An Avenue Goes on a Diet

In a townhouse on Park Avenue Tuesday night, Dr. Stuart Fischer celebrated his new book, "The Park Avenue Diet," a six-week regimen consisting of daily menus combined with exercise, hair, makeup, and interpersonal tips.

Judging from the menu for the party, it's a Spartan diet: the spread included green grapes, orange slices, strawberries, pineapple, and a selection of mostly vegetarian sushi.

If only every Park Avenue cocktail party could be so healthful.

Alas, "cocktail hour" isn't even a category in the menus, created by a chef who contributed to "The St. Tropez Diet," Marie-Annick Courtier.

Dr. Fischer neither lives nor works on Park Avenue; he grew up in Brooklyn and spent his teen years eating overstuffed sandwiches at Carnegie Deli.

So to give his book Park Avenue authenticity, he assembled experts with what he hopes are the appropriate social credentials: enterprising partygoer Tinsley Mortimer; the creative director of the Madison Avenue home furnishing boutique Helene Hellsten, and makeup artist Laura Geller, who sells her product line on QVC and Sephora.

The experts stick to their subjects in the book, but they strayed at the party. Ms. Courtier, the chef offered her exercise advice: "Find something you consistently enjoy doing and do it. For instance, I play ping-pong and I love it!"

-- KATHERINE BALLAINE