THE SILVER PALATE

SHEILA LUKINS died over this past weekend. And if her name is unfamiliar to you her work isn’t. Along with her partner JULEE ROSSO they created a fabulous Upper West side take out shop which spawned one of the best selling cookbooks of all time! They were JULIA & JULIE for another age. The takeout age.
The legendary chef restaurateur, MARY SUE MILLIKEN summed up Sheila’s legacy best:

"From tiny little shops like the Silver Palate, people started realizing they didn't have the time but still wanted it handmade and delicious," said Mary Sue Milliken, co-chef and co-owner of the local Border Grill and Ciudad restaurants. "Look what's happened -- now you walk into every grocery store and they have this 'grab and go' thing, which all spawned from these shops."

You may have purchased some of Sheila’s products at your grocery store & if you did I bet you were quite happy with your purchase! And if you do not currently have a copy of THE SILVER PALATE COOKBOOK I highly recommend you buy one right away! Legend has it that Sheila’s catering career began when the bachelor next door found himself completely overwhelmed & begged Sheila to cook the meal for his dinner party & it was a smashing success!
TheGayGardener can credit The SILVER PALATE with saving many of his dinner party’s! I still make their Warm Spinach Salad, Chocolate Chip Cookie & Old Fashioned Potato Salad Recipes! Just look at the photo of my very stained & very used & very loved copy of The Silver Palate Cookbook!

And I’ve spoken of this before; but their SANGRIA Recipe is positive genius! You may recall that I followed Sheila’s Sangria recipe to the letter. But like any time -crunched chef I made it several days in advance. Not recognizing the laws of FERMENTATION!! Suffice it to say that the end product was a certifiable HALLUCINGEN! We sang songs, people got naked, people came out of the closet (or were OUTED!) Marriages were made & destroyed!! It WAS THAT GOOD!! Frankly, it was the best party I have ever hosted; thanks to SHEILA! I hope she’s in Heaven now hosting a wonderful party herself!! Bon Apetit!