by Suzanne Feinberg

Created on: June 10, 2008   Last Updated: August 06, 2008

Whenever I'm home in Chicago, I love to entertain family and friends. I like to host a big gathering every few months, so we have something to look forward to throughout the year.
March is a great time to have an Irish-themed feast in honor of St. Patrick's Day, which is one of Chicago's favorite cultural holidays. I like to serve quality Irish cheeses and meats, like corned beef, alongside some signature Irish beer with a splash of green food coloring. My Irish buddies appreciate it, and it's a great excuse to get together.

When springtime rolls around, everyone wants to be outside, especially in Chicago. Memorial Day is a perfect time for a backyard barbecue. My friends count on me to grill up steaks, and along with those, I like to serve up grilled vegetables and BBQ chicken wings. To get everyone in on the action, I'll ask friends to bring a side dish.

When you start to feel a chill in the air, fall is around the corner. Autumn in my house means football season, and the guys and I like to choose at least one Sunday during the season to hang out and watch the games. The menu includes hearty grilled sausages, chicken and of course, steaks. I also like to serve chili, which is the perfect fall food.

During the holiday season, I like to gather my closest friends and family for a more formal get together. Sometimes the event will be closer to Thanksgiving, other times it will be closer to Christmas, just depending on everyone's schedules. I think it's nice to have a traditional turkey or ham, plus all of the favorite fixings, like cornbread stuffing and green bean casserole, just like mama used to make.

I value simplicity and quality, so no matter the occasion, high standards and great taste are ingredients in everything I do. The most important thing to remember when I entertain friends and family is to make them feel comfortable and free to enjoy themselves.

Learn more about this author, Suzanne Feinberg.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.