Dancing poolside at Bluefields Bay is always a Guilty Pleasure.

Wow it's really bitter cold outside, especially for early December.  Unfortunately, the weather on the East Coast is about to get considerably worse this weekend. Remember last year when everyone was complaining that it was too hot for the Holidays. Too hot??  Were they serious?  It my world it's never too hot for the Holidays unless it's 90 degrees and I am dancing poolside with Thin Mint in Bluefields Bay, Jamaica.  But that's a different kind of hot, now isn't it?  Smokin' hot of course.

What could be better than chillin' underneath an Almond tree on December 25th, especially with an Ultimate Mudslide or two in hand?  And don't forget those tantalizing tropical breezes!  There is no greater Guilty Pleasure anywhere than being at these amazing Villas in Jamaica for Christmas and New Years.  The Moncure Family and their staff can anticipate all of your Guilty Pleasures. Their six pristine properties provide world class service and hospitality.  The delicious food at each Villa is a five star dining experience. Renting a Villa from the Moncure's is very similar to an opulent stay at the Ritz Carlton, but it's much more private and Guiltorious. Honeymooners should take notice of the Cottonwood Cottage. It's the perfect location for a very luxurious, active and romantic week in the Caribbean.  After 24 years, it's time to plan our return trip.

Remarking that it was too warm in December was last year's bellyache.  This year it's the other side of coin in the City of Brotherly Love and we need to be proactive. So lets light the fireplace on Pine Street, pass the steaming hot cocoa in Berwyn and share the Dancing Bear blanket in Trooper. Mercy me, we still have over three months to Springtime.

We definitely both need a vacation intervention by the Lords of Guilt.  Now wouldn't that be miraculous!!!

It's Here! It's Here!! The Hump Day Hurrah has arrived!!!

Giving anytime of year, especially to those less fortunate at the Holidays, is always a pleasure.  Guilty or not, we applaud this act of kindness. Today's Hump Day Hurrah from Provence Catering is a recognition of two outstanding organizations working together to help families in crisis.


The first Hurrah recognizes The Laurel House of Norristown.  We have long supported the tireless and amazing work of this local charity.  They have rescued countless abused women from domestic violence and set them on a path of putting their life in order.    Charitable donations, job opportunities and clothing are always welcome.

Villanova University for their continued generosity to local charities and families in need. From the President's office to the classroom, Villanova is all about world class education and helping others.  As is the case at many of the region's premier universities, Provence Catering is honored to make them an exceptional host when it matters the most.  Great job Father Pete and Team Villanova!

Together along with Provence Catering, these two outstanding local institutions made a lot of people smile at the at The Laurel House
with a delicious Holiday meal.

Hump Day Hurrah is coming and lets plan your 2014 Guilty Pleasures Party

Hump Day at Provence Catering is coming and you know that means....You know what that means. Tomorrow is our Hump Day Hurrah and we have rock stars in the community to recognize.

Come cheer us on and like us on Facebook.  You also visit us at www.provencecatering.com.   I hope your hungry because it's time plan your Guilty Pleasures Party.  We would love to spoil you and your guests in 2014.  

The House of Happy returns. Guilty habits rule the day!!! Thankfully Provence Catering's event calendar is empty today so no parties are impacted by the weather. Working at home is always productive during a mid-week snow storm.(okay, it's really a snow dusting.) Thanks to a dire weather forecast, the entire mid-Atlantic region seems to be shut in. Many members of the Guilty Pleasures Club have seized upon the fury of Mother Nature to begin the 12 Nights of Holiday Guilt a few days earlier. We love innovation in all forms, particularly among the Guilty. A true Guilty historian knows that many great Guilty Pleasures have been borne out of successfully coping with extreme weather conditions. The Great Blizzards of 1995 and 2009 were the inspiration for the famed "House of Happy" and the feeling of contentment that follows. This sense of wintertime fulfillment was reportedly the motivation behind the highly-acclaimed episode of the Sopranos where Paulie and Christopher are desperately running through the snowy forests of the Jersey Pinelands. Haven't we all been lost and famished in the snow before? Maybe without the bloody wounds of course. Here's how Happy happened in 1995 and the remarkable relounging results were quite by accident: Before heading to the streets of Saddlebrook, NJ to recover my aging Audi from five feet of snow, I put a tray full of marinated Turkey Drumsticks and thighs into our convection oven to slowwwwwww cook. Preparing Sunday dinner at 9 am seemed like the perfect way to start the day. Turkey, especially the dark meat has always been one of my all-time Guilty Pleasures. I love the comforting smell and rejoice in the flavor. From the Thanksgiving drumstick to my award winning dark meat turkey salad to tender cheeks, the moist and flavorful dark meat of Tom Turkey is constantly calling my name. Shoveling out of blizzard conditions that day was a painful and grueling experience. The strain of digging out from sixty inches of snow caused shear exhaustion and an urgent need for Guiltorious rejuvenation. After two hours of FEMA-like duties, I trudged through the snow and crawled up the stairs to our loft apartment looking for a miracle. I must be delusional to expect a game changer. Then Happy happened! Upon entering into our toasty abode, I was overcome by the incredibly delicious aroma of a slow-cooked Gobbler. Since I had forgotten about my bird in the oven, the enticing smell of the roasted turkey really made me smile. My entire disposition and energy level changed. Suddenly I felt happy. The house smelled happy. As you know, scrumptious food aromas have that magical uplifting power. Think chocolate chunk cookies or a reincarnation of Holiday dinner. The anticipation of devouring a mammoth drumstick made me the Guilty creator of the "House of Happy."

The House of Happy returns.  Guilty habits rule the day!!!

Thankfully Provence Catering's event calendar is empty today so no parties are impacted by the weather. Working at home is always productive during a mid-week snow storm.(okay, it's really a snow dusting.)  Thanks to a dire weather forecast, the entire mid-Atlantic region seems to be shut in.  Many members of the Guilty Pleasures Club have seized upon the fury of Mother Nature to begin the 12 Nights of Holiday Guilt a few days earlier. We love innovation in all forms, particularly among  the Guilty.  

A true Guilty historian knows that many great Guilty Pleasures have been borne out of successfully coping with extreme weather conditions. The Great Blizzards of 1995 and 2009 were the inspiration for the famed "House of Happy" and the feeling of contentment that follows. This sense of wintertime fulfillment was reportedly the motivation behind the highly-acclaimed episode of the Sopranos where Paulie and Christopher are desperately running through the snowy forests of the Jersey Pinelands. Haven't we all been lost and famished in the snow before?  Maybe without the bloody wounds of course.  

Here's how Happy happened in 1995 and the remarkable relounging results were quite by accident:

Before heading to the streets of Saddlebrook, NJ to recover my aging Audi from five feet of snow, I put a tray full of marinated Turkey Drumsticks and thighs into our convection oven to slowwwwwww cook. Preparing Sunday dinner at 9 am seemed like the perfect way to start the day. Turkey, especially the dark meat has always been one of my all-time Guilty Pleasures. I love the comforting smell and rejoice in the flavor.  From the Thanksgiving drumstick to my award winning dark meat turkey salad to tender cheeks, the moist and flavorful dark meat of Tom Turkey is constantly calling my name.

Shoveling out of blizzard conditions that day was a painful and grueling experience. The strain of digging out from sixty inches of snow caused shear exhaustion and an urgent need for Guiltorious rejuvenation. After two hours of FEMA-like duties, I trudged through the snow and crawled up the stairs to our loft apartment looking for a miracle.  I must be delusional to expect a game changer.  

Then Happy happened! 

Upon entering into our toasty abode, I was overcome by the incredibly delicious aroma of a slow-cooked Gobbler. Since I had forgotten about my bird in the oven, the enticing smell of the roasted turkey really made me smile. My entire disposition and energy level changed. Suddenly I felt happy. The house smelled happy. As you know, scrumptious food aromas have that magical uplifting power. Think chocolate chunk cookies or a reincarnation of Holiday dinner.  The anticipation of devouring a mammoth drumstick made me the Guilty creator of the "House of Happy."

Snowy Day. Guilty Day. Chipper Day.......

When it comes to the weather, the new normal is pretty freaky.  Yesterday's fantastically fun snowstorm was only magical because it was Sunday and most of us were lounging at home by a roaring fire, safe and Guilty.  Is that the best or what? If it was on a Monday, it would have been a disaster.

We took full advantage of yesterday's blizzard-like conditions in Philadelphia and went totally Guilty.  We camped out in front of our massive HDTV to watch the Eagles kick butt.  While we cheer for another team to the north, we are big Chip Kelly fans.  The Eagles have been amazing under the new Head Coach and it seems like they are just getting started.  Coach Kelly must be a lifelong member of the Guilty Pleasures Club. (we will investigate further) Can't you just sense Chip's passion for the finest Guilty Pleasures when it comes to socializing and dining?  There are too many decadent delights in Oregon to ignore and even the healthy farm to table cuisine in the Northwest can definitely inspire the Guilty. You know he's living well and so are the Eagles.

And thankfully, so are we!!!  Guilty and Thin Mint capped off a relaxing Sunday with a sensational family dinner.  Everyone enjoyed:

Five Spice marinated Lamb Burgers on freshly baked Pretzel rolls with a Yogurt Red Chili dressing
Miniature Red Bliss Potatoes stuffed with New York Cheddar, Applewood Bacon and Green Scallions.
Charred Green Beans
Green Leaf Lettuce with Hothouse Tomatoes, Strawberries and stuff.  
Warm Pear Cobbler with Vanilla Almond Hagen Daz.  

The weather turns, the ice cometh and the Lobster Corn Chowder soup boils....December has arrived in Guiltytown.

Soaring temperatures plummeted this weekend as a ginormous ice storm has engulfed the entire country.  It's definitely affected the weekend plans for many Hobbits and Hobbyists. From Dallas to Las Vegas to Portland to Boston to Middle Earth, members of the Guilty Pleasures are fighting back against the Shivers with a time-tested array of personalized remedies.  As you know, nothing warms your soul or lifts your spirits more than trip to the Guilty side of life.

Deep in my hard drive I have developed many positive protocols for Living Well(okay, so my hard drive is really my cranium.  Thankfully my grey matter is still dedicated to proposition that Living Well is the only way to live). I have an endless list of top secret pleasures to rely upon for attitude adjustment.  In this case, when the weather's nasty, I conquer the cold with an incredibly flavorful soup. Not Campbell's, Lipton or Progresso mind you, but a delicious homemade concoction that makes your toes toasty and your smile bright.  No soup does it better in early December than Chef Greg's famous Lobster and Corn Chowder.  The rich creamy broth is made with love and chocked full of fresh Maine Lobster.  It's the best cold fighter ever. Especially when you share it by the fireplace with Thin Mint.

Not matter what you have planned today, you must take the time to curl up on the couch with a steaming bowl of Guilty Goodness.  Make sure you use a very large bowl.  No wimpy cereal bowls please. Size definitely matters when it comes to keeping warm and staying Guilty. Please make sure you share your Guilty Goodness with the Thin Mint of your dreams.

Too much Turkey for the Holidays? How about a change of pace with a Dim Sum Family Feast in Chinatown?

As always, our traditional Thanksgiving Dinner was wonderful and delicious. We celebrated the holiday on Wednesday because one of the founding members of the GPC had to be in Europe at the World Court on Thursday for a conference at The Hague. Our first cousin, aka Not Guilty, has been known to defend a War Criminal or two from the Eastern Block before a United Nations Tribunal.  To quote a wise man,"Even the worst of humanity needs great legal representation."

We decided to not have a second a Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday.  Too much stuffing and mashed potatoes can be one of Guilty's Holiday dieting dilemmas. So we decided to go rogue and meet in Chinatown for a Dim Sum family feast. Not that countless handmade dumplings and noodles are better for Guilty's never-ending diet, but they are awesome. 

When we arrived at 11:30 am, Chinatown was packed with people and Thanksgiving was nowhere to be found. With Shiffie leading the way, family members both young and not so young, sauntered into the Dim Sum Garden on Race Street for a celebration of our many blessings. We were practically the only Caucasians in the restaurant when we settled around the largest table in the place. It was Chinatown at it's finest.  Having just beaten the lunchtime crowd, we were fortunate to be there on so many levels. The service was great, the food was incredible and the company around the table was even better.  Everyone ordered two dishes each(Guilty ordered three dishes just to be safe) and sharing was required.  It was wonderful experience and we can't wait to do it again next year.  

It sounds like Dim Sum is going to be an After Thanksgiving Holiday Tradition!  Besides, you haven't lived until you seen Guilty use chopsticks!  OMG!!!

The best Holiday Hairdo ever is today's Hump Day Hurrah.

Today's Hump Day Hurrah is an appreciation of Holiday Hairdos around the globe. While there are some spectacular choices in Hollywood, we found his Holiness to be in first place.  Nothing beats Pope Benedict's stylish crop of snow white hair for the Holidays.  The former Pope makes an excellent point with his index finger to enjoy the Holidays this year


In this rare instance, I am taking the Pontiff's advice. That's because I am possessed with the concept of Living Well and enjoying life's many Guilty Pleasures.  It's true. Rumor has it that the Papal College has me on their High-Caloric Watch List. Somehow I have avoided their considerable scrutiny so far.

It does not matter, as my Guilt as been long established and well-documented.  I am doomed. Doomed I tell you! Not in a damnation sort of way, but in a "What's wrong with having Plugra butter on everything?  Isn't extra flavor a good thing?"

I cannot go an hour without daydreaming about some decadent red coconut curry sauce or pining for an overflowing bowl of Banana's Foster with Herrell's Brown Butter Ice Cream. It might be the best ice cream on the planet. It leaves me speechless, but blissful.  

My legendary life is one constant quest for the Guiltorious goods that make us marvel in the moment like a finely aged-liqueur and a chocolate souffle. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and there is so much to savor with family and friends.  With my new Brandy sniffer in hand, a well-worn leather chair makes the perfect perch to watch the Cowboys stumble and fall.

I am doomed to marvel and explore. Doomed I tell you.

It's time to enjoy self-serving moments of Guiltorious pursuit

It's time to enjoy self-serving moments of Guiltorious pursuit

There have been many times where the Guilty Pleasures Club has been asked "What is the definition of a genuinely Guilty Act?"  Not criminal endeavors of course, but self-serving pursuits of pleasure in a "Moi" sort of way. Everyone has their own Guilty Pleasures and I have too many to count.

I have to ask myself, when and how did it all start.  Was it falling in love with the word Smorgasbord on vacation or could have been when I sneaked an ample sip of my dad's Crown Royal on a cruise ship to the Caribbean?  Looking back, the High School years offered many innocent and indulging moments of self-serving guilt.
When I am at work I have Guilty Pleasure moments all day.  Today's guilty pursuit might be looking for Thanksgiving treats in the pastry department while everyone is in a staff meeting?  The answer to that question is easy, "Guilty as charged." It's fairly well known that I have a PhD in sneaking food guilt. Besides, I make much more sense after eating two pieces of Chef Ameerah's outrageously delicious sour cream coffee cake. When it's still warm, there's a third piece calling my name.

I have been known to find personal satisfaction with an occasional case of "First in line Guilt."  When I am traveling, especially with family, my guiltorious behavior might include sneaking to the front of check-in line when you have only 20 minutes to catch a flight to Portland to go Salmon fishing in Astoria  And why not take drastic measures...the security line at Philadelphia International can be longer than a football field? "Me first" guilt never gets old. Anyway, missing that flight to Oregon was not an option. We both know that!

Then there is Summertime Guilt. Imagine stopping by a Wawa on a scorching July afternoon where the asphalt is 900 degrees and all that can cool you down is a ice cold milk shake or two? There's no time to drive to Ray's Drive-in for a fix. You need that liquid ice cream rush now! Heat salvation is always free pass anywhere on Planet Guilty.

Self preservation is a Guilty-filled experience. Accept the truth and join the club!

     Thanksgiving is blessed with so many Guilty Pleasures.

That’s because everyone has a special treasure chest filled with priceless Turkey Day memories. No matter what your age, eating well on Thanksgiving is always a wonderful Guilty Pleasure. This uniquely American celebration is the best of all family holidays and its prominent role in our culture can never be overstated.  No presents. No grudges. No calories. It's an exalted Epicurean journey.

I have always had a very strong connection to the last Thursday in November. Maybe it's because no portion control is permitted. It's the one day of the year where over-indulging is encouraged. In fact, there are bonus points for having three helpings of everything. There is no voice of moderation saying, "Do you really need another serving of Fennel au Gratin or Grilled Corn Pudding?"

Overeating is the norm and more importantly, so is slowing down. The leisurely pace of the meal is perfect for dining with great friends and family. There are so many incredible foods and guests to enjoy, so hurrying through your meal is never acceptable. The number one rule on Guilty Way is that you should savor the laughter more than the heavy cream. And that is high praise for good humor, because we really love the dairy aisle.

I particularly like the many enticing smells that engulf our home while preparing Thanksgiving Dinner. Each scent is gloriously distinct and the cooking process quickly becomes an all-day nostril conference. The unforgettable aroma of an Herbed Turkey and my legendary Veal-Almond stuffing slow-roasting in the oven, is always a defining holiday moment.

But my all time favorite Thanksgiving bouquet is the baking of the pies. Of course, this has become my guilty dilemma. There are so many pies to chose from and I want enjoy all of them.

“Leave no pie behind,” is my motto. Let’s analyze the magnitude of that Guilty-laden philosophy.

Why stop at Apple Crumb?  Why put down your fork at Pumpkin? Why wipe your chin after Coconut Custard? How can you eat Blueberry Pie and forgo the Peach Cobbler? The sampling of five or six home-baked pies has become one of my favorite Guilty Pleasure goals. I want to enjoy a variety much more than a full portion.

Fortunately, I have solved this Turkey Day dilemma. Our talented Pastry Chef Ameerah is a Thanksgiving Expert. She has created a wide selection of holiday desserts that look beautiful and taste incredible. Chef Ameerah baked beautiful large, extra large and nano Apple Crumb, Key Lime, Chocolate Pecan, Strawberry Cream and Pumpkin Pies. Her handwork was miraculous.

Her desserts are made with lots of love and it shows.  Ameerah's Thanksgiving pies are scrumptious and nothing less than Guilty gone Gobble Gobble.