All French from Manhattan to Bridgehampton
By Katlean de Monchy–
When the French Heritage Society is involved, you know it is going to be not just elegant, but elegant only the way the French can do it. Discrete, proper, stylish, quiet, tasteful. And so it was on for a Bastille Day lunch, which Jean Shafiroff celebrated in Manhattan. As a member of the board of directors of the French Heritage Society, she summoned 50 guests to Maison Barnes, adjacent to Cafe Boulud, and inside the Beekman Condominiums on East 63rd Street and Park Avenue.
The hostess for the luncheon, Jean Shafiroff, greeted guests in her first de la Renta for the day. (photo credit: PMC / Paul Bruinooge)
The gathering was a prelude to the French Heritage Society’s annual Summer Soirée in Bridgehampton, on July 17. That event would further celebrate French culture, new friends and philanthropy.
Ann Vann Ness and me, sticking with the tri-colors, during orientation (photo credit: PMC / Paul Bruinooge)
Because being invited was a special privilege it seemed no one (almost no one) wanted to be late. I encountered a traffic jam as 50 people simultaneously entered, picked up their table assignments (no switching) and got organized for photos. It was the only time we had to talk to our friends. Among those picking up their seating assignments were Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia, the fashion designers Nicole Miller, Kobi Halpern, Malan Breton, Victor de Souza and Kokin. Hunt Slonem was there. Other guests included Valerie Steel, Vanessa Noel, Carolyn Maloney, Rebecca Seawright, Susan Gutfreund, Ruth La Ferla, Suzan Kremer, Alex Hamer and Margo Langenberg.
Vanessa Noel, Jean Shafiroff, (rear) Victor de Souza, Valerie Steele, Hunt Slonem (photo credit: PMC / Paul Bruinooge)
Jean introduced nearly every guest before lunch, making even strangers feel welcome. After the group photographs, they all happily (or not) found their assigned seats at oval tables of six or eight, arranged in the most romantic dining room I’ve seen in a long time.
We were in one room, seated on plush upholstered chairs. On one side and above were laticed and coffered ceilings and walls, poised in geometric patterns in front of a verdigris background as if the room had been built inside a copper box and aged 200 years.
This is taking boiserie panels to the nth degree. Oh, and there were trompe l’oeil palm trees framing doorways. Romantic, but not overdone. Perfect in a jewelbox way.
Jean Shafiroff kept her Chanel purse with her (she needed to tip at the end of the luncheon). Nonetheless, she says the Oscar de la Renta dresses are perfect for lunchtime because they have pockets. (photo credit: PMC / Paul Bruinooge)
A consummate hostess, Jean changed into three different floral Oscar de la Renta dresses throughout the event. During her welcoming remarks, she said that de la Renta was a perfect designer for ladies’ luncheons. Flowers were cheerful. The dresses had pockets. And she wore J.Crew sweaters with hers, mixing high and low, she said.
She made it clear that she buys from and encourages young designers. These are young men and women who leave the big fashion houses and set out on their own. Talent is talent, she says. She loves beautiful clothes and she supports creativity.
Along with conversation, melon and burrrata, with wine, for those who indulged. (photo credit: PMC / Paul Bruinooge)
After she spoke the tables settled into gentle conversation, mostly in English. From out-of-town guests, questions about how the new mayor was doing. The answer was just as gentle: pretty well.
And wasn’t it exciting for France to still be in the World Cup? In fact, that very afternoon, France would play Spain, although Spain was looking strong this year — or so their sons and daughters said.
Julia Haart, Maryanne Grisz, Nicole Miller–Was their conversation about fashion, or soccer? (photo credit: PMC / Paul Bruinooge)
At that point the women remembered their purpose and mentioned the perilous journey of the Bayeux Tapestry to London, where it would remain for a year at the British Museum. Did that mean that tourism to Normandy would suffer?
Lunch was pure Daniel Boulud: a starter of burrata, then a small portion of delicate, beautifully prepared branzino. After that, a chocolate cake with warm chocolate flowing from its center, served with ice cream. We have been presented with so many molten chocolate cakes, but never like this one.
Mme Shafiroff in the third floral de le Renza, this one with bolder poppies. (photo credit: PMC / Paul Bruinooge)
Even the most disciplined size-two ladies could not resist having a second spoonful.
At au revoir, people said “See you Friday in Bridgehampton,” because that was where the French Heritage Society would next celebrate Bastille Day.
Bridgehampton, at the Fishels
It was like moving from an elegant limo into an elegant outdoor stage set, say “Midsummer Night’s Dream.” This was the official French Heritage Society Summer Soirée, held at the Bridgehampton, NY, home of Maria and Kenneth Fishel. For it’s fourth outing, always held around Bastille Day, the Society welcomed a staggering 240 guests. I remember when the New York chapter of the French Heritage Society was ten people meeting in one (quite impressive) room.
Rosann Gutman, Cece Black, Jennifer Herlein, the hostess, Maria Fishel, and Ann Van Ness (Photo credit: Andrew Werner)
Inspired by Provence in Summer, the evening brought together philanthropists, preservationists and friends of France in support of the Society’s mission to preserve French architectural and its cultural heritage. It was the most successful Summer Soirée yet, raising significant funds to support it’s restoration grants, student internships and educational programming.
Dining outdoors, simple table settings, lemons with everything (photo credit: Andrew Werner)
A portion of the proceeds will also benefit the New York Chapter, supporting three preservation grants in 2026: Lyndhurst in Tarrytown, the Villa Albertine and St. Bartholomew’s Church in New York
Charles Chemin, the new director of the Watermill Center, with Elise Herget, managing director of the center, and Stewart F. Lane and his wife, Bonnie Comley (photo credit: PMC / Paul Bruinooge)
The soirée was chaired by CeCe Black, Maria Fishel, Rosann Gutman and Ann Van Ness. Guests included the Society’s Trustees — Jennifer Farrell, Kenneth Hausman, Brenda Howard, and Jean Shafiroff — as well as Benefactor supporters: Patricia Cossutta Arostegui and Puly Rincon, Elena Ayot, Nelly Azar Lumia, Elizabeth Belfer, Bettina Bennett, Lee Black, Melanie Boude, Dr. Garry and Cindy Boxer, Geoffrey Brooke and Margaret Kurtz, Gale Brophy, Sharon Bush and Bob Murray, Yann Coatanlem and James G. Brooks, Laura Codman and John Terwilliger, Bonnie Comley and Stewart F. Lane, Francine Crocker, Noreen Donovan, Ella Dunphy, Galina Fendikevich.
Candace Bushnell, who will be in episodes of “The Golden Life” set in the Hamptons this fall, along with Kelly Bensimon, Luann de Lesseps and Ramona Singer. (photo credit: PMC / Paul Bruinooge)
Kenneth Fishel,, the other host for the evening, was a Benefactor supporter, as were Rodrigo Gamboa, Lucia Hwong Gordon, Nurit Kahane Haase, Michele Heary, Catherine and Kenneth Higgins, Bruce Horten, James D. Howard, Franklin Lane, Leonard Lane, Marcela Margo Moore, Janice and Thomas Pecora, Brandon Pena, Julissa Perez, Kathy Prounis, Michael Gregson Reinert-Sessions, Leesa Rowland and Larry Wohl, Renata Sanfilippo, Martin Shafiroff, Elizabeth Steimberg and David Weiner, Lauren Summa, Amanda Taylor, Bill Van Ness, Suzie and Pierre Villere, and Carole Bellidora Westfall and David Hayes.
Pamela Morgan, Andrea Wernick and Kathy Prounis (photo credit: Andrew Werner)
Additional guests included: Ruth Miller, Candace Bushnell, Alexandra and Bradley Fishel, Charles Chemin (the new director of the Watermill Center), Elise Herget, Sylvia Hemingway, Becky Bayless and Frederic de Joybert, Suzan Kremer, Pamela Morgan, Lauren and Bob Roberts and Andrea Wernick.
Generous support was provided by Champagne EPC, Veronique Gabai, Maison Gabrielle, Société de la Rassi, with table decor by Christofle, Baccarat and SFERRA. Hank Stampfl creating the evening’s Provençal ambiance.
Jean Shafiroff, who could be costumed as Titania, Queen of the fairies, attended the party as well. (photo credit: Andrew Werner)
The French-American vocalist Quentin Bruno, who had appeared on “The Voice: La plus belle voix,” was joined by Danny Lipsitz & The Brass Tacks to get guests to the dance floor. No one tried to start the typical dance of Provence, the fandarole, which would have been amusant.
