Cool bottle cozies/koozies for parties by Lily Pulitzer http://ping.fm/cHqee & other designs http://www.40cozy.com

Serving Drinks in Style at Your Party

Why not make the way you serve drinks at your party this fall, or anytime, more fun and stylish than the usual way?

Below, 4 ideas for serving drinks at your party in fun, unusual ways that will wow your guests.  The best part is that none of these ideas require much effort!

• Put poured drinks on a couple of trays--round or square, traditional or mod, trays holding poured drinks look great, dress up your bar area (whether an actual bar area, a counter, a kitchen island, or a table), catch any drips/condensation, and, by preparing some drinks before your guests arrive, save you time and effort.  Guests can get a drink as soon as they arrive if they want.
• If you find all-purpose wineglasses boring--rent or buy coupe glasses (they look like martini glasses but are a little taller and sturdier) for martinis, cocktails, and champagne and some old fashioneds for everything else and you're set to serve any type of drink stylishly.
• Buy a large stainless mixing bowl (no handles) at a department store or restaurant supply store--You can use this as an ice bucket if the look of galvanized metal or rubber/plastic/silicone beverage tubs is not for you and it works especially well for larger parties or parties where there will be a lot of beverages, say, many bottles of wine or craft beer. Plus it looks cool.
• Use drink napkins in a color or print that complements your decor--Colored drink napkins add zip to your bar area and can even be recycled (we like the new Party Pop Up Bins for recycling at parties, www.sustyparty.com ).  Colored drink napkins add special impact to bar or party areas where everything is black, white, gray, and/or chrome.

Enjoy!

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

Great article on why use biodegradable disposables at events:
http://bit.ly/pNzt3e

Take a moment! Just saw Southern Living Casa Rio Dlux Dinner w 9 items $8.95 reg dinnr $6.95-KRL homesick 4 SA tx-mx:
http//ww.casa-rio.com

6 More Ways to Add Pizzaz to Your Party

To help you add that special something to your fall or anytime parties and gatherings, today we offer 6 more ideas on this topic.

With just a simple purchase or an easy step or two, you can easily transform your gathering into one of the best, if not the best, in your group this fall or whenever.

More simple ideas to add pizzaz to your party:

• Mix fruit and seasonal flower blooms on a mirror, mirrored tray, or ceramic or glass tray as one or more centerpieces or room decorations.  If as a centerpiece, make sure you leave at least one inch space around the centerpiece as centerpieces don't look good if food or plates are pushed too near them.
• Set out a trio of spiced nuts (the better ones are available at gourmet supermarkets, not liquor stores) next to the drinks on your bar, or as part of an hors d'oeuvres or tapas spread
• Bake a cake in the Kaiser La Forme Plus Flan Pan and it will have a pretty ridged edge www.kaiserbakeware.com --use a cake mix if you're not a baker, or ask a caterer to do it :)
• Along the same lines, use the Bundt Brownie pan to transform brownies into decorative bundt shapes.  Or you can also use another cake batter in this pan and fill the little holes in the mini bundts with regular or chocolate whipped cream or lemon curd mixed with whipped cream and top off with a berry www.nordicware.com
• If you're good at making omelets or frittatas, make a few types ahead of time and serve, cut into small pieces, as a frittata bar with interesting purchased dipping sauces (see http://startcooking.com/blog/389/Five-Ways-to-Make-a-Frittata and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icCqE_ai_au  Or set out three varieties of any foods you're good at making, such as meat loaf (bake in muffin pans), mac n' cheese, or desserts, even French bread spread with three different spreads, purchased from a good food emporium if you have no time. Use interesting shaped or colored or small plates and people will think you're a gourmet!
• Buy a stone urn at a craft or garden store, fill with flowers, and use as a centerpiece.  Or even easier, buy one or more tall candle bases, any style you like from mod to traditional, and buy pillar candles to set on top of the bases--use these as centerpieces.  You don't even need to light the candles for this to look good and you can use these as centerpieces or room decor at your gatherings for years.

Enjoy!

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com

Working on setup/table design for Ars Lyrica home recital catering 10/2/11

5 Ways to Add Fun to Your Fall Gathering

In our recent meetings with clients we've heard a common theme: How can we make our event unusual and fun?

Some folks want or need their event to be more formal while for others the fun/unusual factor is key.  There's no right or wrong here; it's about what's important to the host(s) or guest(s) of honor.

Today we offer 5 ideas to make your fall gathering unusual and fun.

• Have fun food--For example, an ice cream or popcorn station/cart or a cones table (fill the cones with sweet or savory bites; cone makers and stands are available at department stores and large retailers as well as online).  These fun foods can be served with more traditional food fare--just watch how people smile at these foods!
• Use the new cool eco-friendly disposables designs to advantage--There are dozens of online companies selling the most amazing range of eco-friendly biodegradable disposables, with designs made of bamboo, bagasse (sugarcane), resin (corn-based), wood, and palm leaf and in colors from off-white to tan to colored to animal print.  And the shapes of this eco-disposable serveware are cool too, including cones, cups, coupelles (small shallow bowls for serving light bites), little boats, and spoons.  Our favorite company is www.restaurantware.com --check out their website for some great serving ideas for your gathering.  This type of serveware raises your gathering's cool factor, is good for the Earth, and is easier than china if real china isn't needed (if your event is not formal)
• Print a menu to display on a small stand or easel or write the menu on a blackboard.  Or if you're artistic paint it with watercolors.
• Use little square fabric coasters from India or Morocco under rows of pre-poured drinks.
• Use cool name place cards--Check out Favors by Seredipity's (www.fbys.com ) name cards, including mini scrollwork frames, silver and metal mini frames, mini tree branch frames, and mod mini black filigree frames.  Or for a really fun or lighthearted group, mini Etch-a-Sketches (www.world-of-toys.com ) can be used as place cards or favors and can even be left out in a basket for guests to amuse themselves with during your party.
• Also available at Favors by Serendipity: a huge variety of decorative cupcake wrappers in every style and design from mod to traditional--this makes your cupcakes (even bought or ordered ones) look much cooler and more decorative than the traditional wrappers that cupcakes generally come in.

Enjoy!

Kristina

Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com