Nilou Motamed’s Small Gathering, Big Joy

Throughout this holiday season we are sharing stories of Small Gatherings, Big Moments that would not be possible without an LG QuadWash™ Dishwasher with TrueSteam® because sparkling clean plates are the anchor of any beautifully set table.

To say she knows her way around a kitchen is an understatement. Which is why we’re so excited to share with you how she likes to entertain during the holidays (hint: it involves the most epic charcuterie board OF ALL TIME).

And of course, none of this would be possible without her LG QuadWash™ Dishwasher with TrueSteam® -- her partner in the kitchen for stylish entertaining, cooking, and spotless cleanup.

Here a few tips from Nilou about how to host with ease and style this holiday season…

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USE YOUR NETWORK

"Home cooks have never had so much access to so many great artisanal products—whether from your neighborhood bakery or shipped from across the country. Entertaining is more than just showing off your cooking skills, it’s about flexing your connections. I love supporting small businesses and know I’ll always get exceptional Imperial Kaluga from the ladies at Cavi-air; perfectly aged Epoisses from Murray’s Cheese; and killer natural wines from Brooklyn’s June.

TAKE A STAND

I’ve been collecting vintage cake stands for way too many years. I love them not just for desserts, but to create depth and dimension on our table, whether we’re hosting Sunday brunch or a New Year’s bacchanal. Best of all, with the adjustable second rack of our LG QuadWash™ dishwasher, even oversized crystal cake stands fit perfectly.

CLEAN UP CAN WAIT

When we moved into our apartment, we tore out the wall between our kitchen and dining room—we love the feeling of everyone hanging at our island while we cook. But nobody wants to hear the whirring of a dishwasher. Thankfully our LG QuadWash™ dishwasher is whisper-quiet, and it also lets you delay the start time—so you can go to bed knowing all the dishes will be done by morning.

OUR FAVORITE PARTY FAVOR

Years ago, we printed up a tongue-in-cheek menu for a holiday gathering in the style of an old-school French restaurant. They were hilariously OTT, and a huge hit with our friends, who—from then on—always expect it. Menus are easy to design and print at home, they help to keep track of what you’re cooking and serving as you go, and, not least, they make great mementos. We have a whole drawerful of wine-spattered menus from parties past that we love to look back on.”

With that we also wanted to provide a fun little recipe from Nilou, in partnership with LG Dishwashers, to encourage everyone to gather and celebrate this holiday season.

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Nilou Motamed’s Peppery Plum Compote in partnership with LG Dishwashers with TrueSteam®

“Charcuterie boards are one of my favorite ways to entertain – the bigger the better. They’re casual and interactive and there are lots of delicious flavor combinations to uncover and share. Creamy cheeses and strong cured meats beg for bright accompaniments like this deeply purple Damson plum compote. My dear friend Laura Aviva turned me on to this savory combination of plum and pepper and it’s highly addictive. We love a couple of spoonfuls atop yogurt for breakfast, too.” – Nilou

THE INGREDIENTS

• 1 ½ lbs Damson plums
• ¼ cup sugar
• 2 springs fresh thyme
• 3 tablespoons water
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste

THE DIRECTIONS

1. Quarter and pit plums and place in non-reactive saucepan
2. Add sugar and stir and allow mixture to sit until dissolved
3. Add pepper (don’t be shy) and thyme and water
4. Bring mixture to a boil then simmer for 8-10 minutes or until fruit is clear and syrup is glossy
5. Let cool. Resist temptation to spoon over vanilla ice cream