From hosting dinner parties to running her restaurant, Lisa Vanderpump from "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" is known for her entertaining skills. Now you can learn her tricks with her guide "Simply Divine: A Guide to Easy, Elegant, and Affordable Entertaining". Here's an excerpt.
AT YOUR SERVICE
SINCE I OPENED my life to the cameras for The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, certain truths about me are now well-known: I was born and raised in London. I married my husband of 29 years, Ken Todd, when I was 21. I am the mother of two beautiful children, Pandora, 25, and Max, 19. We have lived in the English countryside and the south of France, and now reside in Beverly Hills, California. We’ve owned 26 restaurants, bars, and clubs; our newest are Villa Blanca in Beverly Hills and SUR in West Hollywood. I have been writing for Beverly Hills Lifestyle magazine for the past three years (I have a deep passion for writing, as you will soon see!). And I am in love with a very sexy beast, my Gigolo, an adorable Pomeranian whom I call “Giggy” for short.
Of course, now everyone wants to know my secrets. Fair enough. I’ll tell you. I’m afraid they’re not very scandalous. My life has been pretty conservative (rare for a Housewife, I know!). Even though I was a child actress, I’ve never had any of the scandalous problems that sometimes come of it — perhaps because I managed to stay away from the naughtiness, or perhaps because I just never got caught...I did have a fortunate upbringing, but when I left home, my parents didn’t give me a penny. I worked two jobs to support myself.
So, what are my secrets? How did I do it — get from there to here? By taking risks, staying focused, never giving up, and working my rear off! I have always been a working mum, and my business is a very needy baby — open 16 hours a day! Aside from the restaurants, I also write and work on my skin care line, Epione. I’m a workaholic. I love working. And to me, if you’re passionate about it, it’s not really work. One of my mottos is: “Find something you love to do, and then you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”
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When I got married, I taught myself to cook and found that I had a feeling for food. Ken and I have made food — the selection, preparation, and serving of it — our life’s passion. And I’m delighted to share that passion with you.
But first, back to my secrets. How do I keep it all together? (And thank you for saying that, Darling, but it’s all smoke and mirrors. More on that later...) Sorry, it’s not plastic surgery (unusual for Beverly Hills, I know!). I get up early and get my arse on the treadmill every single day. This kind of work I really don’t love. Would I let you get up there for me if I could? You bet I would! But it has to be done if one is to stay healthy, and being healthy is very important to me. Do I hate that in LA I’m surrounded by 6-foot-tall Amazonian supermodels? Of course. Do I hate that I have to back out of the bedroom so my husband can’t see the dimples in my butt? Yes I do. When I see him reach for his glasses, I think, “Oh, thank goodness, his eyes are going just as I am starting to fall apart!” I try to concentrate on my positive physical attributes — which are slowly diminishing even as you are reading this. But let’s not focus on that now...
I will tell you my biggest secret of all — the one I’m asked to divulge more than any other. How have I stayed happily married for so, so long? It did help that I married my best friend, someone who makes me laugh, and “got” me from the word go. But how did I keep him — especially with all those supermodels sauntering into our restaurants? The same way I have kept my children close to me. It works for boyfriends, girlfriends, even my beloved furry friends. The trick? MAKE YOURSELF INDISPENSABLE TO YOUR LOVED ONES. Make them believe they cannot live without you, and they won’t want to.
I’ve always thought it sad when I’ve heard people complain about taking care of their husband or children. It’s an honor to be a caretaker — especially in the kitchen. I’ve never found cooking to be a chore. It’s a gift you give the people you love. I think it’s one of the sexiest things you can do. (You didn’t know you just bought a sex book, did you? But you did! A sexy, sumptuous book about food, friends, and family!) And as I am always on the go rushing from here to there, when I do stop and spend time in the kitchen I find it’s quite therapeutic. Making fresh food and serving it to your loved ones is good for the soul.
And it doesn’t take loads of money, I promise you. When our kids were small, Ken and I struggled, just like everyone else. The restaurant business is tough — especially in a difficult economy! But we’ve always had a great passion for life. And passion can override anything, even an empty bank account!
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Beautiful things don’t have to be expensive. In fact, I think the prettiest things are not: a single rose bud, a simple glass vase, a small, silver-colored tray with a vintage tea cup on it. The tray doesn’t have to be real silver (that tarnishes anyway). I find the most delightful serving pieces at flea markets. Think outside the box and use what you already have to decorate your table: a strand of pearls, picture frames, a collection of votives...
I’m going to teach you how anyone from any where with any budget can make the ordinary extraordinary. In all my years of entertaining, I’ve learned simple is better, and usually much more beautiful. That’s really what life is all about, isn’t it? The simple and the divine.
One of the simplest acts of love you can give is through service. I love serving people — I’ve been serving someone or other most of my life. When I was a struggling actress in London, I waited tables. When you’re a wife and a mother, you’re serving everyone all the time, aren’t you? And in the restaurant business Ken and I are serving people every day.
I love to serve people in my house — to open my heart and home to them. In a restaurant, you have to get up and leave at the end of a meal, but at home you have the luxury of time with your loved ones. I will show you how to make the most of your time with smart preparation and easy entertaining tips, so you can actually enjoy your guests.
This is not a fussy book. It’s elegant, yes, but as we all know, elegance is learned, and money can’t buy you class (if you’re tardy for the party, however, I cannot help you. Really, I don’t think anyone can...). I think you can tell I don’t take myself too seriously. (I tried really hard to take myself seriously, but no one else would, so I had to give it up.) This book reflects that. It reflects me. Instead of being rigidly organized by course or season, I put it together by mood. However you’re feeling, whatever you want to celebrate, you’ll find simple suggestions for a beautiful meal with mix-and-match menus.
As a restaurateur, I have many sophisticated menus and recipes. Many of those recipes have gone from my kitchen to my restaurants and now into this book. A few are contributed by my chef Francis Dimitrius. But I can honestly say they are pretty uncomplicated, and will win you results that will hopefully impress your family and friends.
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So often I wish I had made bigger quantities as it really doesn’t take much longer, and is always gobbled up the next day (this was especially true when the children lived at home). Almost all of the recipes in this book will keep really well for a few days — with the exceptions of a few salads, although their dressings will keep. (Many dishes taste even better a few days later, but make sure they are always well refrigerated.)
Many of my friends are intimidated by entertaining, dreading the thought of an audience witnessing their latest culinary disaster. But I tend to see the humor in most situations. If things go awry when you are entertaining — and trust me, I have had my share of catastrophes like a dish exploding with all my roast potatoes in it on Christmas Day — take a second, take a step back, and just laugh. If you laugh at yourself, your friends will laugh with you, too.
And if something goes wrong, keep it all in perspective. A war wasn’t lost, a heart wasn’t broken...I take serious things seriously. A broken plate or a belated party guest are not serious things in my book.
And seeing as how this is my actual book, I will make the rules, and break them as I see fit. I’m delighted to invite you into my world of simply divine entertaining. Welcome!
— Lisa Vanderpump
Excerpt reprinted with permission from SIMPLY DIVINE © 2011 by Lisa Vanderpump, Running Press, a division of the Perseus Book Group.