Signature Cocktails March 31, 2009

I organized a cocktail party/wedding reception last weekend for a friend that I will share photos from as soon as I get them uploaded.  At the event, the bride chose a great signature cocktail, the BrazilianCaipirinha made with cachaca.   

A conversation I had this morning  with the bride about the drink sparked an idea for a post about signature cocktails.  For most people attending the event last week, the Caipirinha was something new, something unfamiliar and something exotic.  Not only did the drink become a point of conversation at the party it also became a point of conversation after the party. 

Choosing a colourful beverage (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) that guests can order at their leisure throughout the evening is a great way to inject symbolism and meaning to an event, add an element of entertainment or introduce people to something out of the ordinary. 

If you choose a signature drink, be sure to add a little sign for guests to read before they order telling them why you chose it, how it is made and give it a creative name if it is your homemade blend. 

Margarita from Yifat Oren (via InStyle Weddings)

Signature cocktails from Peyton Events (via Peyton Events)

Signature Cocktail Mojito (via Yum Sugar.com)

Lychee Martini with Starfruit Garnish (via Yifat Oren)

Interesting coffee pot March 29, 2009

Although I have never made or consumed a cup of coffee in my life (I am a tea loyalist), this coffee pot I found is cool enough to make me want to like the beverage. 

The pot that caught my eye is the one from designer, Ineke Hans found on Moss.com. Ineke Hans’ website has the entire range of “black gold” products among other great pieces.  The ”black gold” range of ceramics were produced as part of a three month work period at the European Ceramics Work Centre.

Ineke Hans’ black gold coffee pot:

Black Gold Coffee Pot by Ineke Hans (via moss.com)

BED: Yifat Oren March 29, 2009

What does an outdoor Paris themed wedding, Kevin Costner and a bento box full of bite sized desserts have in common?  The answer is Yifat Oren, the 14 year event designer based in Sherman Oaks, California.  

Her work was described in an article titled “Simply Sensational” by Natasha Garber for SpecialEvents.com as elegant, natural and whimsical, Yifat Oren’s events are a breath of fresh air.  After taking a good look through her portfolio on her website and other pictures I managed to find floating around on the net, I would describe her event aesthetic as not too over the top, classy, comfortable and well balanced.   Just the perfect mix for those who are looking to wow in an unobtrusive, understated way. 

My favourite event that Yifat put together is titled a Paris (my computer does not let me put accents on the “a” where it should be).   The elegant, Paris chic outdoor event is my vision of a perfect event.  Her Paris theme brings something out of the ordinary with its full Paris style furniture outdoors, a mix of modern and antique items and a peaceful looking ambiance. 

Second runner up for inspiration is Yifat’ bento box filled with bite-sized desserts.  I can’t begin to emphasize how easy and fun bite sized/passed desesrts are at a party.  They beat the full size desserts hand down!

Bento Box of Dessert (via yifat oren and associates)

Peacock Florals at A Paris outdoor wedding (via Yifat Oren Associates)

'a Paris' bar set up (via Glamnest)

'a Paris' outdoor wedding (via Yifat Oren Associates)

Rooftop Patio Party (via Yifat Oren and Associates)

Designer maple sugar- how Canadian!? March 25, 2009

Maple sugar is hot right now in Toronto so implies Keith Gordon’s article in today’s Toronto Star .  Why is maple sugar the “in” thing you ask?  Because the artists and artisans who are using maple sugar as a medium are turning out some pretty spectacular edible works of art.  The article in today’s paper lists several cool applications of maple sugar but my favourite is what design company, Ninutik has done with the sap. 

Dianne Croteau and Richard Brault started Ninutik in Toronto back in 2006 with the goal of presenting Canada’s rich heritage of producing maple sugar in a modern, artful way. 

These designer cubes of maple sugar are a force to contend with.  Imagine serving guests one morsel as a palate cleanser before dessert or gifting a dozen in the company’s attractive packaging?  The website describes the products as “elegant, modern and distinctive” I couldn’t agree more. 

Dianne and Richard have succeeded.  Next time you are looking for something new and different for your table, the little shop in Richmond Street West may be the key to entertaining success.

Richmond Street Store Front:

Ninutik Richmond Street Store Front (photo from Ninutik.com)

The Goods:

(photo from Flikr via Blancbagno's photostream)

Ninutik's Valentines day box (photo via Ninutik)

Brunch Formal Event March 23, 2009

I will not hide my love of brunch.  I love brunch food, I love the time of day when people go for brunch and I love incorporating brunch into a formal event.   Holding a brunch event gives the host/hostess the flexibility to offer a wide variety of food (breakfast/lunch) and demands nothing but the utmost creativity to execute it well.  Thinking about how to dress up bagels and cream cheese is no simple feat but with the right flowers, dishes and lighting and you have the start of a dreamy, memorable party to share with friends and family.  I will mention that some people tout that holding a brunch event is a cost cutting measure due to lack of meat and day time event venue rental costs.  I disagree.  Depending on what type of event, quality of ingredients and decor you select, brunch events can have costs equal to those of a regular affair.

First- setting the mood with mood boards.  Here are some of my favourite that evoke class, beauty and peacefulness.

Brunch Event Board from Elizabeth Ann Designs

Champage Brunch Board from Maison Petite Blog

Now on to the food and drink presentation:
What brunch is complete without a mimosa bar?

Mimosa Bar from Eddie Ross

Brunch appetizers (mini open face sandwich rounds)

Brunch Appetizers from Intimate Weddings

Brunch bagels and pastries (aka brunch carbs!)

Brunch Carbs from Gourmet Gal

And last but not least, flowers.  Keep them fresh and interesting. Nothing too ornate that will overpower your table.  Here are some ideas:

Okay a bit over the top- but so beautiful and textured (from Kim Vallee)

Flower Board from Holland Flower Council (via Kim Vallee)

BED: Barbie’s 50th Birthday Bash March 23, 2009

Today’s beautiful event design will go to the team involved with creating Barbie’s 50th Birthday Bash in Malibu.

From looking at the pictures on blog, Hostess with the Mostess and other sources, I can’t begin to tell you about all the fabulous details, colours, event ideas and food that went into the Mattel sponsored Barbie 50th birthday/anniversary party bash that was held at the Malibu mansion, but I will give you a brief synopsis:

Event Planner: The magical and world renowned, Colin Cowie

Interior Designer:  Home accessory style maker, Jonathan Adler

Interior by Jonathan Adler (photo via mawphoto)

Jonathan Adler Barbie Living Room (photo via mawphoto)

Key Event Ideas/Take-Aways:

1. Colour Theme: Pink, White and Black- repeated throughout the entire event in areas of interior decor, accessories, accents, food and beverages.

Centerpieces (photo via hostess with the mostess blog)

Barbie Party Cupcakes (photo via hostess with the mostess blog)

2.  Love the dessert table- particularly the pink marshmallows, graham cracker trays and barbie chocolate to make smores.

Colin Cowie designed dessert bar (photo via hostess with the mostess blog)

Barbie Party Smores Tray (photo via hostess with the mostess blog)

3.  Barbie Malibu Mansion living room chairs are adorned in some pretty funky looking graphics (looks like the many faces of Barbie)

4. Lighting- Lighting as a whole, can take an event to the next level (it can also have the opposite effect if done improperly).  The Barbie event had beams light hitting everything that was pink to give a romantic pink effect to the entire scene.  The lighting particulalry  did wonders to all the fuscia elements on site.

Barbie Mansion Day Time (photo via mawphotos)

Barbie Mansion Night Time for 50th Party (via hostess with the mostess blog)

Cake Accessories March 17, 2009

If you tend to make a lot of cakes and cupcakes and find yourself with a mental roadblock of how to up the creativity ante, I just found a company that sells incredibly intricate cupcake wrappers and cake stand wrappers.  Move over basic polka dots and stripes, we’re talking serious design here.  The company that sells these things is a wedding site called Estilo Weddings created in 2007 by Philippines born and raised Maria Ryan.

cupcake wrapper

 

 

cake stand wrapper

Textiles and Cake March 12, 2009

Cake design is an art not a science.  At least that is what my cake design teacher, Bonnie Gordon once told me.  After making a dozen cakes and about a thousand cupcakes over the past three years, I agree.  Cake decorating is an art.  Baking is a science.  I will leave the  intricate, detailed oriented cake decor up to the real artists while I stick to baking!  I only excel at minimalist design.

The cake designer, like the artist, draws inspiration from his or her external surroundings and never more so than today has fabric and textiles become a gold mind for ideas. 

Take the work of creative cake company, Crumb de la Crumb not only has owner and artist Lorie Burcham successfully replicated damask and mosaic pattern, there is also a cool polkadot pattern that I like. 

crumb de la crumb damask cake

 

crumb de la crumb mosaid and swirls cake

 

crumb de la crumb sea trail cake

 

Martha Stewart Weddings also ran a piece back in 2005 on fabric inspired cakes.  What I enjoyed about the magazine’s article was that there was an accompanying fabric board with textile swatches pinned up to match the cake designs. I only wish my cake decorating skills reach the level of these talented cake designers one day.

 Here are a couple of my favourites:

Calico print cake (via martha stewart weddings)

Eyelet Cake by Wendy Kromer Confections (via martha stewart weddings)

Glassaware- Molo March 10, 2009

As a constant entertainer their comes a time when you look at your portfolio of glassware and shake your head.  You are craving something new, something different, something that will have your guests talking for days.  If this is the case, look no further than Vancouver, Canada based design and manufacturing company Molo Design for some very modern and interesting pieces.

My two favourite glassware products of theirs (out of many- they have a substantial number of different designs) are FLOAT tea lantern:

Molo Float Tea Lantern

Second favourite: FLOAT red wine glasses.  Now to me, it looks like there is coffee or cafe late in the picture but I looked it up on the company website and it does indeed say red wine glasses. 

Molo Float red wine glass (picture from molo design)

Cookie Bar: The new dessert March 8, 2009

I think you could put the name of a food and the word “bar” after it and make it sound fun, interactive and stylish.  Top of mind comes oyster bar, candy bar, vodka bar and now apparently, the newest food to join the list is the cookie bar according to Notes on a Party. 

For the cookie purist, this idea may be your heaven at an event.  No cake, no, pastries, no sweets, just cookies. 

To others, the cookie bar is a host’s lazy attempt at serving dessert.  However, to me, it is another way to take something so simple and turn it into the focal point of an event.  ,Think of all the empty platters and serving pieces you’ve collected over the years as blank canvases ready for you to fill with different types of cookies to awe guests.  If you do not know where to begin, just flip back to your holiday cookie recipes/guides/websites and start there. There are a plethora of cookie recipes published around November/December each year so you might as well put them to use on the off season.  In addition to baking some mouthwatering cookies, throw in some vintage serving pieces in the presentation mix and voila, a cool way to add pizazz to cookies and dessert.

Here are a couple of examples of different cookie bar presentations:

Milk and Cookie Bar (photo from brilliant ice sculpture.com)

Cookie Bar created by Dawn Casale of One Girl Cookie (via notesonaparty.com)