As with most special occasions, there was a lot to get done before the dozen or so guests arrived this evening.
“Buy the flowers; get the cheese and the wine,” says Desiree Gruber, an über-public relations executive whose company, Full Picture, controls the careers of everyone from hoteliers to supermodels.
“And finish furnishing the apartment,” Desiree’s husband, actor Kyle MacLachlan, added with a laugh.
*** Local subtitles ***Dischinger François
In the spirit of the show tune Mom that says, “We need a little Christmas right now,” the two-coastal Gruber-MacLachlans wanted a little Thanksgiving—well, actually the full meal, candlelight, crystal, and flowers—right tonight in their three-bedroom loft-style space in the Chelsea section of Manhattan. The real Thanksgiving, America’s most delicious democratic meal – a holiday for people of all creeds, creeds and colors – was still a few weeks away.
“In New York we eat so much in restaurants,” Kyle said, “unlike Los Angeles, where it’s part of the culture to have people over because everyone seems to have a nice or cool house to entertain themselves in.”
Before Kyle could start cooking, assisted by private chef Hank Tomashevski, he and Desiree went shopping for orange roses with floral designer Raul Avila at Gary Paige’s shop at the Flower Market early in the morning. Next stop was the Burgundy Wine Company for drinks – a Domain Drouhin 2002 Pinot Noir would do well – and then Citarella on Lower Sixth Avenue for cheese and olives. As for tonight’s menu, it was a traditional Thanksgiving dish of the MacLachlan family, passed down from Kyle’s father.