Our friend Nicole is so popular she is having multiple bridal showers throughout the country.  So, for her LA shower, we wanted to make everything uber-California.  The setting was a lush garden overlooking the city.  The luncheon menu was inspired by Nicole’s favorite foods (avocado & cheese) and all that is fresh & Californian.  Who knew that there are so many varietals of avocado?!  After a generous tasting with an avocado man, I selected my favorites and came up with a trio of avocado for the hors d’oeuvres (see full menu below).  The Sir Prize avocados were a rich, creamy discovery; they joined the Santa Barbara spot prawns in the entree salad.  My favorite course was the cheese: individual cheese boards with Cali cheeses and accoutrements from the farmers market.  I guess I loved it all because I also want to mention the mini date shakes that were inspired by a road trip Greg & I took to Yosemite–so damn good.  Amy set a gorgeous table with hydrangeas and greens.  She used polaroid pics of Nicole and her groom-to-be, Jacob, throughout the day: on the invitation, food cards & menus.  Tucked in with their menu, guests got mad libs to fill out about Nicole & Jacob’s past, present & future.  Perhaps the most California element of all was having a real deal cinematographer (Amy’s husband David Jones) shoot a video version of the popular newlywed game (gorgeous light and a Laurel Canyon backdrop didn’t hurt).  For the favor, we made bottles of jalapeno-mint simple syrup with the recipe to make the day’s signature drink–California Love (aka, a spicy margarita).  It doesn’t get more So-Cal than that!!  Note: This was one of those days where Amy nor I had our acts together to take many photos (and DJ wasn’t around to take his pretty pics), so we’ve borrowed a few shots from guest/professional photographer Lauren Ross.  The good ones are hers!!).