Donatella Arpaia

Friday, 04 February 2011 16:02

Fashioning A Bridal Registry Around Your Culinary Needs

For its bridal issue, The Boulevard decided to venture from tulle to tool to find out what trappings a world-renowned chef and restaurateur might recommend for brides-to-be to create their “ultimate kitchen.”

And who better to speak with, we thought, than Donatella Arpaia, the charismatic attorney-turned-culinary mogul who defines her career by telling you, “I entertain for a living and need to throw parties all the time!”

The Boulevard was happy to catch up with this multi-talented, always entertaining celebrity when Donatella was at Bloomingdale’s, Roosevelt Field, on Jan. 13, dispensing information and opinion on everything from wedding menu ideas to registry items … everything you need to say “I do” to cooking.

It is an understatement to say that Donatella is qualified to administer culinary advice. No stranger to the kitchen, she has become one of the most successful women in the world of food. She opened her first restaurant in 1998 and followed that success with a string of highly-acclaimed restaurants, all but one in New York. Donatella’s triumph as a restaurateur has earned her many accolades, including selections as Zagat’s Hostess with the Mostest and one of Crain’s New York’s 40 Under 40.

In April 2010, Donatella unveiled her significant prowess in the kitchen with her first cookbook, Donatella Cooks: Simple Food Made Glamorous. She became known for her regular appearances as the “tough but fair” judge on the Food Network programs Iron Chef America and The Next Iron Chef as well as Bravo’s Top Chef. She has also made appearances on The Isaac Mizrahi Show, The Martha Stewart Show, The Tony Danza Show and The Today Show and has been featured on iVillage.com,

Donatella is herself a bride-to-be. She is engaged to Dr. Allan Stewart, a renowned cardiac surgeon at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital who has operated on President Bill Clinton, among others. The couple met while training for triathlons. According to Donatella, “Allan told me on our second date that he was going to marry me and I actually believed him! Four months later, we were engaged in Bora Bora … it was fireworks and all sorts of fairy tale stuff going on! I didn’t think it was possible. I had heard about it from other people but now I’m a believer!” She and Allan, Donatella says, are definitely soulmates.

When asked for hints to help new brides ready their kitchens, Donatella had more than a few to share. Read on for her sage counsel and practical recommendations:

Donatella on Creating the Ultimate Kitchen

There is a long list to make when planning your wedding. Additionally, there is a list to make when planning for after the wedding and that is where your registry comes in. Your registry is the list you will have for life so take your time and be sure to plan it right. Register early and give your guests options in every price range for engagement, shower and wedding gifts. Make use of the personnel on hand in bridal departments to guide and advise you on building the perfect, personal registry. Those helpful people will still be there for you after your wedding.

My main piece of advice for brides-to-be is to apply your principles of clothes shopping to shopping for your home. The first thing is to clean out your closets … that is, your cupboards, as well as his.

The Little Black Dresses of Your Cupboard:

This is not a place to skimp. Spend money on the following and you’ll live happily ever after in your kitchen.

Good Pots and Pans – I recommend All-Clad. Stay away from copper; they are beautiful but heavy, difficult to clean and non-functional.

Set of Knives – Wusthof is my favorite. Even if you’re not a cook now and don’t think knives are important, you’ll find they will be in the future. Finding the right knife is like finding the right guy. You need to try it out and see how it feels. Go for top of the line!

Stemware – Crystal is the best. Look for a thin lip. Glasses come in a variety of shapes. You’ll need red wine glasses, white wine glasses, champagne flutes and dessert wine glasses at a minimum. I like Reidel, Waterford and other fine manufacturers. Discover a delicious new indulgence: Everything tastes better in crystal!

Sterling Silver Set – This is a beautiful investment that will last a lifetime. Don’t go for something too trendy because you want to be able to use it throughout the years. Stick to the classics.

Bone China – You should consider having more than service for 12; pieces break and when you gather for holidays, you want matching plates. Let the style reflect your taste - not your mother’s or mothers-in- law, for that matter! Think of colors and designs you love. Have fun! Mix and match your china settings – make it uniquely yours. Celebrate living in the 21st century and put your new china in the dishwasher!

Other kitchen essentials include an immersion blender and a good toaster oven. You can’t go wrong with Cuisinart. But you can go wrong with useless, trendy kitchen gadgets and gizmos that take up a ton of room.

When setting the table, let colors of the season inspire you. Set placemats and runners, as well as accent pieces, but I advise you stay away from turkeys and Santas. They’re not very modern (no offense, Mom). I also love metallics; they work well throughout the seasons and always look special.

Donatella’s Tips for Today’s Bride

-Don’t be a slave to traditional registry lists. If you never cook at home but love to camp, it makes more sense to register for a tent than to request crystal goblets. But be open to the fact that your tastes may change in the future. Even though you can’t imagine the need at this moment of your life for that glass trifle bowl, it may become indispensable for future dinner party desserts.

–Make a list of what you both have and will keep and what you still need and want. Consider the need for “everyday” and “formal” versions of dinnerware, glassware, table linens and serving items. Important: Discuss what level of formality you want and general color schemes or patterns before you begin.

–It’s smart to get expert help from someone you like as to brands; salespersons can tell you about returns and other store policies, but do your research online ahead of time.

–Be sure to register for items in a range of prices so that people can choose gifts within their means. Provide a mix of goods: Think traditional for older relatives, affordable and fun for college pals. It may sound a bit manipulative but you’ve got to make your registry choices appealing and easy for your guests to buy.

–To satisfy gift needs for showers and engagement parties, request more items than the number of people on your guest list. Having options does not look greedy – you’re actually doing guests a favor by giving them more choices.

–Remember to forget the old rules! The new rules? Be totally practical and stylish. You can feel like a kid in a candy store when you pick and choose from Bloomingdale’s unrivaled assortment of china, crystal, silver, cookware, cutlery, gadgets, bedding, luggage, furniture and more.

$99.99 - $460, All-Clad LTD 2 Cookware, available at Bloomingdale's Roosevelt Field