Adventures by the Book and the American Institute of Wine and Food (AIWF) are pleased to invite you on a special journey to Claude Monet’s world in this Picnic at Giverny Adventure, with the author, creator, and president of Monet’s Palate, Aileen Bordman, to celebrate her new book Everyday Monet.

Delight your senses in this special outdoor garden event at a private home in La Jolla that will transport you to Giverny, France. As you indulge in a French themed picnic, apple dessert, and wine, Aileen will share tips on how you can incorporate the timeless beauty of impressionist painter Claude Monet’s art and garden into your home. And over a delectable tasting of assorted cheeses and butters from Normandy (i.e Camembert and beurre d’isigny), Aileen will share a bit more about makes them special and how to choose.

This special event is private and only open to AIWF members. However, courtesy of our special relationship with AIWF, a limited number of Adventures by the Book guests (based on a first-come, first-served basis) will be able to attend with a $10 donation to AIWF that offers a provisional, one-night membership to attend this special Adventure.

Your Adventure includes a light picnic fare with recipes inspired by Everyday Monet and Aileen’s previous book, Monet’s Palate Cookbook, French wine, a cheese and butter tasting, an autographed copy of Everyday Monet, apple dessert, donation to AIWF, book discussion, Q&A, author signing, and an opportunity to meet the author up close and personal in a beautiful, outdoor, intimate setting.

About the Book

Aileen Bordman is President of Monet’s Palate, Inc. As someone who grew up immersed in the world of Claude Monet, Aileen applied her passion for Monet as an artist and a gourmand to create the Monet’s Palate^® concept and brand. Aileen’s mother, Helen Rappel Bordman, helped restore the gardens at Giverny and has been there in residence each Spring since 1980 to welcome guests to Monet’s oasis, where stands a prominently placed plaque at Museum Claude Monet Giverny, a singular honor to Helen Rappel Bordman.

The Monet’s Palate film was originally a way for Aileen to pay homage to her mother’s good work in Giverny and to connect with that family legacy. As Aileen took a sabbatical from her career on Wall Street for the film, she saw that Monet’s passions would translate well to modern lifestyles and created Monet’s Palate, Inc. Recognizing and experiencing firsthand the commercial appeal of Claude Monet, and her own passion for Monet and his world, Aileen’s decision to build on her unique family legacy to bring Monet’s passions to modern lifestyles was destiny. Food Arts Magazine featured the story of Aileen’s vision for her integrated lifestyle brand. In addition, New York Magazine, The Wine Spectator and The New York Times are among many publications that have recently written about Monet’s Palate^®. 

In this extraordinary glimpse into the world of iconic painter Claude Monet, Everyday Monet showcases the exquisite taste of a beloved and legendary artist. Monet’s garden, home, and paintings provide inspiration for styling any home—from floral arrangements to dinners to decor and beyond. Whether you are working with a large rural garden or a windowsill in a city apartment, this stunning book is filled with practical tips that will allow you to beautifully emulate Monet’s lifestyle, both inside and outside of your home.

Monet’s aesthetic truly shines through in this breathtaking and essential guide to transforming your home with the magic of Monet and impressionist style. In Everyday Monet, Aileen Bordman—with the support of her mother, Helen Rappel Bordman, an American steward at Giverny—takes you on a magnificent tour of Monet’s home, from the garden to the various rooms to the kitchen. It includes step-by-step instructions on how to grow your own water lilies, roses, tulips, and poppies; how to create a Monet-inspired picnic with delicious recipes; and how to decorate even a bathroom with glimmers of Monet, among many other easy-to-implement ideas.