Events & some other goods

(pre-order) HOT SOUP & BAD LARRY'S T-Shirt Reissue

(pre-order) HOT SOUP & BAD LARRY'S T-Shirt Reissue
$40.00

DINNER PARTY 001 [early access]

DINNER PARTY 001 [early access]
$75.00

DINNER PARTY 002 [early access]

DINNER PARTY 002 [early access]
$75.00

DINNER PARTY 003 [early access]

DINNER PARTY 003 [early access]
$75.00

DINNER PARTY 004 [early access]

DINNER PARTY 004 [early access]
$85.00

EH Store Tee

EH Store Tee
$50.00

FAMILY MEAL 005 [early access]

FAMILY MEAL 005 [early access]
$85.00

FAMILY MEAL 006 [early access]

FAMILY MEAL 006 [early access]
$90.00

FAMILY MEAL 007 w/ One Love Community Fridge [early access]

FAMILY MEAL 007 w/ One Love Community Fridge [early access]
$100.00

FAMILY MEAL 008 w/ Furnace Creek Farm [early access]

FAMILY MEAL 008 w/ Furnace Creek Farm [early access]
$75.00

FAMILY MEAL 009 W/ Amoon Farm [early access]

FAMILY MEAL 009 W/ Amoon Farm [early access]
$90.00

FAMILY MEAL 010 [early access]

FAMILY MEAL 010 [early access]
$100.00

FAMILY MEAL 011 [early access]

FAMILY MEAL 011 [early access]
$100.00

FAMILY MEAL 012 [early access]

FAMILY MEAL 012 [early access]
$100.00

HOT SOUP HAT "borscht"

HOT SOUP HAT "borscht"
$35.00

HOT SOUP PARTY @ LAOBRA [MARCH 9]

HOT SOUP PARTY @ LAOBRA [MARCH 9]
$65.00

HOT SOUP PARTY @ THE HANCOCK [12.29]

HOT SOUP PARTY @ THE HANCOCK [12.29]
$0.00

Serving Some Soup [October 29 Pre-Order]

Serving Some Soup [October 29 Pre-Order]
$15.00

Serving Some Soup [Pre-Order For Nov 12]

Serving Some Soup [Pre-Order For Nov 12]
$10.00

Serving Some Soup [Pre-Order For Nov 5]

Serving Some Soup [Pre-Order For Nov 5]
$16.00

Close

Proposal: Shira + Scott's Wedding [Late Spring / Early Summer]

Essential Herbs — Wedding Proposal · Shira & Jon

A Wedding Celebration to Remember for a Lifetime

Full-day catering & service · Saturday, June 5, 2027 · Argyll House, Connecticut

50% Deposit Due Upon Booking to Secure Date
Rates Valid Through August 5, 2026
Event
Shira & Jon Wedding
Tentative. Preferred Date
Saturday, June 5, 2027
Venue
Argyll House, Connecticut
Guest Count
120
Service Duration
4:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Venue Stay
Thursday–Saturday (3 nights)

Overview

The Perfect Evening Under The Stars

Elevated but not choreographed. Generous but not showy. Ingredient-forward food that lets simple, recognizable things speak for themselves. Family-style service, fire-cooked, big piles of vegetables.

What's In Season

Early June

Peak vegetables, fresh herbs in full abundance, stone fruits arriving. The season is bright, alive, and direct. Perfect for grilling, for salads, for the ingredient-forward ethos that is at the heart of this celebration.

About Russell & Essential Herbs

Led by intuition. Rooted in place.

Russell's cooking style balances simple, complex, and unexpected flavor combinations using the freshest local ingredients sourced within 250 miles of Brooklyn. He believes food is a vessel—accessible to all, with the potential to elevate the profoundly human experience of breaking bread together into something profound. Featured in Bon Appétit, WSJ, Vogue, Eater, and the New York Times.

The Venue

Step into a real-life fairytale at Argyll House

An enchanting countryside retreat inspired by the cottages of the English Cotswolds. Argyll House accommodates 11 guests across 6 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, complete with a heated saltwater pool, local provisions in the kitchen, and a stocked fridge. House cleaning is included before and after your stay.

Menu

Vegetable-forward. Fire-cooked. Ingredient-driven.

All selections finalized at Menu Kickoff call. Gluten-free and dietary accommodations available. Russell finalizes menu selections four months prior; menus locked three weeks before the event based on peak seasonal availability.

Cocktail Hour (60 minutes) Arrival through seated dinner
Passed & Station Service
  • Raw Bar: Two seasonal raw preparations. Premium ingredient upcharge available: uni, caviar service, and specialty crudo preparations available at additional cost.
  • Passed Hors d'oeuvres: Four passed bites—two meat, two vegetarian. Selection to be finalized at Menu Kickoff.
  • Grazing Station: Seasonal produce, specialty items, Mediterranean influences
  • Standard Full Open Bar: Beer, wine, spirits, cocktails, non-alcoholic options

Premium Option Bar Available Upon Request

120 guests • Celebration begins with engagement around food

Seated Dinner — Family-Style Long tables, platters in the middle
  • 1 Large Fire-Grilled Vegetable Offering (centerpiece)
  • 1 Whole Grilled Fish Offering
  • 1 Local Grilled Meat Offering
  • 2 Peak-Season Salads
  • 1 Bread & 1 Additional Starch Offering

Family-style service throughout • 120 guests • All offerings finalized with Russell during Menu Kickoff

Dessert & Sweets Served as main clears
Essential Herbs Dessert
  • Seasonal Fruit Display + Dessert Table (ice cream, pies, cakes—to be finalized)
  • Hot Coffee + Iced Coffee — available after 8 PM

Dessert offerings confirmed based on seasonal availability and client preferences.

Client Responsibility
Wedding cake provided and sourced by clients. EH team will assist with plating and distribution to guests.

Wine & Bar Program

$115 per person

Bar package ($115 pp) covers spirits, beer, and non-wine beverages, opening at cocktail hour and running through 11 PM (venue close). Wine is supplied by family member (Shira's father), reducing overall cost while preserving the wine quality and sourcing story that matters so much to the couple. EH handles all service coordination with family-supplied bottles.

Wine Coordination
Family member manages wine sourcing and delivery. Russell coordinates wine service, pacing, and integration with food courses. This model preserves the "wine haunts us" anchor while optimizing budget.
Optional Upgrades
Full Bar Premium Available — Additional $55 per person. Premium spirits, craft cocktails, and expanded beverage selection. Finalize at Menu Kickoff.

Champagne — Veuve Clicquot Brut — Additional $35 per person. Available for toasts or throughout the evening.

Dietary Accommodations

Fully inclusive

Menu is naturally suited to accommodate pescatarian, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free guests. Every course includes options that feel equal in thought and execution, not modifications. Family priorities: Shira's parents are pescatarian and deserve a full plate at dinner (not fish as a side). Confirm final counts 6 weeks prior.

Responsibilities

What EH handles. What client/venue handles.

Essential Herbs Handles
Kitchen & Food: All food, ingredients, prep · Menu design · Sourcing coordination (within 250 miles)
Kitchen Staff: Chef Russell + 2 Sous Chefs + 3 Line Cooks + 2 Porters + 1 Captain
Food & Beverage Service: Family-style platter execution & service · Pre-event collaboration
Bar Service: 1 Bar Captain + 2 Bartenders + 2 Barbacks · Full bar service (spirits, wine, beer, non-alcoholic)
Front of House: 10 Servers · All tableware coordination

Investment

Food & Beverage Package

Pricing below is for EH catering only. Venue fees are separate (outlined at bottom). All pricing is per-person and scales to final guest count (confirmed 8 weeks prior).

Catering (Food & Beverage)
Food Program 120 guests × $195.00 $23,400.00
Bar Program (spirits, beer, NA) 120 guests × $105.00 $12,600.00
Subtotal: $36,000.00
Sustainable sourcing fee (3% of food) $23,400 × 3% $702.00
Admin fee (12% of food + bar) $36,000 × 12% $4,320.00
Sales tax (6.35% of food, bar, fees) ($36,000 + $702 + $4,320) × 6.35% $2,586.27
Catering Total: $43,608.27

Wine supplied by family member. Bar program covers spirits, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages. EH coordinates all service.

Venue Fees
Venue lodging (3 nights: Thursday, Friday, Saturday) $4,000 × 3 $12,000.00
Venue event site fee $15,000.00
Venue Total: $27,000.00
Rentals & Miscellaneous
Base Table setting rental 120 guests × $30.00 $3,600.00
Tent + Bathroom rental $15,000.00
Base Tables, Chairs, Glassware, Misc Kitchen/Bar Rental $5,000.00
Rentals & Misc Total: $23,600.00
Catering (Food & Beverage) $43,608.27
Venue Fees $27,000.00
Rentals & Miscellaneous $23,600.00
Grand Total (before gratuity): $90,208.27
Gratuity (15% on food + bar) $5,400.00
Total with Gratuity: $95,608.27
Payment Schedule:
• 50% Deposit (to book): $47,804.14 — Non-refundable. Locks in date and team.
• 25% (6 months out): $23,902.07 — Refundable up to 3 months prior to event.
• 25% (Final, 2 months out): $23,902.06 — 50% refundable up to 1 month prior to event.
Holiday Premium: A 15% premium applies to holiday weekends (Memorial Day, July Fourth, Labor Day).

A Note on Sourcing

Seasonal. Ethical. Direct.

All produce is sourced within 250 miles of Brooklyn at peak season. Russell maintains direct relationships with growers, including Ox Hollow Farm (20 min from Argyll), ensuring ingredients are harvested days before the event. Sourcing is non-negotiable—it drives menu decisions and honors both families' values around food, ingredients, and sustainability.

Outside of Scope

Partners & Vendors

Essential Herbs handles all food, beverage, and hospitality service. The items below are outside our scope and handled by the couple, their planner, or approved vendors:

  • Photography + Video
  • Floral + Décor
  • Music + Entertainment
  • Attire + Beauty
  • Invitations + Stationery
  • Officiant
  • Transportation
  • Guest Favors + Gifts
  • Premium/stylized plateware, flatware, serving ware
  • Wedding planner (month-of and day-of coordination)

Next Steps

Let's lock this in

Menu Kickoff September 2026

90-minute call with Russell to refine menu direction, discuss wine strategy, confirm dietary needs, explore Shira's dad's wine sourcing. Two rounds of menu revisions included.

Menu Finalization March 2027

Menu locked. Sourcing plan finalized. Farmers market visit with couple (if desired). Final guest count due.

Final Coordination Three weeks out from date selected

Kitchen plan, plating details, service timeline, final dietary accommodations, staff briefing.

Outstanding Logistics (Client/Planner to Coordinate)

Party Transportation
Ground transportation for guests (airport transfers, venue shuttle, or charter buses). Coordinate with venue or external vendor.
Floral Design & Installation
Centerpieces, ceremony flowers, cocktail hour arrangement, décor florals. Confirm with florist and venue setup timeline.
DJ & Entertainment
Music for cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing. Coordinate timing and technical setup with venue. Confirm any live musicians or special performances.

Payment Schedule


• 50% Deposit ($47,804.14) — Non-refundable. Locks in date and team.
• 25% ($23,902.07) — 6 months prior. Refundable until 3 months out.
• 25% Final ($23,902.06) — 2 months prior. 50% refundable until 1 month out.
Methods: ACH bank transfer (preferred) or credit card (includes 4% processing fee).
Tax: Sales tax (6.35%) included in food+bar pricing above.
Essential Herbs
Russell Markus
Chef & Founder, Essential Herbs
hello@essentialherbs.com
essentialherbs.com
July 2026