Diamonds and Dining Are a Girl’s Best Friend

first course at the chef's farm table at Blue Duck Tavern

Ladies who lunch and write and blog and take photos got together at the Blue Duck Tavern for an intimate luncheon celebratingTiffany & Co.’s 175th anniversary.  While many stores around the country enjoyed a “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (also my favorite movie) we lucky ducks got to spend our time with Chevy Chase and Tysons Corner management along with Tiffany Vice President Diane Ray Brown off-site.  Hostess Mary Jo Klein, who has been working the esteemed jeweler for a considerable number of years (more than 15, I believe) kindly made sure we all had enough to eat (way too much) and had the opportunity to play with all of sparkles.

the platinum and rose gold bracelet for $50,000

Yellow diamonds, platinum pieces, rose gold, rings, necklaces, bracelets even bright metallic clutches were there for the trying on and admiring. The apple of my eye was a mere $50,000.  Also known as a car. But, there is always wishing …

If I can't get the bracelet, I'll take THIS ring!

Diane Ray Brown lent her own Elsa Peretti necklace

What we learned during the three course fantastic locally-sourced family style lunch by Executive Chef Sebastien Archambault was that since we are about to leave the Year of the Dragon and enter into the Year of the Snake, expect to see plenty of gold and silver snakes slithering around the Tiffany cases, namely designed by Elsa Perriti. The serpentine 18k gold piece looked stunning and we heard the earrings are just as gorgeous.  Also, Pantone just named Emerald as the color for 2013, so with a nod to that claim, Tiffany had brought plenty of fun jewels in green. After all, anyone and everyone can look good in green.

part of the first course

main course with sides

The icing on the cake for this function was literally, the fondant on the cake. Pastry Chef Peter Brett gifted a replica of a Tiffany gift box to us.  It was chocolate layer cake with rum raisin and chocolate mousse. It was also unbelievably good.

almost too pretty to eat. Almost.

As we rolled out of the Park Hyatt bellies bloated and faces glowing, we were presented with a necklace compliments of Tiffany and a little chocolate marshmallow puff from our friends at the hotel.

me, Kate Bennett, Eun Yang, Diane Ray Brown