'Summer Sparklers' for J. McLaughlin

Credit: Niki Nero Photography

“The most interesting cocktails for summer, whether you have a pool or not, have some effervescence which relates to the sparkling water filling the pool or the ocean, near or far. Champagne, or any sparkling wine, adds pure magic to a cocktail. You might call it bubbles, I might say dryness. But the wisest of us all know Champagne sprinkles a fairy dust of magic.

“There are a few things to think about when choosing a house cocktail. We do not want a ‘normal’ drink available anywhere and everywhere. Instead try something people might not have tried. Leave complicated cocktails to mixologists. Your home is not a bar. You must be able to make repeat versions; meaning a first drink, possibly a second, and if the occasion arises for a third, you will be able to walk up a flight of stairs and mix another….”

 Read more & find 3 recipes for easy, breezy Poolside Cocktails, all with Champagne (or Prosecco if you’d prefer), via J. McLaughlin’s newsletter/blog HERE!

'Half a Dozen Summer Party Tips' for J. McLaughlin

“The #1 tip concerns conversations because we haven’t been face to face in so long! Just thinking about it sparks excitement, which gets energy flowing and makes party planning extra pleasurable. 

Suzanne and a guest converse at the debut of our collaboration with J. McLaughlin…

[Credit: Niki Nero Photography]

Let’s Talk
Consider possible party talk even before your event. Conversation starters can range from fun and frivolous (like showing off your matching napkins and dress) to deep dives straight for the heart of the matter. Think about each guest and what might be going on in their life so that you can ask pertinent questions, showing that they have been on your mind and that you care for them. Conversations which easily shift from light to meaningful are unforgettable. Simply skimming the surface leaves an empty feeling later. To more easily dive deep, start shallow as a means of getting there. Pointing out your matchy matchy napkins and dress will ignite laughter and spark interesting talk.…”

Read the rest of Suzanne’s party tips and find our recipe for a perfect French 75 via J. McLaughlin’s blog HERE!

A Summer Night's Dream with J. McLaughlin

Credit: Mark Staff Photography

‘“Sparkling summer cocktails in chilled glasses, your closest friends mingling amongst dragonflies and bite-sized hor’s d'oeuvres, farmer’s market blooms that match your botanical print dress, that match your napkins, that somehow magically match your notecards as well.”

A recipe connoisseur, author, and all-around party genius— when Pollak mentioned to J.McLaughlin Creative Director and Co-founder Kevin McLaughlin that she wished she had a dress that matched her fête essentials, we knew we had to make it come true…’

Now you can shop J. McLaughlin’s dreamy new collaboration with Suzanne HERE, and read all about last night’s launch party HERE (both via the J. McLaughlin blog!)

'The Art of the House Drink' for VIE June 2021

Serve your House Drink in any vessel you choose! (Credit: CR Fashion Book)

“I am a fan of having a house drink and a go-to menu until they’re fully mastered at every step: cooking, mixing, and presentation. Then when the excitement has evaporated or the season has changed, the time comes to move to new terrains. This steady progression of building culinary and cocktail house signatures adds to your skills through the decades. During the learning period, the practice provides stability, predictability, and comfort to those you feed and water, something guests look forward to when invited. Then, to keep you and yours on your toes, choose new treats.

In that vein, I propose settling upon a house cocktail for a while.…”

Learn how (and why, and when) to serve up a variety of champagne cocktails while entertaining at home, in the latest issue of VIE Magazine HERE!

Suzanne in IBU's Sunday Style

Find Suzanne modeling stunning pieces handcrafted by women in Kyrgyzstan via IBU’s latest newsletter HERE, as well as on their home page HERE! The IBU showroom is located in downtown Charleston, and it’s one of our favorite places to shop for (female) artisan-made clothing and gifts.

"I loved doing this shoot because IBU is an ally to women around the world, supporting weavers, sewers, and designers through the clothes we wear. The Academy is an advocate for creating community… one bite at a time, from kitchen to kitchen.” -SP

RIP Tony Hendra

Sometimes you are lucky enough to find a friend who is one of the wonders of the world, a person who changes your life. These people might be complicated and even difficult at times, but it doesn’t matter because you don’t live with them. You just get to enjoy the person’s fabulousness, their intellect, their humor, their care. They see the real you.

I’ve been super blessed to have two once-in-a-lifetime friends like this, now both passed away. The priest Father William Ralston I have missed every day for twenty years. The other friend, Tony Hendra, died this past week. These men are irreplaceable spirits. 

Tony Hendra, actor in Spinal Tap, bestselling author of Father Joe, was an extraordinary home chef, funny to the point of making people’s ribs hurt and minds sharper, with the largest and softest heart. I find anyone who has been through tragedy transforms into a person who understands at a different level. 

Most of all, Tony was my friend. He called me Mrs. P. and I called him Mr. T. Tony had ideas for the Charleston Academy which we worked on together. Just the fact that Tony saw potential in the Academy confirmed to me that my effort and energy put into the business was worthwhile, time well spent. 

Tony was my teacher. He showed me how to sharpen and store knives, skin a deer, coil and cook merguez, dance by the side of the pool, cleave guinea hen breasts, enjoy life! He was a consummate host and a deft culinarian. Tony’s love language was feeding his family. Then, he was a master at work, and the best part was Tony was a home cook through and through.

May you rest in peace my dear friend. 

"Open Up and Connect" for Lux Lifestyle Magazine

Credit: Mark Staff Photography

“Going from formal to informal is a breeze for Pollak who once owned 300 place settings. I pressed for more of her secrets to outdoor entertaining with pizazz. Below are some of the helpful hints I gleaned during our talk:

• Be short and sweet. Just one hour can be a lovely drop-in with cocktails and small plates.

• Help your guests feel you hospitality outside; if you are hosting by a fire pit, place cozy blankets or shawls on the seats.

• Fire in any form creates a sense of warmth, a phenomenon since the prehistoric times. Use it! A fire pit, fire ring, etc., in the Spring, when weather might not be so welcoming outside, will light the night.”

Read the rest of of “Open Up and Connect: Fresh Air Entertaining Tips with Suzanne Pollak” in the latest issue of East Coast LUX Lifestyle Magazine (pages 80-84) HERE!

"Dream Honeymoons" for New Orleans Bride

“When you return home from the Academy of Domestic Pursuit’s enjoyable cooking course, you remember how Dean Suzanne Pollak didn’t only teach you to prepare Planter’s Punch, pimento cheese, plump shrimp and grits and a peach dessert. She also gave you some advice. ‘P is for playfulness,’ she’d said, as you worked in her kitchen. ‘Remember: always keep playfulness in your marriage. That’s the key.’”

Read more about how a class with the Dean can spice up your honeymoon in Charleston SC, via New Orleans Bride HERE! Special thanks to Becca Hensley, Travel + Lifestyle Writer, for the article…

"A Cozy Cocktail with Presidential Panache" for Garden & Gun

Credit: Niki Nero Photography

“In a nod to those who helped shape America—especially George Washington—Pollak created the Founding Father, a wintertime riff on a classic Remember the Maine cocktail, which typically includes some combination of rye whiskey, vermouth, absinthe, and cherry liqueur. After Washington’s second term in office, he built a distillery at Mount Vernon, setting up the whole supply chain on the grounds: His enslaved laborers grew and harvested the grains, ground the flour in the on-site grist mill, and converted the grains to whiskey, Pollak explains, resulting in about 10,000 gallons a year.”

Read the rest and find Suzanne’s perfect President’s Day cocktail recipe online via Garden & Gun!

First Week of Winter 2021

THANKS to local food editor Hanna Raskin for her report on cooking cassoulet with Suzanne (via Post & Courier).

Here’s what students are saying about Winter 2021 classes so far:

• “My first week was outstanding. I really enjoyed it because the one hour gave me a soothing distraction from Covid and confidence that we will return to being able to celebrate lovely dinners with friends and family. Your enthusiasm is contagious.”

• “I really am excited! Your enthusiasm is contagious! I have been following you for years and love the book.”

• “The cassoulet was a big hit! So much fun to cook and serve...my friends were impressed!”

Plus, a few useful tips covered this week:

• STOCKS - Save all roasted and raw bones to make stock. Stocks can be made easily from bones, a few carrots and onions, water (or previously made stock for a double stock) in a 225-degree oven overnight, for eight hours. Your house will smell divine.

• TABLE SETTINGS - Thinking about buying a set of dining room chairs? If you want to spend less money, find a variety of chairs and then paint them the same color! Chic! Victoria de la Maza's pet peeve: sharp corners on a dining room table. Use padding, then a tablecloth. Everything sits better, looks smoother and more comfortable.

• CASSOULET - Slow cooking transforms food. This stew of beans, pork, lamb and duck or goose is a masterpieces of many generations, but not overwhelming to prepare. One step at a time!

NEXT UP…

• French Onion Soup on Tuesday @ 10:00 EST

• How to Seat a Table on Wednesday @ 2:00 EST

• Extraordinary Gumbo on Thursday @ 2:00 EST

Secure your spot by registering HERE.

"Baking with Barbara " for J. McLaughlin Blog

“‘Tis the season for homemade challah! Grounded in ancient Jewish tradition, this gorgeously glossy braided bread graces the Chanukah table—and then makes the most wonderful French toast and grilled cheese sandwiches. While there are lots of places in New York to buy great challah, including Eli’s Market on Third Avenue on the Upper East Side, there’s something special about making a loaf from scratch.

To prepare for the all-important holiday baking season, Barbara McLaughlin and her daughter Madeline signed up for Carbs 101, an online class at the Charleston Academy of Domestic Pursuits. Taught by Barbara’s friend Suzanne Pollak, founder of the Academy, professional baker and cookbook author, the classes are the next best thing to being in Suzanne’s cozy kitchen in Charleston, not far from our J. McLaughlin store on King Street….”

Read more about Barbara & Madeline’s adventures baking challah with Suzanne, and find a recipe for making loaves of your own this Holiday season, via J. Mc Laughlin’s blog HERE!

"Our Many Selves" for VIE December

Photography by Mark Staff.

“The portrait is an exchange between photographer and subject; for a multiplicity portrait, it’s also a dialogue with the subject and herself. Mark captured my domestic life. For twenty years, my business was caring for and feeding a family. The kitchen served as the engine of our house, creating a firm foundation for those connected to me (and even cha-ching-ing change while I briefly ran an illegal bakery). These pursuits allowed me to rule the roost with calm instead of chaos, to squeeze all the potential out of one room. Cooking was my way to mother and mentor, instill manners, awaken culture, and learn history, music, and cuisine. Providing proper nourishment ensured that each child might reach their potential one day because they were fully fed and loved as they grew up. The room gave its all, and so did I!”

Read more about seeing your selves in a new light via a great portrait, in the latest issue of VIE Magazine HERE!

'Generosity Never Sleeps' for VIE November

Remember sharing?

“Imagine if we learned about the power of cultivating generosity? The changes that happen in our brain’s wiring—to the way we think, act, and perhaps design our lives—are astounding once we begin a practice. Generosity is a subject in which we can become more proficient. It may start with self-centeredness, but our capacity grows as we move away from that center towards other more genuine motivations. The movement to selflessness often involves a gradual maturation. It takes time, and we all must begin exactly where we happen to find ourselves at the time.”

Read more about generosity, and how to create a practice of your own, in the latest issue of VIE Magazine HERE…

'Why I'm Wearing Pink' for J. McLaughlin Blog

Name: Suzanne Pollak

 Location: SC in the cutest little pink house in downtown Charleston

 About You: Founder and Dean of the Charleston Academy of Domestic Pursuits. The Academy celebrates all the possibilities of home, making the world a better place one cocktail at a time, one party at a time, one connection at a time, all from home. 

Why I’m Wearing Pink This Month:

The scariest part of breast cancer was going through cancer as a single person, not knowing how vulnerable I would be or what I would need. But then, angels alighted from all over, some old friends, some brand new, all helping me in every way imaginable. I wondered where they parked their wings. I was able to let myself accept help because I had to. I felt love and respect from so many that that energy became part of my deep healing. I just had my one year check up October 1 which brings me to my advice: Do not do what I did and wait 10 years to go to a doctor. 

In partnership with Breastcancer.org,  J. McLaughlin will be donating 10% of proceeds from all sales online and in-store on October 17, 2020. Additionally, 10% of proceeds from their limited-edition pink mask sales are also being directly donated to Breastcancer.org.

Read about all four of the incredible women who share why they’re wearing pink this October, via J. McLaughlin’s blog HERE!

'The Ten Commandments of Quarantine' for October VIE

If the Addams can do it then so can you!

“During the past six months, cooking and dining may be the only good times to step away from doing your day job at home, hovering over your computer or trying to manage your child’s education. Spending an extended period of time together around a table nurtures family relationships and establishes a foundation for lifelong intimacy. The three key words are SIT, TABLE, TOGETHER…as opposed to individuals spread out in different rooms, eating in front of their screens, hiding out in their bedrooms. You must eat together. Period.

As much as we may crave ditching dinner and escaping to a restaurant, today is a different world. Taking a break from screens, meetings, and homework, getting in the kitchen and preparing food means we eat together. Nightly meals are the time for face-to-face human connection now more than ever, even if it’s only with those we see all day long, love the most, and get annoyed with the quickest. Mouths need to be fed! We have a tremendous chance to make little adjustments and strengthen family times by knitting our family together, one dinner at a time….”

Read about the other nine Commandments of Quarantine in the latest issue of VIE Magazine HERE.

'Traveling the Perfumed Road' for September VIE

“This summer, the scent of the lilies made me revisit the 240-year-old house and 150-year-old spirits, reminisce about their antics, and think of the B&B I always wanted to run — minus the ghosts free to go wherever and do whatever they please, night and day.

Recently, other scents take me places too. The smell of scotch inevitably reminds me of my father. When I was a young girl in Somalia, Jesse Owens came over to our house. My father introduced Mr. Owens as the fastest man in the world, and I thought, No way! He is too old. Jesse and my father sat down with a scotch and water, because that’s what my father drank ever night. I love thinking of the two elegant men drinking scotch together — one a spy and the other a runner — men of a certain time, intelligence, and seasoning, choosing scotch as their cocktail. The type of scotch they chose was part of their curation, just like the music they listened to, the books they read and the roads they traveled.

If it seems like I am just hanging out with spirits in the time of Covid, that is not entirely true. I do more than drink scotch and sniff ginger lilies….”

Read more about the power and persuasion of scent in the latest issue of VIE Magazine, HERE!

Sip with Suzanne

Social distancing is no excuse for cutting class or ignoring your liquor cabinets!

Join Dean Pollak every Wednesday at 5:30PM EST via Zoom for a classic cocktail demonstration.

Each week, the Dean covers the history of the classic cocktail, its preparation, ideal snack pairings and an etiquette segment on ‘How Not to Get Sh*t-Faced’. Tomorrow’s drink is the French 75. Learn some WWI and contemporary French war history while making the cocktail…

Sip with Suzanne is free to join. Simply download Zoom and click here.

'The Pink Teacup' for June VIE

“I seem to have lived in a series of pink houses throughout my life. The first was in Mogadishu, Somalia, when I was a young girl. The second, in the early 2000s, was an eighteenth-century townhouse on Rainbow Row in Charleston, South Carolina. Now I live in another eighteenth-century pink house around the corner on Church Street, one of the most beautiful streets in the city. The house is the size of a teacup—with the charm of one too. The special appeal of the abode is the small balcony overlooking the street. Unbelievably, no one stepped onto the balcony for over thirty years.

I chose the pink teacup because of that balcony and the street’s busyness below, which reminded me of cities in my childhood. The streets in the Middle Eastern and African cities were newspapers in motion, all sections: front page, editorial, sports, even advertising pages. The verbal secret newspaper. Gossip central. News, free for all!”

Read more about the Pink Teacup house, its balcony overlooking (and overhearing) Church Street, and all the changes endured…in the latest issue of VIE Magazine HERE.

'Where the Orchids Bloom' for VIE Blog

“Did you know the New York Botanical Garden has a rescue center for plants smuggled into the country? Instead of destroying the seized plants, they are brought to the gardens to be bred, propagated, and shared. Marc Hachadourian (NYBG director of glasshouse collections and senior orchid curator) shares many little throwaway but useful facts, which I love collecting. Did you know that a vanilla bean is really the seed pod of an orchid? And there are only six flowers in the world with the remarkable color of a jade vine, a thirty six-inch cluster of turquoise green. Finally, for the finale, when we arrived at the garden’s hugs arches blanketed with orchids. Maybe it’s better to first experience this online, because if I walked under the orchid arches and around the reflecting pool in person, I might have fainted and fallen into the pool.”

Read more about taking one of many delightful virtual tours of the NYBG, on the VIE Blog HERE…

'The Greatest Gifts' for May VIE

“Our brains tend to run wild with stories all the time, even more so after a cancer diagnosis. The [first] surprise gift from the unknown sender was titled A Year to Live by Stephen Levine. Receiving the book out of the blue, between the time of the biopsy and the doctor’s calling to report on the result, served as a sharp wake-up call. Who sent this? Who cares? I considered the gift in the context of fantasy, my brain fuzzy with unwanted, unexpected news. Could this be a gift mystically organized by my deceased father and cousin’s spirits? Were they trying to tell me: ‘Pay attention! It’s time for you to do the things that matter to you, things we did not have time to do before our deaths from cancer’?”

Read more about three of the greatest gifts (all surprising in their own way) received by the Dean, when she needed them most, in the latest issue of VIE Magazine HERE.