UPDATE: Full details and pics from the launch party
Designer-cum-author Fleur Wood has compiled a tome about life’s essentials: Food, Fashion, Friends.
Fleur has set about putting into print her personal love of food and entertaining… Food, Fashion, Friends is a collection of recipes and styling tips that celebrate “the pleasures of frocking up, decking out and cooking up a storm”.
The designer’s favourite bites includes her twist on mac and cheese (Pecorino Macaroni), Soft Shell Crab Burgers and decadent deserts like Rhubarb Meringue Cake. Wood takes all manner of dining experiences—high tea, brunch, dinner party, seaside dining, picnics—and offers up menu plans, styling advice, playlists and beautiful photography to inspire meals that excite the senses in every way.
Fondue degustation in the forest, anyone?
The book was officially launched at Fleur Wood’s store in Sydney’s iconic Strand Arcade last night—sadly a broken bone prevented us from attending, but one can only assume given the nature of the event that it was a deliciously indulgent affair.
Food, Fashion, Friends—Recipes and styling for unforgettable parties (RRP: $59.95) is available now through Penguin Books—take a look at Fleur’s profile on HowBigIsYourEco and visit the Penguin website for a sneak peek at the book.
UPDATE: A night not to be missed (but I did!)
There was food, fashion and friends in abundance at the official launch last night as Fleur transformed Level One of the Strand Arcade into a high tea party. Taking a leaf out of her own book, quite literally, she employed oversized peacock chairs and pots of orchids, ferns and palms to set the scene for recipes from the book, laid out on vintage cake stands and platters.
Guests included Clare Press (aka Mrs Press), Genevieve and Alexandra Smart from Ginger & Smart, retail maestro Robby Ingham, hairdresser extraordinaire Brad Ngata and assorted fashion media—those of us without broken toes, at least.
They were lucky enough to sup on Moet & Chandon with canapés of quail egg and truffled mushroom choux pastry, prawn finger sandwiches, blinis with caviar and conchiglione with goat’s cheese. Then there was desert: chocolate mousse Mille Feuille, coconut ice and the aforementioned rhubarb meringue cake… of all the events to have to miss!
Behind-the-scenes footage showed the goings on at the nine photoshoots set up for the book. The cast of thousands included flame jugglers, balloon wranglers, top Aussie chefs, three dogs, a kindy full of kids, over a hundred of Fleur’s friends and a herd of angry bulls. A motley crew, it must be said, but the stunning results are apparent in the book.
Pictured below:
Fleur Wood and husband, BBC journalist Nick Bryant
Alexandra and Genevieve Smart
PR queen Antonia Leigh and Clare Press
Brad Ngata (right) and partner Glen Chaplin
Robbie and Sarah Ingham
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