Haute Spot

Entertaining is an art form for Pamela Morgan. From the food to the décor and the atmosphere, the Manhattan- and Hamptons-based owner of Flirting with Flavors special events and culinary company prides herself on taking her guests on an unforgettable sensory journey, with experiences aimed to inspire. Evidenced by her many television appearances on shows such as “Beat Bobby Flay,” “The Today Show” and “The Chew,” as well as her instructional cooking videos, the renowned cookbook author, lifestyle and entertaining expert has a flair for drama, and a penchant for performance.

She gets it honestly. As a child, she hoped of being a professional dancer and singer. In fact, those dreams are what brought her to New York City from Wichita Falls, Texas as a young woman. 

As her list of credits grew, Pamela found work in the touring companies of several Broadway shows and in national television commercials for clients such as Guess Jeans and Dr. Pepper. But as performing gigs are, by nature, fleeting, she began cooking and event planning for extra income between shows. It was in that form of entertaining where she found stability, success and also profound happiness. 

After getting her big break catering for Vogue magazine fashion shoots, she was able to open up her shop, Flavors Catering and Carry-Out, which led to business from clients such as Martha Stewart Living, HBO, Harry Winston, Chanel, Neiman Marcus and even President Bill Clinton. Additionally, she wrote the cookbook, “Pamela Morgan’s Flavors” in 1998, with a follow-up on the way this year, and established Flirting with Flavors. 

Along the way, she and her husband bought a house in Water Mill, which they enjoyed for nearly 30 years before moving to Bridgehampton two years ago. Cooking in the Hamptons is tops, says the foodie. Especially when all the farmstands are filled with fresh produce and it’s time to host a dinner party. 

“I’m just crazy about entertaining out there,” she enthuses. 

As her career has progressed, Pamela has enjoyed the ability to be able to move from being on the stage to behind the scenes, and then back in front of the camera and the crowds. Throughout the journey, her talents have shown through creatively in many different ways. 

Now, as Flirting continues to thrive, she’s excited to be able to revisit to her first love, and has a one-woman cabaret show at The Laurie Beechman Theatre in Manhattan on April 16, with hopefully, more gigs to follow in the city and out here in the Hamptons. 

“I just wanted to get back to my singing roots and perform again, and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to do this show,” the entertainer says. “I’m kind of reinventing myself in a way at this point in my life and I’m very excited to be involved in this new venture and putting myself out there in a big way.” 

The show, directed by Mark Nadler, with musical direction by Gregory Toroian and with a three-piece band, will feature 11 songs, with entertainment ranging from “The Great American Songbook” to some good ol’ Texas-flavored country-and-western, Pamela reports. And there will be dancing as well, plus some other fun surprises. 

“It will be a heady, seductive and flirty experience for all those who attend,” she promises. 

Ready to swap the whisk for a microphone after months of rehearsals and training, the experience of returning to the stage as a performer is a bit scary, but in a good way, she says. 

“I’ve always wanted to be a cabaret singer, and now’s my chance,” says Pamela, adding that there’s room in her life now for each of her passions. 

“Doing both only adds more to each experience,” she says. “One flavors the other.”