When it came to planning a celebration for friends and family who collaborated on the restaurant’s creation, the setting was a top consideration, and Farkas chose her mother’s estate on Flying Point in Stony Creek. She wanted the event to be elegant without being fussy and took advantage of breathtaking views by setting up the dinner’s courses on several areas of the property. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres were located at a bar on the point, first-course salads and a main-course buffet were served on the main lawn, and dessert was enjoyed on the front terrace. When it comes to entertaining, Farkas says: “Let the setting be your guide. Create around the available space, and let your guests move around. You don’t have to be stuck at one table.”
Farkas likes a menu that has a sense of place—for the party at Flying Point, she used vegetables from her mother’s garden to create a colorful spread of crudités and appetizer salads, and flowers for the tables’ centerpieces. Her mother, Francine Farkas Sears, has always enjoyed cooking and imparted the idea to her daughter that taking the time to invite guests to a meal in your home is like offering a gift.
Her number-one tip for easy entertaining? “Be organized,” Farkas advises. “Everything takes longer than you think. Don’t make the menu complex, and work with your space, equipment and cooking abilities. Buy the best stuff you can, and keep it simple.” And don’t fuss over making things perfect: Farkas likes using mismatched place settings, and a mix of colors and textures. Serving food on platters family-style also takes off some of the pressure. Prepping as much as possible the day before not only helps make the meal go smoothly, it also gives you more time to be with your guests.
Growing up, Farkas had the good fortune to learn about cooking and entertaining from her mother and the cooks they had in their home. And her celebration at Flying Point hit all the high notes—a beautiful setting, simple and delicious food, a sense of place, and most of all, sharing her mother’s idea of offering friends and family a heartfelt gift.
