It's My Party: Melia Marden

(upbeat guitar music)

I'm Melia Marden, Chef and Owner of The Smile

in New York City and this is Bon Appétit, It's my Party.

Usually I want to throw a party because I want to

cook something specific or I want to cook something

for the season.

I like to have something for people to nibble on

when they first come in, so they're not stressed out

about being hungry and I'm not stressed out about

finishing the food in time, you know, so,

we're starting today with a fresh fig crostini.

The food that I cook at The Smile is really supposed

to feel like home cooked meals so, you know,

everything's as simple as it can be.

I think it's always nice to do something at home first,

because you the like, natural version of it,

without thinking about restaurant technique or

doing it for service and then you can

try and recreate that in the restaurant.

I think it's nice at a party like this to have a variety,

and to be able to create an interesting plate,

where you're having like a different taste of something,

and that the things combine well together,

so it's like a really simple steak that's like

intensely peppery, with charred scallions.

Then you get the poached arctic char with mushrooms

and the flavors go nicely together but it's

a very different taste so you're not just limited to one.

I think I tend to, you know, make a little more,

just to be safe because you don't want people to be hungry,

ever, or like leave your party wishing that they

had eaten more, or they didn't get something.

So, I think I always go a little over but don't go crazy,

because you know, everyone's going to just have a little

of everything, they're not going to have a whole steak.

I think after a while you just get a feel for it.

I think at the end of a party, there's usually someone

who stays later than everyone but that can kind of be fun.

I feel like that can be a time when you end up

hanging out, like drinking whisky with one person

and having kind of an interesting conversation.

Personally, I usually fall asleep if it gets too late,

so that's my cue to people that the party's over for me

when I'm curled up on the couch, asleep.

So, whatever happens after that isn't my problem.