Susanna Vapnek’s annual “Viva La Fiesta” dinner party is a tasty and fun recent addition to the yearly merriment in the American Riviera. Old friends and family gather in Susanna’s beautiful garden to partake of good libations and delicious gourmet Mexican food expertly prepared by her good friend, the globe-trotting food and spirits writer Nils Bernstein. What could be better than a very colorful party filled with the sounds, tastes and smells of “Old Spanish Days?” How about a wild session with a piñata? This year there were two: one for the younger attendees and an angry POTUS for game adults. There were big smiles on a lot of very happy people. Olé!
Chef Nils Bernstein’s menu
Chef Nils Bernstein with Natana and Susanna Vapnek
Corn cakes with beans and poblano chile
Tuna-watermellon cerviche
Beet and beet-green quesadillas
confetti filled eggs were a big hit
All the kids took some mighty whacks at the piñata
And dug the candy that poured out
The adults got their ya-yas out with the Donald piñata
Which was filled with tootsie roll “poops”
Salad of avacado,Jicama and Orange
Yucatan style pork and Fish ‘al pastor’ style
Summer squash in red ‘pipián’
Chef Nils explains what everything is
Natana gets a lift
The feast begins
¡Viva La Fiesta!
