Oh my goodness, those windows!! That some crazy stuff - love that Paula has butter stuffed into her pockets LOL!! Love that new show with Anne - I mean c'mon... it's desserts FIRST! How could you not??!!

Lindsey Christensen said...

I glanced at those Barney display photos before I read the post and my eyes were aglow and my jaw was ajar! How awesome of a feeling was it to see a rendering of your face right along side all the other iconic food personalities? So cool Sunny! Is that “Hungry Girl” below Martha and Rachael? Oh wait…I hadn’t scrolled down far enough -- it’s Ina! Wow what a phenomenal display!!! That one with Bourdain and Mario – soooo detailed and a real feast for your eyes  Yay for red velvet for Prince Will…I had THE biggest crush on him in high school. Gotta give it to Kate though, could she be any more gorgeous? And speaking of the red velvet…I polished off the last “twinkie” last night. It was a sad moment but I enjoyed every bite!

PS – your outfit is so glam!

PPS – what you said about Anne Thorton’s dessert show is unfortunately true for me as well…and it doesn’t just end with her show, it pretty much applies to every FN show I watch. Yikes.

PPS – (how many Ps can go in a PS anyway) What’s your opinion of iPads? Thinking of getting one and know you’re an Apple lover…

Charles said...

The window designs were so cool! I'm glad u posted a pix of Marc S., I never knew what he looked like but noticed his cookware which looks like really nice cookware, (though a bit pricey!), but u do get what u pay for.

I watched Black Girls Rock on BET the night it aired and it was one of the best specials I've seen on any network in quite a while. Kudos to Beverly Bond and her great doings!!

And shout out to you, just luxuriating and ke-kein' at that event, looking all good and stuff. ;) thank you for sharing!

The Duo Dishes said...

The dress is great on you. Perfect look for the red carpet! You should be the first to take red velvet to England (assuming it's not there already)!

Jenneil said...

OMG that dress is the BOMB...You Go Sunny...That party looked like it was a foodie dream...I saw Black Girls Rock on BET... I Loved It...FINALLY A show dedicate to Black Females of all ages...You have to love that...It's cool to see the founder doing her thang on the one's and two's...

Maria said...

I agree, the event did look cool and you are stunning in that dress. I think red velvet cake suits Prince William and his fiance!

Lys ~ Cooking In Stilettos said...

Looks like it was an amazing night Sunny and you are in the window - how cool! I really should take a trip to NYC to check out the holiday windows - it's been way too long. Anne Thornton has that mind control thing going - I watch her show, think "I can do that" and next thing I know I'm doing a mental pantry inventory and planning a cooking experiment. Love that show!

Lee does such great things - adore that man!

Sunny Anderson said...

mo diva, thanks girl. i totally felt not cool enough for the room lol!

jen, thanks! the dress is jones new york! pretty cool eh? never knew they did pretty holiday dresses, jones feels like biz gear to me. and girl, anne is waaaaaaaaay too cool!!! hope you get to meet her one day! ok, when do we start counting dow til sobe??? :-) i'll make an advent calendar!!

tamilyn, it was fun! and i agree, the window had a very halloween vibe lol. we signed a release that allowed them to do what they wanted, all i was concerned about was not being too light or too dark in tone, some people within the af. american community gripe when they think someone is "lightening" themselves, so i mentioned it. i wonder how mario felt to see his head on a platter. hopefully he like it, eh? i was happy with my drawing. looked like the pic here on the blog, just blown up and traced. i'll take it!!!

tunisia & chris, the fam that cooks for real together, stays together :-) teeheehee. glad you guys are on board as happy food people that like to eat! sorry i took forever to reply, sometimes i'm swift and at times i'm as slow as a honey drizzle. thanks so much for the support. i say it like a mantra and i reeeeeeally mean it, i can't do it alone and your support isn't lost on someone lazy, i work for this dream every day and pretty much everyday i can't believe i've been able to support myself on dreams and goals. plus, i get it. i have a gig just like the next person, doesn't make me special or different really. the only thing i think makes this different is that people watch me do my job. so because i know people are out there, i want to chat with them. we obv have stuff in common :-), stick around, i'm happy to have ya!

holly, yeah lee knows how to throw a party, ahem soirre :-) ... seriously, when i saw bev bond, i knew it'd be fun!

mary, lemme tell ya, i'm sure i'm giving alllllll the commenters on the blog a free cookbook when it finally does come out. before i switch my blog and fold it into my website (january/february relaunch), i'm going to collect emails from everyone here now and then keep them on file for the cookbook release. least i can do is give you guys something for the extra support of actually commenting.

lindsey, you have no idea ... i was totally honored. like the list of people involved was huge and then there was me lol, like i must've just made the cut because many of the people were seasoned chefs and here i am a home cook! i brought one home for the team!!!
ps. thanks, dress was jones new york!
pps, i will sooo let her know she have viewers out there! hard to tell when you just start! she's in the kitchens this week with me while i test recipes, so i'll let her know!
pps, i'm usually a "second generation" person, i'll wait on the ipad. now the new one is gonna have a camera. i can't wait to see people pull that big ol ipad out to take a pic. it's like we are going backwards in technology! funny thing is, i should've waited on the kindle, the new one is smaller, way better for packing on a trip.

Sunny Anderson said...

charles, marc has cookware? i am so late on that. so how about he always has a model on his arm and i made a total faux pas, i guess since the last time i saw him he got married. when i said hi i said "where's one of those beautiful models you are always with?" ... said it like a cute joke, but it wasn't so funny when he tapped some lady on the shoulder and said "this is my wife" OOPS lol i'm almost sure she heard me, ick. ... i'm a mess ... can't take me anywhere!

the duo dishes, thanks!! it was the 1st dress i tried on, i'm an easy sell. i have no fashion sense whatsoever, if it fits, i can't acquit. lol

jenneil, thanks! it's from jones new york. i had no idea they made my size!! i missed black girls rock, i wish bet would advertise outside of bet, because i neeeevvvvver watch it, but from time to time there are shows i wouldn't mind catching. and the reason i never watch ... i dunno, production value of shows just isn't always there. i'm so not a production value junkie, but sometimes i'm even embarrassed to watch. crazy stuff sometimes. crazy.

maria, thanks!!!

lys, i'll pass the msg to anne!! she'll love it! she's so nice!!

jen @ one curly fry said...

Oh we need to start the countdown to SOBE right NOW!!!! Can't wait!!! I'm going to be so overwhelmed...in a good way :)