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Friday, October 01, 2010

I AM the party - Challenge #3 Luxury Dinner


First and foremost I want to sincerely thank everyone who voted for me, Challenge #2 is now a fading memory and Challenges #'s 3 -4 - 5 are looming on the horizon and I am more than energized to take them on. We are now on to Challenge #3, Luxury Dinner Party, welcome to my party. PARTAY LuXURIaMo - is what this challenge should have been called, an ancient holiday that you have to remember - kind of good time. Why - because as I was going around collecting the ingredients for this challenge I began to realize the importance of it all. Lavish dinner parties dont simply fall from the sky they need prep time and not only that they need table cloths.


Simple, casual and elegant was my goal for this dinner party. If I were to tell you how to do this yourself so to make it as easy and painless as possible then the very first step is to write your menu. If you want to make your dinner party even more painless for yourself just have me do it for you. Seriously though, having the menu in place causes everything else to fall right in line. I tweaked my menu a bit here and there so it is a little different than the one I posted a couple days ago but its basic foundation stayed the same.

Once you have your menu you need to be extra certain that you have ironed out all the kinks and while you are at it be sure to iron the napkins and the table cloth. If there is an item on your menu that you think might give you trouble then you need to make sure you have tested it in advance to insure an easy evening.

I made one of everything the day before to get a feel for the timing and the presentation. I knew how I wanted it to look but I had to see it to make sure, no room for surprises when you want to sit and enjoy time with your guests.

It is always nice to have friends over to share in the good times, it is even more fun when it is simple, casual and elegant, formalities without the formalities.

The appetizers were light enough to be light but flavorful enough to wake things up a bit.

Cooking with color will always make your guests happy and excited, when it looks good you can guarantee that it is going to taste good, lets not forget that we also eat with our eyes.

My dinner party was a hit. I had invited guests that were not familiar with my food, sure they had seen it on my blog but they had not had a chance to taste it and to put it simply - I have new fans. A candlelight dinner with good food, good wine and good friends is a luxury I would repeat over and over again.

Can I tell you, how much the menu was loved by me and my guests, they were all looking over it as each course was presented - everyone was involved, it was too cute listening to them describe the nuances of each dish as they compared it to my menu. I could not have expected a better experience. Along with all the other holidays we have in this world I think I am going to make PARTAY LuXURIaMo an annual event.

Dessert anyone?

Voting begins at 6:00 AM Pacific October 4 and goes until 6:00 PM Pacific October 7 - remember we are working together on this.

58 comments:

Sippity Sup said...

Elegant without being fussy! Where I live we call that California style, and yours is pure style. I had my party during a record heat wave, some of my elegant guests wore shorts to dinner, and that's a real luxury! I'll post tomorrow. I'm tired of looking at it. GREG

the wicked noodle said...

Absolutely gorgeous! I'm cheering you on (and voting, of course) to make it all the way!

vanillasugarblog said...

i love no fuss. casual is the way to go isn't it? i mean the cook has to have fun too?
very nice. a spread i would be happy to devour, and then ask for seconds. lol

Cynthia said...

Wish I could have been there. As usual, you have outdone yourself!

Victoria said...

Looks delicious!! Good luck, Christo!! I will be voting :)

FOODalogue said...

I love the title of your post!! Looks like a successful evening and delicious dinner. I like that the guests got involved with menu. Good luck!

Brooke@foodwoolf said...

My luxury dinner party was getting to have one! My after-hours party was so much more impromptu casual. Yours was so very elegant! Congrats to you and your happy/lucky guests!

Joanne said...

MMMM good stuff. I love how everything is simple, yet elegant. And how you feel like you are eating the rainbow. My kind of meal. You know you'll have my vote.

Lea Ann said...

Congrats on the advance in the contest. I had no doubt. Gorgeous food. I'm a big dinner party thrower and always send my menu to guests in an invitation form. They love it! That chicken looks really interesting and wonderful. ::::cheering you on.

Claudia said...

You are making me mourn the lack of dinner parties in my life. I hold a few each year and no one else I knows does that. It's all the "catch and catch can" buffets. This is a stylish wining and dining experience complete with ironed table cloths and friends. Lovely menu. Grand sentiment.I'll be back Monday to vote.

Marjie said...

Simple foods with an elegant presentation! Brilliant!

I write up my menus for a week or more (depending upon how many people are moving into my corner of the world) around Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and just miscellaneous visits. Great job, Dog!

GreenGirl said...

How I wish i was one of your guests, everything looks amazing
Good luck at the challenge

Belinda @zomppa said...

Yeah, you got my vote. You had me at those scallops!!

Vicki said...

Wow, everything looks delectable. Especially those oysters! Great job!

theUngourmet said...

Everything looks fantastic! Great shots of the food and setting! Simple but elegant is just perfect.

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

I love this and especially the menu you provided for your guests. Very luxurious and at the same time, very welcoming for your guests.

Congratulations for moving on to the third round. We're with you all the way.
Sam

Jeannie said...

Looks like a fab party, great presentation and great conclusion to a job well done!

Deborah Dowd said...

Looks like a wonderful dinner party- great food in a beautiful setting! You are so right about tasting with the eyes!

Lori Lynn said...

You are the king of color! The dishes look magnificent! I bet they tasted awesome. Best wishes in the competition!
LL

Anette said...

You must have been cooking for hours and days! I wish I had been one of your guests, I would even have tried the Oysters!

Fun and Fearless in Beantown said...

These are some great tips! Best of luck and I hope we can both advance to the next round of #PFB2010!

Barbara said...

The best dinner party....casual and no fuss. It pleases everyone.
Congrats on making it to round 3. I'm rooting for you.

Kate said...

Beautiful!!!! What a great job. Loved the photos. Looks like everyone had a spectacular time. Kate @kateiscooking

Jenn@slim-shoppin said...

I will vote for you in the next round!!

Amazing skillz you have there, your party looks so awesome!!

Christo Gonzales said...

thanks everyone - the anticipation of this voting process is flabbergasting..

Heather S-G said...

Sounds fabulous! Definitely a party I'd love to attend =) Good luck in this round!!!

Megan@foodalution.com said...

Delicious! I like your take... that is more my style... laid back and relaxed! Best of luck! - Megs

Jenn said...

I wish I was invited to your party!! hahaha... I really do.

Nutmeg Nanny said...

Amazing! I love everything you made...yum!

Anonymous said...

A terrific and elegant dinner! Good luck in this round, I will vote tomorrow morning!

Anonymous said...

I did not make the third, but I am behind you all the way. Love the title of your post and everything else that you made.

Good Luck!

Norma
Platanos, Mangoes and Me!

Inspired by eRecipeCards said...

All voted... Looks amazing

LaDivaCucina said...

I like that moniker for you: The King of Color! Fits.

You know, I made a scrumptious roasted chicken for a friend and her husband for dinner last week and he just loved it. Because it was simple, tasty, comforting (and she can't cook for shit! haha!) so he never gets to eat that.

Lobster looks divine, keep going amigo!

Cajun Chef Ryan said...

Indeed, an elegant menu and perfectly presented. Congratulations, good luck and voted!

Bon appetit!
CCR
=:~)

Whitney said...

you definitely are the party chezwhat! congrats on an awesome dinner party! Love it!

http://whitneysamusebouche.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

As usual your food looks delicious! Also love your tip on if anyone wants to have a painless time hosting a party is to have you do it. Great idea! You got my vote and good luck!

Velva said...

Where was my invite! God, this is beautiful.

I tell my friends who find cooking to be a chore ( I could not imagine) " Keep it simple, the moment you complicate it, it's no longer fun"

I am heading over to cast my vote for you. You always have my vote.

CreativeMish said...

I want a dinner party like this!

Mangia Margot said...

Wow! The food jumps off the screen. I can see why you have new fans after this. We have used menus as well and they are always a hit.

Table Talk said...

Great tips/photos/menu=fun!
Nice job on this challenge!

Duchess said...

Yup, I'd want to be there!

Tangled Noodle said...

It's sweet torture reading through this entry and wishing I could have a nibble of just one of these dishes! Simple, elegant, effortless - congratulations on a marvelous dinner party and your continued success in Project Food Blog. Just voted!

kathy gori said...

Everything looks beautifully done! You got a vote from me.

Evelyne@CheapEthnicEatz said...

Party you are, love the pic set up and no fuss meal. Got my vote. Hope I have yours!

Daily Spud said...

I'm going with your advice and getting you to do the dinner party for me next time! How's challenge 4 looking? :)

Magic of Spice said...

Gorgeous, gorgeous...and then some. Already voted but stopping by for a hello :)

Jessica said...

Looks like it was a great party! Hope we both make it to the next round! :-) You have my vote!

Heather said...

Wow--now THAT is luxury!

Amelia PS said...

agreed: not fussy yet elegant.

(see my entry here: http://www.foodbuzz.com/project_food_blog/challenges/3/view/1094)

Veronica Culver said...

Yum, yum and more yum! I didn't see your recipes up yet but I may have missed them. I look forward to seeing and trying!

Best wishes,
Veronica

Rachel Joyce said...

Oh the candlelight! You said simple and casual but you left out elegant. I like how you think and I LOVE you how you eat. Good luck!

Jamie said...

I have to say, Christo, that I have been trying to stay out of the fray - I have too many friends competing, but this menu has bowled me over and so impressed me with the beauty and elegance, the flavors and creativity that for you I am making an exception. This meal gets my vote. You are one talented man! Amazing and I count on eating chez toi whenever I make it to NYC! Good luck, my friend!

Charmaine @ Speakeasy Kitchen said...

Gorgeous photo series! You've got my vote.

tavolini said...

Oh wow, everything just looks fantastic!

Chris said...

Wow! Everything looks delicious! You have my vote. Good luck!

Anonymous said...

I love your menu!! Everything looks so delicious... especially that tart!!! Good luck :)

Angela said...

Looks beautiful! You got my vote.

Unknown said...

Coconut lava cake and blueberry ice cream? Ten year old me would've killed for a few bites of that. Heck, present day me would do less evil things for a few bites. Good luck this week, voting for you!

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