8.24.12: Dinner and Conversation | New York Social Diary

Dinner and Conversation

Alex Hitz hosted a dinner for a hundred guests high above Sunset Plaza in Los Angeles.

Kilkare, the ocean-front home of Eleanora and Michael Kennedy, came to life in grand scale last Saturday evening, the 18th of August, as friends came together to celebrate the 135th anniversary of this iconic Hampton residence located in the Georgica Association of Wainscott, New York. The Kennedys have instilled a great deal of life in this family home and added to its history as they welcomed 130 guests. Among the close friends were philanthropists, artists, writers, industrialists, moguls from all arenas, board members of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the Central Park Conservancy, and Georgica Association neighbors.

Kilkare At 135 Years Old

The clouds parted from rain that had pounded the eastern shore of Long Island earlier in the day and glorious sunlight showed through to a spectacular sunset as guests enjoyed the delicious hors d'oeuvres by well-known caterer Olivier Cheng along with his berry sparkle specialty drink and cocktails galore. But it was not just the delicious food and drink nor the anniversary of Kilkare that made the party extra special. The Malloys, visiting from Palm Beach and Connecticut, added to the festivities.

As Eleanora said, Kilkare means "Kill All Your Cares!" Built from 1877-1879 by Camilla Edwards and her husband, Walter Edwards Sr., a direct descendant of Jonathan Edwards, an influential philosopher and Yale theologian, it was lovingly restored by the Kennedys in 1976 and has been the home of the Kennedys and their growing family with children and grandchildren and all of their many celebrations for the past 36 years.

Guests on the porch

Ava with Staff

Joanie McDonell

Guests who had homes in the Hamptons or were visiting from Europe, the west coast, Palm Beach and parts of the eastern seaboard included Susan and Tim Malloy (Quinnipiac University journalist in residence and Afghanistan War Correspondent), Jo Carol and Ronald Lauder, Christine and Steve Schwarzman, Ann Keating, Carol Ryan and Ed Victor, Nicholas Calloway, Heather and Tom Leeds, Dr. Annette Rickel, Joan and John Jakobson, Sima and Morad Ghadamian, Claudia and Gunnar Overstrom, Catherine and Bryan Carey, Steve Kroft and Jenny Conant, Pamela Fiori and Colt Givner, Clifford Ross, Bryan Hunt, Jennifer and Chris Isham, Jane Holzer, Sony's Rob Wiesenthal, Priscilla Rattazzi Whittle, Jamee and Peter Gregory and John Alexander

Catherine Carey, Polly Onet, Robyn Joseph, Leslie Maheras, and Dr. Annette Rickel

Heather and Tom Leeds

Sima and Morad Ghadamian

Nick Leighton and Andrew Ferrinelli

Fred Seegal, Charlie Moss, and Robyn Seegal

Susan-Calhoun,-Idoline-Scheerer,-Jo-Carol-Lauder,-Ronald-Lauder,-Eleanora-Kennedy,-Mary-Hilliard

Susan Calhoun, Idoline Scheerer, Jo Carol Lauder, Ronald Lauder, Eleanora Kennedy, and Mary Hilliard

Valentina, Bryan Hunt, Clifford Ross, and Matthew Dontzin

Michael-Kennedy,-Tim-Malloy,-Stephen-Schwarzman

Michael Kennedy, Tim Malloy, and Stephen Schwarzman

Michael, Ava, and Anna Safir

Rob Wiesenthal and Chris Isham

Lupo-Rattazzi,-Priscilla-Rattazzi-and-Chris-Isham

Lupo and Priscilla Rattazzi, and Chris Isham

Jamee and Peter Gregory

Susannah Kagan and Claudia Overstrom

Philipe-And-Gigi-Bigar,-Amza-and-Andrew-Bossom

Philipe And Gigi Bigar, and Amza and Andrew Bossom

Colt Givner and Pamela Fiori

Gunnar Overstrom and Peter Kagan

Joan and John Jakobson

Denise Deluca and Dina Chartouni

Aaron Hsu and Sasha Cutter

Eleanora Kennedy and Christine Schwarzman

Harriet and Ronald Weintraub

Harry and Harrison Hurt

Michael Kennedy, and Jenny and Steve Kroft

Kyle Blood, Barbara Dixon, and Lisa Schultz

Eric Freeman and Suzanne Cochran

Bob Gianos

Jane Holzer and Eric Shiner

Ken Wyse, Dr. Annette Rickel, and Burt Minkoff

Lee Fryd, Anki Leeds, and Christine Biddle

Carole and Philippe De Louvier

Melanie And David Holland

Susan Kraus

Ed Victor and Nicholas Calloway

Shelley And Michael Carr

Ann Keating and Susan Malloy

Jennifer Maguire and Priscilla Rattazzi Whittle

Richard-Conway,-Michael-Chae-And-Alexa-Chae,-Greta-Weil

Richard Conway, Michael Chae And Alexa Chae, and Greta Weil

This past Wednesday afternoon on Jobs Lane in Southampton, J.McLaughlin’s Southampton, New York store hosted a book-signing party to celebrate the publication of Susan Fales-Hill’s new novel Imperfect Bliss, (Simon and Schuster).

Among the guests congratulating Susan were: Christina Robert, Bettina Zilkha, Donna Zilkha, Liliana Cavendish, Debbie Bancroft, Jamie Figg, Robert Zimmerman, Farhad Farman-Farmaian, Katlean de Monchy, Robin and Robert Leacock, Jim Signorelli, Sylvia and John Mazzola, Cheryl Katz and Michelle, Frances and Thomas Dewey.

Susan Fales-Hill and Christopher Robbins

Robin and Robert Leacock

Valerie Cox

Pamela Snyder

Sylvia Mazzola, John Mazzola, and Alison Mazzola

Sophia Signorelli and Jim Signorelli

Thomas Dewey and Michelle Dewey

Jill Davis, Ed Conard, and Susan Fales-Hill

Susan Fales-Hill and Christina Robert

Liliana Cavendish in J.McLaughlin

Carol Laffey and Kelly Laffey

Susan Fales-Hill and Laurie Wofford

Alison Mazzola and Norman Polonofsky

Susan Fales-Hill and Angela Costanzo

Robert Zimmerman and Debbie Bancroft

Cheryl Bergenfeld and Jamie Figg

Susan Fales-Hill and Laura Blair

Donna Zilkha, Bettina Zilkha, and Christina Robert

Nancy Saladino and Sevi Regis

Mark Hissey and Christina Robert

This past Wednesday night way up high above Sunset Plaza on a gorgeous night in Los Angeles, Alex Hitz hosted a dinner for a hundred guests. I don’t know if there were an occasion but Alex loves to give a big dinner party. They came from New York as well as the environs of the Platinum Triangle of Beverly Hllls, Holmby and Bel Air, not to mention a dozen other parts of that sun-drenched town.

In the crowd: Miss Jane Fonda with Richard Perry, Wendy Stark, George Farias, Peter Dunham, Waldo Fernandez, Annette Tapert who was out visiting her daughter and son-in-law Georgia and Lou Howe; Joan and Ron Linclau, Carol Mack, Sharon Sondes and Geoffrey Thomas, Jay and Tracy Snyder, Rachel Hovnanian (these are all New Yorkers so far except for Stark, Waldo and Dunham). Also Lisa Fine who lives in Paris and New York and India. Onwards: Suzanne and Fred Rheinstein, Lord and Lady Frederick Windsor (Freddie to his friends), Beatrice Reed, Hutton and Ruth Wilkinson, Karin Luter, Frances Shultz and Tom Dittmer; Anne and Arnold Kopelson, Miss Nikki Haskell, Karen and Santo Domingo, Sessa and Richard Johnson: Beth DeWoody and Firooz Zahedi, Al and Kimm Uzielli; Broadway’s Susan Stroman, Betsy Bloomingdale and Burt Boyar, Craig Starr, Diana Nathanson, Marin Hopper, Barbara Davis, and dozens more just like ‘em.

The view

The staff: Abraham Setbom, Justin Eden, Gil Jackson, Dutch Johnson, Nick Ballard, and Ted Burkow

Now, Alex is about to publish his first cooking memoir (my words, not his), and I’m sure it won’t be his last. It’s called “My Beverly Hills Kitchen; Classic Southern Cooking with a French Twist,” which pretty much covers the lower forty-eight and then some. It’s being published by Knopf on the second day of October.

He’s going to be out hawking it on the Today show, the day before (October 1st) and then in 22 cities across the country. When you see him, if you see him interviewed, you’ll hear a bit of that ole Atlanta because that’s where the boy comes from, and where he first learned what to do in the kitchen.

Heirloom Tomato Pie

Beverly Hills Barbecue Chicken

Best-Ever Brownies

Wednesday night’s guests got a good sampling of his kind of menu:

Bacon wrapped dates with Parmesan

Perfect Poached Salmon, sauce verte
Beverly Hills Barbecue Chicken
Cold Corn Pudding
Heirloom Tomato Pie
Broccoli Slaw

Best-Ever Brownies
Priceless Pecan Bars
Luscious Lemon Ginger Squares